My roommate and I co-signed a six month lease on Jul 1, 2007. The lease is set to expire on Dec 31, 2007.
Fired from his job, he moved out on Oct 27, 2007. He reassured me that he would pay for both November and December's rent. He came back on Nov 15, to collect his belongings (along with taking a few of mine, which would be very hard to prove as it was misc kitchen stuff).
He never paid his half of the rent. I, being the responsible roommate, paid the full amount of rent (which is $1400). I have since been able to find another roommate (with the landlords approval) to move in and she will do so this weekend. My landlord informed me that he has just recently (Nov 16) received a check and a note from my ex-roommate for what in his note, he referred to as "his rent for the first two weeks of November" (as he is aware of me getting a new roommate). He also asked for his deposit back from them.
My landlords do not intend on cashing the check, as I have already paid the full amount of rent.
I guess I am wondering what course of action I can take? He refuses to send me money for the rent currently owed (although he has lied to me on multiple occassions, saying that a check was in the mail) and I know he will just tell me to take it out of the deposit, once that is all said and done.
This isn't the first time he has really put me in a bind and I am sick of him constantly manipulating systems around him, that don't have him suffer any kind of penalty.
My landlords like me, but are very unhappy with my ex-roommate. They wouldn't be able to take any legal action on him, without including me (am I correct in assuming this?). They no longer want to even deal with him (can they just ignore him since he violated his terms of the lease?).
I can't think of a judge who would award the amount of his portion of two months of rent to me, while having a new roommate for one-and-a-half of those months. What I want to know, is can I sue for the full month of November (his portion is $700), plus damages? I also want to keep his deposit (which is around $985). I'm sure this comes off as greedy, but I can assure you that he has caused more damage in stress thsn what this paltry amount adds up to (even though I know that may not be relevant in court).
I apologize for the very long post and would greatly appreciate any advice you may have for me. I just want my money and for him to realize that if you continue to treat people this way, it won't go unpunished.
-Sean
Fired from his job, he moved out on Oct 27, 2007. He reassured me that he would pay for both November and December's rent. He came back on Nov 15, to collect his belongings (along with taking a few of mine, which would be very hard to prove as it was misc kitchen stuff).
He never paid his half of the rent. I, being the responsible roommate, paid the full amount of rent (which is $1400). I have since been able to find another roommate (with the landlords approval) to move in and she will do so this weekend. My landlord informed me that he has just recently (Nov 16) received a check and a note from my ex-roommate for what in his note, he referred to as "his rent for the first two weeks of November" (as he is aware of me getting a new roommate). He also asked for his deposit back from them.
My landlords do not intend on cashing the check, as I have already paid the full amount of rent.
I guess I am wondering what course of action I can take? He refuses to send me money for the rent currently owed (although he has lied to me on multiple occassions, saying that a check was in the mail) and I know he will just tell me to take it out of the deposit, once that is all said and done.
This isn't the first time he has really put me in a bind and I am sick of him constantly manipulating systems around him, that don't have him suffer any kind of penalty.
My landlords like me, but are very unhappy with my ex-roommate. They wouldn't be able to take any legal action on him, without including me (am I correct in assuming this?). They no longer want to even deal with him (can they just ignore him since he violated his terms of the lease?).
I can't think of a judge who would award the amount of his portion of two months of rent to me, while having a new roommate for one-and-a-half of those months. What I want to know, is can I sue for the full month of November (his portion is $700), plus damages? I also want to keep his deposit (which is around $985). I'm sure this comes off as greedy, but I can assure you that he has caused more damage in stress thsn what this paltry amount adds up to (even though I know that may not be relevant in court).
I apologize for the very long post and would greatly appreciate any advice you may have for me. I just want my money and for him to realize that if you continue to treat people this way, it won't go unpunished.
-Sean
