my sublessee broke her contract

[beatlefan10ceh]

I lease a house and sublease two rooms in the house. I depend on the subleassees to make the rent payments on the house. One of my subleassees left a note and moved out, breaking the sublease that she signed that was for one year. She is a college student and has left some property behind, though she also still has a key. I want to at least force her to continue to pay rent until a replacement can be found. Can I do this? Do I have any recourse? The sublease did not specify and penalty if she broke the contract.

 

[jacksgal]

Yes you can if you have a valid lease. What state is this in? Does your landlord know and approve of the subletting?

 

[beatlefan10ceh]

This is GA. My landlord suggested I take her to court.

 

[jacksgal]

Then this resource should help


http://www.dca.state.ga.us/housing/HousingDevelopment/programs/downloads/landlord/contents.html

 

[Gail_in_Georgia]

In Georgia, these cases would typically be filed in Civil/Magistrates Court (our version of Small Claims). Georgia allows lawsuits up to $15,000 to be filed in this court.

A landlord (and this is what you are in this case) will often wait until the unit is rerented and then file against the tenant/subleaser for rent owed while the unit was empty and the sublease contract still in effect.

Gail