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goundie · Sep 5, 2007, 10:10 AM

If my roommate gets arrested and can't pay his part of the rent am I responsible?

excon · Sep 5, 2007, 10:37 AM

Hello coundie:

In some rare instances, a landlord collects rent individually from roommates. If that's what YOUR landlord does, then NO, you're not responsible. However, if you pay it together in one lump sum, then YES, you are responsible.

excon

lauder21 · Sep 5, 2007, 10:38 AM

Originally Posted by goundie

if my roomate gets arrested and can't pay his part of the rent am i responsible?

More then likely, yes.
Landlords don't usually care where the money is coming from, as long as they get it. Granted a lot of them will give you a bit of time to pay, as in if it's due on the 1st and you don't have it, you probably won't get kicked out.
Sometimes landlords are willing to actually split the rent with you and a roommate, although it was my understanding that this didn't happen a whole lot.
So if you are someone else are just living there togeather spitting rent, chances are you still have to pay rent.
When you moved in, or when your roommate moved in, if something was signed saying you only had to pay half, then you are probably safe.
How do you pay rent? If your share of the rent is say 300$, but when you pay rent (or your roommate) there is a total of 600$, then you're probably just splitting rent with a roommate, not under the landlords terms..
My suggestion is get a new roommate, quick!
Roommates, roommate finder and roommate search service

ballengerb1 · Sep 5, 2007, 12:32 PM

The fact that your roommate is in jail does not void his responsiblilty to pay rent. If he doesn't then you will likely be resonsible. If he won't pay you back you may need to sue him in small claims, when he gets out.