Natalie182
New Member
My roommate and I just finished moving out of our apartment last week. This week, I received a letter from our apartment complex stating that we owe a little over a thousand dollars for damages.
A brief history...
Even though I continued to pay rent, because my name was on the lease and I could not afford the lease termination fees, I had not stayed at this apartment for the past 7 to 8 months because the conditions became absolutely disgusting. My roommate decided to get a puppy and keep the puppy locked up all night and would let the dog destroy the apartment during the day. There were dog feces, urine, and other various gross substances covering our floor. The window screens were torn out, the carpet was destroyed, and there was garbage all over the apartment.
After pleading with my roommate to start cleaning a month before we had to move out with no response, I decided to go over there and clean it up myself. She finally came over to help the last day of our lease, and we throughly cleaned the apartment.
When I left that night, she had a few large pieces of furniture that belonged to her and she promised to get all of it out before the morning. Come to find out, she left all of her furniture there which caused more fees to be assessed.
What I need to know is...
Since all of the damages are her fault, and I have not stayed at this apartment in so long, and because I have picture documentation of her dog tearing up the carpet and defocating on the floors, is there any legal action I can take if she refuses to pay?
I am entirely unwilling to pay for the trash she left in the apartment, the new carpet, the paint for the living room, the final water bill, and the general 'uncleanliness' of the place.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. I realize that this is a long shot, and it's my word versus hers, so thanks in advance for even reading this.
A brief history...
Even though I continued to pay rent, because my name was on the lease and I could not afford the lease termination fees, I had not stayed at this apartment for the past 7 to 8 months because the conditions became absolutely disgusting. My roommate decided to get a puppy and keep the puppy locked up all night and would let the dog destroy the apartment during the day. There were dog feces, urine, and other various gross substances covering our floor. The window screens were torn out, the carpet was destroyed, and there was garbage all over the apartment.
After pleading with my roommate to start cleaning a month before we had to move out with no response, I decided to go over there and clean it up myself. She finally came over to help the last day of our lease, and we throughly cleaned the apartment.
When I left that night, she had a few large pieces of furniture that belonged to her and she promised to get all of it out before the morning. Come to find out, she left all of her furniture there which caused more fees to be assessed.
What I need to know is...
Since all of the damages are her fault, and I have not stayed at this apartment in so long, and because I have picture documentation of her dog tearing up the carpet and defocating on the floors, is there any legal action I can take if she refuses to pay?
I am entirely unwilling to pay for the trash she left in the apartment, the new carpet, the paint for the living room, the final water bill, and the general 'uncleanliness' of the place.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. I realize that this is a long shot, and it's my word versus hers, so thanks in advance for even reading this.
