If a co-tenant moves out early, can they be sued for 50% of both rent and utilities for the remainder of the lease?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
If a co-tenant moves out early, can they be sued for 50% of both rent and utilities for the remainder of the lease?
Can a roommate who jointly signed a lease and then vacated the rental early still be held accountable for utilities if utilities are addressed in the lease as being the tenant’s responsibility? The utilities are in the name of the tenant who left early but I am now paying 100% to avoid shutoff. I believe he is held accountable for the rent as well as I am but does this also apply to this situation?
Asked on April 1, 2012 under Real Estate Law, Pennsylvania
Answers:
M.T.G., Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
Yes, I believe that you are correct in your assumptions. You can sue the room mate for half of what ever he was supposed to pay and you are paying until the end of the lease. The problem is that you can only sue him after you have paid the bill. With the lease it is easy to estimate the monthly costs but the rent only becomes due and owing on the first. There is probably a clause that allows suit on the whole but if it will apply to you remains to be seen. The utilities are different every month. Good luck.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.