Roommate moved out

[Alund1975]

Roommate that is a co-leasee leaves without notice 3 weeks ago. He left some of his property and has failed to pay this months rent or electric from last month or water, sewer and garbage for the previous 3 months. I have had to pay these bills so now I am broke and can't afford to file eviction or any other thing right now. But as soon as I have the money, I would like to know what my rights are. I can't keep his stuff here because I'm trying to find someone else to move in to help with the bills. He has failed to contact me at all regulars ing his belongings.

What are my rights, with removal of his property? And can you tell me the best way, and cheapest way to get him to pay his portion of the bills. He did not give any notice, written or verbal, and he is on the lease until June 2014. Honestly, I have helped him out with many things, he owes me $200 because he needed a job but his car tags were expired, so I loaned him the $200, which I assume I'll never see. I'm a single mother living on a fixed income. I know I should've gotten it in writing about the $200, but I didn't, so I'm sure I'm out that, but I'm done being nice. I want him to learn that he can't take advantage of people like that. So, please tell me anything that I can do to help. Maybe sell his belongings if he doesn't pick them up? What are my rights? Please....and ty for any help you give

 

[Michael Wechsler]

Sorry for the late reply. Do you have any idea where he is? Did he provide a forwarding address? The law tries to cover what are reasonable actions under the circumstances and it can be difficult to determine "tenant abandonment." If he hasn't paid the rent and left for three weeks, it's possible he may or may not be gone. At some point you need to make a decision. If he hasn't provided any notice after one month, I don't think anyone will hold you at fault for making assumptions. I would also find it very difficult for the roommate to come back and hold you at fault for renting the other space and removing or disposing of that which he abandoned. And it would be futile for the roommate to try to use small claims court to try to make a recovery since he defaulted on the rent and would be coming into court with unclean hands. And in this instance, it looks very much like the tenant has abandoned his rights to the premises and the property left behind.