I live in CA. I have been living with my roommate for a year and a half and her name is the only one on the lease. We both moved into the place together after having just met, but she moved in 1 month early, paid the full deposit and was and still is the only name that has ever appeared on the lease. We had discussed me joining the lease once, but it wasn't a huge priority or necessity to either of us, so I never joined it. After living with her for a while, I learned that she pays the rent late, to the point of a 3 day eviction notice EVERY month, and the rental office knows this, so in the event of her asking me to join the lease, I would have noted that info as a major reason why I didn't want to join the lease. Regardless, I gave her a 30 day notice a few weeks ago that I am moving out. She did mention a few weeks before I gave my notice that she was signing another year lease and wanted to know if I planned on staying. I said for the most part yes, as long as nothing happens or comes up. Very vauge on both our parts. She is now saying that since I am leaving, she is moving out as well, thus breaking the new lease she just signed because in her own words "wont have another roommate" The fee for HER breaking HER lease because SHE doesn't want to find another roommate is 1200 (one months rent). She says I owe her half of that. Mind you, besides the obvois fact that MY NAME NEVER APPEARED ON THE LEASE, she could just as well find another roommate, finish the lease and avoid any and all fees.

My 1st question:
Does our vague discussion/'verbal agreement" hold up in court making me responsible for any fees or lease liability?

2: Even if a court grants that we had a verbal agreement, does it matter that she is choosing to move out, thus putting the whole burden of the fees on her?

I doubt it would hold up in court, especially if the rental office isn't aware you are a roommate, or if her lease says that she isn't allowed to have roommates without their consent. I am taking it that you never signed a year to year or even month to month agreement even with her and you gave her 30 days notice so I do not see that she can stick you with owing anything toward breaking the lease. I can't say you don't owe her anything but it looks more toward your favor.

As far as I know she can't legally stick you with any fees. I was in a similar situation but my roommates were staying, I was leaving and they were gettitng another roommate. They wanted me to pay a third of the carpet damage in the living and dining rooms before I left. I laughed it off, you should do the same.

She can not get you with anything, but if you had signed anything legal you would owe her