[Rhianna]

I recently moved out of my parents house and moved in with my boyfriend and two other roommates. All four of us signed a 6 months lease. My two roommates had a disagreement and decided to break up. My one male roommate moved out and signed the paper to release him from the lease.

My female roommate left as well but did not sign a release forum or taken any of her things. I have e-mail back and fourth and she agreed to pay her portion of the rent and move her things out on several occasions. Unfortunately she has not done so.

Recently she sent me an e-mail stating that she will be by this weekend to get her things. When I asked about the money she owes she said that she is not going to pay it that the place where she wants to move is asking for a large deposit.

I would like to know is there any thing legally I can do if she once again doesn't move her things and pay her portion of the rent. She has not lived in my apartment sense Sept.


Thank you for your help.
Rhianna Pruitt

[RickJ]

The first part of this post basically explains it.

Most of the info you gave has nothing to do with the situation. Unless you can get released from that lease then you are responsible for the rent through the lease period.

[ScottGem]

I would double check with rental laws for your area as well as the terms of the lease. The lease may specify that you are jointly or deparately responsible. If you are jointly responsible as Rick's linked post suggests, then your recourse is to sue your roommate for her share.

Otherwise, you can just pay your portion and let the landlord go after her. One caveat though, the landlord would have the right to rent the portion to anyone they want to without your approval.

[RickJ]

One caveat though, the landlord would have the right to rent the portion to anyone they want to without your approval.

I've never heard of this. In my state this would not be permitted. The landlord would have to evict before renting to someone else.

[ScottGem]

If the landlord is renting rooms in an apartment or home, then its like each room is a separate unit with common facilities. It can be done one of two ways. Either the landlord rents to a group and the group is responsible for the rental, in which case the group controls who is a member of the group. Or the landlord rents out rooms to each individual. Each individual is responsible for and usually pays rental directly to the landlord. In that case the landlord controls who they rent to.