Is my roommate still obligated to pay her share of the utilities if she moves out?
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Is my roommate still obligated to pay her share of the utilities if she moves out?
My roommate moved out to live with her boyfriend and has yet to find a sublet. Both of our names are on the lease and the utilities. She paid her share of all the bills for the first month, then said she was not going to pay the utilities anymore. She has not contacted me since I asked her if she was going to pay them after she talked to a lawyer.
Asked on December 13, 2011 under Real Estate Law, Indiana
Answers:
FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
If you have a roommate that signed a lease for a rental that you two were to share but she moved out and has not paid her share of the rent, she is obligated to do so. The reason is that there is an express if not implied agreement between you and her that she is obligated to make sure her payments are current on the lease regardless of the fact that she most likely has a signed lease with the landlord for the rental.
I would write her of the need to make her share of the rental payments keeping a copy for future need. If she does not pay her share of the rent you most likely will have to cover her share.
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