[stubarr]

Last month my boyfriend and I decided to move in together and found an apartment we liked. We both signed the lease, which just took effect, and neither of us has actually started living there yet.

Last week, we broke up. He is caught in a hard place because he is out of work, the sublet on his current apartment is up at the end of the month, and he has absolutely no money to get one on his own. So, he wants to move into the new apartment with me, even though he does not have any money and admits he won’t be able to contribute to either the rent or utilities.

Is there any way for me to get him off the lease with the landlord, either now (I’m guessing not), or after a month has gone by and he has paid nothing? As far as the landlord is concerned, who pays is immaterial, I am guessing, so long as the rent is in fact paid in full. So, I am guessing it would be no good for me to pay the landlord half the rent net month and say my ex is responsible for the rest, and suggest they evict him if he doesn’t pay. I assume that if they don’t get the full rent, they’ll simply move to eventually evict US. Is that right?

So, do I have any recourse? Can I evict him myself somehow? I am even willing to pay him off if he will voluntarily quit the lease, but want to make sure that whatever we come up with is binding and that he’ll be out of my hair for good if we that.
My true fear is that this will get really ugly, and since he has keys, he’ll move in to the apartment on his own, claim residency (regardless of ability to pay), and be hostile roommate. [Further, it’s a one bedroom! ] If things really go south, I could see him using his keys to enter the apartment and steal or damage my belongings, and then say that there is no proof that it was him.

So – I’m very anxious about all of this. What can I do?

[ScottGem]

He is just as entitled to the apt as you since he's on the lease. You can't evict him because you are not his landlord. If the landlord signed the lease he's also committed.

So frankly I'm not sure how you can get out of this. Once he doesn't pay you can sue him for his share, but, if he has no money, not sure what good that will do.