Ex-Roommate Won't Return Deposit or Pay Utilities

[shockwal]

My question involves a roommate in the State of: Arizona.

Long story short, I was on a lease with one other person. I moved out early but continued to pay all bills and utilities until someone took over for me. I stayed on the lease the whole time. My replacement left before our lease was up so I picked back up where I left off and paid all bills again till the end. Lease is over now and ex-roommate is refusing to help pay half for last 2 months of utilities (utilities in my name) and refusing to return my half of the deposit which we BOTH paid equally. Ex-roommate says since I left early that they don't have to pay me. I think they are wrong because I stayed on the lease the entire time. The refund deposit check was sent to the roommate since I am out of state.

Ex-roommate refuses to pay what they owe me. Can I take them to a small claims court to settle this?

Thank you for your help!

[LawResearcherMissy]

I think they are wrong because I stayed on the lease the entire time.

You are correct.

Ex-roommate refuses to pay what they owe me. Can I take them to a small claims court to settle this?

Yes. And given that you were not living there, and thus not using the utilities, but paying for them anyway, you may be able to recover the entire cost of the utilities.

[shockwal]

Thank you so much! I figured I was in the right and my ex-roommate was wrong, but I just wanted someone else to assure me of it.

I hope this posting helps others in my same situation. Don't let your ex-roommates keep what is rightfully and legally yours!