Is there anything they can do to make me pay the rent if I moved out because my roommate was selling drugs?
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Is there anything they can do to make me pay the rent if I moved out because my roommate was selling drugs?
I am now being threatened to be sued if I don’t pay the rent.
Asked on October 22, 2011 under Real Estate Law, New Jersey
Answers:
FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
If you have a written lease agreement with your landlord for the unit you occupy, you need to carefully read the document in that it controls the obligations owed to you by the landord and vice versa in the absence of conflicting state law.
Most likely there is no provision in your lease allowing you to terminate your lease with your landlord if your roommate was selling drugs forcing you to move. As such, you would be legally liable for your contractual obligations under the lease. If you have time left on your lease with your landlord, you are obligated to pay what you agreed to him or her on a monthly basis.
I suggest you call your landlord about the situation that you have with your roommate to see if the landlord would voluntarily cancel your lease in a dated and signed writing.
Good luck.
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