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    michael1278's Avatar
    michael1278 Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    Jun 29, 2012, 07:39 AM
    Girlfriend kicked me out do I have to still pay rent
    My ex girlfriend and I signed a 1 year lease on a house. I paid the entire security deposit and put all the utilities in my name. We were together for over 2 years so I believed that means whatever is mine is hers and vice versa. I say this because I borrowed some money without asking from her to pay some bills. I did this twice. The first time I was able to replace the money before she noticed but not the 2nd time. When asked via text about it I explained how I was ashamed and embarrassed having to ask her due to my pride and male ego. I've always paid for everything whether it was take out food, the movies, even paid to have her dog spayed. After this incident she told me I had to m ove out. I did and continued to pay my half of rent for 2 months and all utilities. Notified landlord about it all. She sent me a text saying she can handle all the bills and rent on her own now and that I was free of any financial responsibility. Until recently she sent me a message saying I now have to pay my half of the rent. Am I responsible for paying after having her kick me out, change the locks, and her stating she's financially capable of paying everything? There's a lot to the story like I to this day continue to go there and mow the lawn, fix what needs fixing, etc. I also have belongings there that I need to get, but according to her I am a threat because I stole from her so I have to wait until it's convenient for her. I also gave her all the money back plus an extra $110. I have every text message and e-mail showing how loving and generous of a person I was and am to her. By that I mean every text etc is me offering to help, telliong her how much I love her or apologizing because either I did something nice for her but was wrong in her eyes. All her replies are nasty! They all have her complaining, slandering my name, emotional and mentally abusing me by calling me every name in the book yet I continue to offer help and support. I know there's a lot of unneeded information but I'm trying to give you an idea of the situation, but I guess bottomline is do I have to pay rent after she changed locks, kicked me out, and texted me that I was free and noi longer needed to pay any rent or utilities? I did take the electric out of my name, but not the gas and water only because she said she was going to get slammed with fees for putting in her name. Again my love and support and generousity as it is my nature. Also the landlord is in the process of searching for a way to get me off the lease legally and easy. Thank you and my apologies for the short story.
    smoothy's Avatar
    smoothy Posts: 25,490, Reputation: 2853
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    #2

    Jun 29, 2012, 08:42 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by michael1278 View Post
    My ex girlfriend and I signed a 1 year lease on a house. I paid the entire security deposit and put all the utilities in my name. We were together for over 2 years so i believed that means whatever is mine is hers and vice versa. I say this because I borrowed some money without asking from her to pay some bills. I did this twice. The first time I was able to replace the money before she noticed but not the 2nd time. When asked via text about it I explained how i was ashamed and embarassed having to ask her due to my pride and male ego. I've always paid for everything whether it was take out food, the movies, even paid to have her dog spayed. After this incident she told me i had to m ove out. I did and continued to pay my half of rent for 2 months and all utilities. Notified landlord about it all. She sent me a text saying she can handle all the bills and rent on her own now and that I was free of any financial responsibility. Until recently she sent me a message saying I now have to pay my half of the rent. Am I responsible for paying after having her kick me out, change the locks, and her stating she's financially capable of paying everything? There's a lot to the story like I to this day continue to go there and mow the lawn, fix what needs fixing, etc. I also have belongings there that I need to get, but according to her I am a threat because I stole from her so I have to wait til it's convienient for her. I also gave her all the money back plus an extra $110. I have every text message and e-mail showing how loving and generous of a person I was and am to her. By that I mean every text etc is me offering to help, telliong her how much I love her or apologizing because either I did something nice for her but was wrong in her eyes. All her replies are nasty! They all have her complaining, slandering my name, emotional and mentally abusing me by calling me every name in the book yet I continue to offer help and support. I know there's alot of unneeded information but I'm trying to give you an idea of the situation, but I guess bottomline is do I have to pay rent after she changed locks, kicked me out, and texted me that I was free and noi longer needed to pay any rent or utilities? I did take the electric out of my name, but not the gas and water only because she said she was going to get slammed with fees for putting in her name. Again my love and support and generousity as it is my nature. Also the landlord is in the process of searching for a way to get me off the lease legally and easy. Thank you and my apologies for the short story.
    Get ALL the utilities out of your name now... finding the money is HER problem.

    Let her try and sue you for the money... then you can countersue her for illegal eviction... You will win...

    How can the landlord get you off the lease? First you get your name OFF the utilities now... literally call them up in the next 5 minutes... tell them you have moved and are no longer there.

    She decides between paying rent or gettign the utilities... if she doesn't pay the rent the landlord can move against her for breach of lease.
    AK lawyer's Avatar
    AK lawyer Posts: 12,592, Reputation: 977
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    #3

    Jun 29, 2012, 09:44 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by michael1278 View Post
    ... We were together for over 2 years so i believed that means whatever is mine is hers and vice versa. ...
    Presumably you now know that this is not the law.

    Quote Originally Posted by michael1278 View Post
    ... Am I responsible for paying after having her kick me out, change the locks, and her stating she's financially capable of paying everything? ...
    Certainly. You have a contract (a/k/a lease) with the landlord. Difference between you and your ex are not the LL's concern.

    Quote Originally Posted by michael1278 View Post
    ... ... Also the landlord is in the process of searching for a way to get me off the lease legally and easy. ...
    That would be quite easy. A letter from the LL releasing you from any obligations would suffice. The only other thing is that LL should agree you the deposit gets returned to you. Make sure the LL gets a current address.
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    AK lawyer Posts: 12,592, Reputation: 977
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    #4

    Jun 29, 2012, 09:46 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by smoothy View Post
    ... Let her try and sue you for the money....then you can countersue her for illegal eviction...You will win....
    ...
    I don't think so. She asked him to leave and he left. I don't see any liability on her part. She isn't a landlord, so it isn't an illegal ouster.

    But if she does sue him, he should counter-claim for indemnification with respect to liabliity to the landlord (if the LL won't release him).
    smoothy's Avatar
    smoothy Posts: 25,490, Reputation: 2853
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    #5

    Jun 29, 2012, 09:53 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by AK lawyer View Post
    I don't think so. She asked him to leave and he left. I don't see any liability on her part. She isn't a landlord, so it isn't an illegal ouster.
    Good point if he walked out on his own BEFORE the locks were changed.
    AK lawyer's Avatar
    AK lawyer Posts: 12,592, Reputation: 977
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    #6

    Jun 29, 2012, 10:00 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by smoothy View Post
    Good point if he walked out on his own BEFORE the locks were changed.
    There is no law against your co-tenant changing the locks on you.
    smoothy's Avatar
    smoothy Posts: 25,490, Reputation: 2853
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    #7

    Jun 29, 2012, 10:03 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by AK lawyer View Post
    There is no law against your co-tenant changing the locks on you.
    And none forhim to have a locksmith change them to something else when they are out of the house either, preferribly when they went out someplace at night. Going to be expensive to get back in 10pm on a Friday night.Could be a nice legal parting gift. Or payback... shame I'll never get a chance to use that one or most of my friends as well..

    Don't think he'll ever use it... seem like he's glad to get out of that mess this easily. Or will be soon enough.

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