Ask Me Help Desk - Exboyfriend leaving after a year/Property Rights?

My ex-boyfriend and I were together for 5 years and he moved in with me for a year. The trusting sap that I am, I got rid of a lot of my things to bring in his stuff. After a mutual agreement to go our separate ways I finding myself at a lose regarding him walking out with "His" stuff leaving me with no finances to buy new things I will need to replace for myself. Not to mention he has paid half the bills but doesn't seem to comprehend that he will still owe a portion of bills depending on the date he leaves on that month. He is not on the lease but thinks he has all tenant rights legally. I live in New York (suburban) and he seems to think that I will have to prove I discarded/sold etc. my things in order for him to leave me any replacements and he will no longer be responsible for any bills the day he walks out. Is he completely right?

Do you have any receipts to things you may have bought together? Anything he brought in that he previously owned he has the right to. If you purchased things together, they should be split. If he's taking everything, it would be a good thing if you had receipts or some sort of proof of purchase to say you are owed some of it. As for him walking out bill free... he owes you $ for bills to date of his moving out.
Good luck to you. Sorry to hear after 5 years of being together he can't be civil and cool about this.

Quote:

Originally Posted by badboymagnet

My ex-boyfriend and I were together for 5 years and he moved in with me for a year. The trusting sap that I am, I got rid of alot of my things to bring in his stuff. After a mutual agreement to go our separate ways I finding myself at a lose regarding him walking out with "His" stuff leaving me with no finances to buy new things I will need to replace for myself. Not to mention he has paid half the bills but doesn't seem to comprehend that he will still owe a portion of bills depending on the date he leaves on that month. He is not on the lease but thinks he has all tenant rights legally. I live in New York (suburban) and he seems to think that I will have to prove I discarded/sold etc. my things in order for him to leave me any replacements and he will no longer be responsible for any bills the day he walks out. Is he completely right?

What he came in with, he can leave with. What was your agreement about throwing out your belongings? Anything you purchased JOINTLY is now half yours; anything you purchased yourself is yours; anything he purchased is his. Did he agree that if you disposed of your furniture he would split his with you if you ever broke up? Did he promise to leave you the same way he found you - with furniture?

If you are on the lease, you are responsible for the rent. You can always pay it and sue him in Small Claims Court. Both sides present their proof, of course, the Judge decides which side is most credible, there's a decision.

You are going to have to argue about the bills and your understanding and arrangement and agreement. Whose name is on the bills? If it's your name, he has the easier side of this - he walks off, you have to pay them, you have to sue him.

I don't understand what you mean by he thinks he has tenants rights - ? What rights does he think he has?

Even if he was not on the lease, he is your tenant and is responsible for the rent and utilities until he vacates. The catch is that he has to give you proper notice. So, if he decides to move out on Feb1, he would have to give you notice before 1/1 otherwise he will owe for Feb as well.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JudyKayTee

What he came in with, he can leave with. What was your agreement about throwing out your belongings? Anything you purchased JOINTLY is now half yours; anything you purchased yourself is yours; anything he purchased is his. Did he agree that if you disposed of your furniture he would split his with you if you ever broke up? Did he promise to leave you the same way he found you - with furniture?

If you are on the lease, you are responsible for the rent. You can always pay it and sue him in Small Claims Court. Both sides present their proof, of course, the Judge decides which side is most credible, there's a decision.

You are going to have to argue about the bills and your understanding and arrangement and agreement. Whose name is on the bills? If it's your name, he has the easier side of this - he walks off, you have to pay them, you have to sue him.

I don't understand what you mean by he thinks he has tenants rights - ? What rights does he think he has?

Unfortunately after being together 5 years before living together the "verbal agreements" may have been overlooked. He felt his stuff was better than mine so I parted with my things, with trust. I have basically come to the conclusion that all materalistic things are at my lose. He thinks he has all tenant rights because 6 months into living with him I wanted him out but he wouldn't leave. The lease and all bills are in my name. Apparently moving out is to his convenience now. I can deal with the materalistic lose but am in no position for him to leave me without heat/lights etc.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScottGem

Even if he was not on the lease, he is your tenant and is responsible for the rent and utilities until he vacates. The catch is that he has to give you proper notice. So, if he decides to move out on Feb1, he would have to give you notice before 1/1 otherwise he will owe for Feb as well.

Thank You so much for this advice. I did try to tell him that I was basically "his" landlord but I wasn't sure if this was a sublet situation because we were in a relationship.