[Themisses]

My roommate(19 years old; my step sister)and I(24 years old)signed a one year lease on an apartment in Toronto, Ontario, in May 2012. Within a week of us moving in, she's had multiple people sleeping over, and inviting underaged friends over to drink. When I found out, I explained that this cannot happen because I have a young child, and I don't want my child to be taken away because of her foolish actions. She immediately stopped. Now, a couple weeks after we moved in, she would always have a certain guy over. I talked to her again, and asked if she knew this guy. She assured me that she did. Now, my child and I are usually away on weekends, so I can only imagine what she does when we're gone. So one weekend when I was gone, she sent me a text message stating her guy "friend" was getting on her nerves, so she kicked him out at 3 in the morning; and apparently she drew a knife on him. Now more recently, late at night, I heard my front door slamming. Ten minutes later she knocks on my door crying stating the guy took her phone because he told him to go home. I later found out her threw her phone over a bridge. (I know it's a lot to take in). I said nothing to her until she approached me. And I let her know I'm not going to be tolerating this anymore. Now yesterday morning, she messages me saying she's going to leave because she knows that I don't like her, and she doesn't like that I'm not speaking to her. Now my question is, what rights do I have, since we both signed a one year lease? Our first hydro bill is coming in a couple weeks (4 months worth of hydro), and we agreed to go half on the bill. How can I get her to pay the hydro bill? What steps can I take legally? Now that I'm going to be stuck covering the full rent, what can I legally sue her for? To add, I just found out her guy "friend" has been living here because he has no place to go. Isn't that breaching our lease? Our lease states that all occupants be listed, and he's not. Please, I need answers as to what I can legally do.

[smoothy]

If she bailed out and is on the lease... you can sue her for her half of the rent... And I recommend you do so.

You can also sue her for half of any unpaid utilitiy bills incurred before she left.

Also talk with your landlord about these other issues...

[Themisses]

If she bailed out and is on the lease....you can sue her for her half of the rent....And I recommend you do so.

You can also sue her for half of any unpaid utilitiy bills incurred before she left.

How much rent can I sue her for? Is there a time limit of how many months I can sue her for? Or is it mandatory that she pay for the remainder of the lease?

[smoothy]

How much rent can I sue her for? Is there a time limit of how many months I can sue her for? Or is it mandatory that she pay for the remainder of the lease?

Well, because you are in Canada... the conditions may be different...

In the USA you can do it until you find another renter and you must actively try. And that applies to finding another roommate as well.

USA and Canada are similar in many respects... but I'd wait for someone with more Canada specific knowledge to be more detailed.

[Themisses]

Well, because you are in Canada....the conditions may be differnt....

In the USA you can do it until you find another renter and you must actively try. And that applies to finding another roomate as well.

USA and Canada are similar in many respects....but I'd wait for someone with more Canada specific knowledge to be more detailed.

Okay. Thank you. I really appreciate you taking the time to answer my load of questions.

[smoothy]

Okay. Thank you. I really appreciate you taking the time to answer my load of questions.

That's one of the major pitfalls of roommates (getting really bad ones sometimes)... if its any consolation... it could have been a lot worse... and good luck. I'd recommend asking for references and checking up on them before picking the next one. Its not foolproof, but is better than acting on faith.

[Themisses]

Thats one of the major pitfalls of roommates (getting really bad ones sometimes) ....if its any consolation.....it could have been a lot worse...and good luck. I'd recomend asking for references and checking up on them before picking the next one. Its not foolproof, but is better than acting on faith.

No more roommates for me. This is my stepsister I'm talking about. And she asked to live with me. But before she asked, I had plans to move to a two bedroom with my child. So when she asked, I changed my plans for her. So much for trying to help someone out. I learned my lesson, and will never do it again.

[smoothy]

No more roommates for me. This is my stepsister I'm talking about. And she asked to live with me. But before she asked, I had plans to move to a two bedroom with my child. So when she asked, I changed my plans for her. So much for trying to help someone out. I learned my lesson, and will never do it again.

Ouch... being family that makes it even worse... Having your own place rather than roomates is way better if you can afford it.

[Themisses]

Ouch...being family that makes it even worse..... Having your own place rather than roomates is way better if you can afford it.

I can. It just really burns to know that I stuck my neck out for her, and this is the thanks I get. I've come to realize that she does things that are convenient for her at a particular moment. But I know a big factor in her decision is because her male "friend" has no place to live. So I know he's pressuring her to move so he has a place to stay. Did I tell you thus he doesn't work? LOL! She's in for a rude awakening.

[smoothy]

I can. It just really burns to know that I stuck my neck out for her, and this is the thanks I get. I've come to realize that she does things that are convenient for her at a particular moment. But I know a big factor in her decision is because her male "friend" has no place to live. So I know he's pressuring her to move so he has a place to stay. Did I tell you thus he doesn't work? LOL! She's in for a rude awakening.

Yep... familair with the quote.. " What goes around, comes around"? She will be soon enough.

[Themisses]

Yep......familair with the quote.." What goes around, comes around"? She will be soon enough.

For sure.