[stacyford2012]

When my lease term came to end in Novemeber I told my apartmnt manager in person I would be vacating and they had me sign saying I didn't live at the apartment. However they also said they would not take me off the lease unless my room mate signed and re-applied for a lease on his own. He naturally wouldn't because he was mentally un-stable ( hence why I had to leave). Now( March) I'm getting collections letters saying he destroyed the apartment and got evicted and they are trying to collect from me. What can I do to resolve this? I don't want this to destroy my credit and I can't pay the 5000 they want for his mistakes

[LisaB4657]

We need to know the state in which the property is located before we can give you an accurate answer.

[stacyford2012]

Maryland

[stacyford2012]

We need to know the state in which the property is located before we can give you an accurate answer.

Maryland

[LisaB4657]

Your landlord did not have the right to hold you to the terms of the lease beyond the time when you moved and signed their form that you were no longer living there, regardless of the status of your former roommate. In addition they should have sent you either your security deposit, or a written statement of how your security deposit was used, within 45 days after you moved out.

I would send a letter back to them by certified mail, with a copy by regular mail, saying that you moved out at the end of your lease term and signed the paperwork they required from you, and that you have not yet received your security deposit or a written accounting of how it was used, and that you will be filing a lawsuit for triple the amount of the full deposit, plus interest as required by Maryland law.

[stacyford2012]

Your landlord did not have the right to hold you to the terms of the lease beyond the time period when you moved and and signed their form that you were no longer living there, regardless of the status of your former roommate. In addition they should have sent you either your security deposit, or a written statement of how your security deposit was used, within 45 days after you moved out.

I would send a letter back to them by certified mail, with a copy by regular mail, saying that you moved out at the end of your lease term and signed the paperwork they required from you, and that you have not yet received your security deposit or a written accounting of how it was used, and that you will be filing a lawsuit for triple the amount of the full deposit, plus interest as required by Maryland law.

Thank you, should I send the letter to the collections group or the management group for the apartment?

[LisaB4657]

I would send the letter to the management group and send a copy to the collections group. Make sure you keep a copy for yourself in case this ends up going to court.

Good luck!

[joypulv]

If you don't have a copy of the paper you signed, they know you don't, and are taking advantage of that. DO YOU?

[stacyford2012]

I would send the letter to the management group and send a copy to the collections group. Make sure you keep a copy for yourself in case this ends up going to court.

Good luck!

Thank you again, do you have a link to your source for Maryland law or a direction I should head in to get a copy of this? Just in case they challenge me directly

[stacyford2012]

If you don't have a copy of the paper you signed, they know you don't, and are taking advantage of that. DO YOU??

I don't, they told me they were sending someone to the apartment to get him to sign it. However I was not alone when I had these conversations and signed the paper, my husband was next to me the entire time so I do have a witness.

[LisaB4657]

This is a link to a copy of Maryland's law on security deposits:

http://www.jhu.edu/hds/offcampus/PDF...y_deposits.pdf