My 1 yr lease is up at the end of the month. I moved in to this house with my girlfriend at the time, which she paid for the entire year up front and for the deposit. We both signed the lease. Well, we broke up she moved out a few months ago and now that the lease is up the landlord wants me to pay the $2000 deposit to stay in the house so that she can give my ex girl friend her money back. Can the land lord do this? I am willing to pay the rent on a month to month lease and give her 30 day notice when I am moving. The ex wants her money and landlord thinks its only right to give her the deposit back might be morally right but is it leagally right?? And I don't have 2k to give her. I am a single dad with 3 kids.

Thank you,
Chip

It depends. Is there an option to renew in the lease? If there is, any party that signed the lease can renew without the other's consent. If there is no option to renew then the contractual agreement is over and there is nothing you can do other than suggest to the landlord that the house has not been damaged in the past year so it is unlikely that it would be in the coming year and ask for a payment plan for the deposit. Basically you could pay the deposit as an addendum to the rent. It would add $166 a month, but would be refundable.