Paying My Roommate's Half of the Rent

[Nsmith8]

My question involves a roommate in the State of: Texas

Prior to signing our lease, my roommate said he was leaving the country for three months for an internship opportunity and I would have to pay his half of the rent for the time he was gone. I agreed. (There is nothing written in our lease about it.) Before he left, he told me that he would be back during the second or third week of that last month (the third month) he was supposed to be gone. I do not think it is fair to pay for that last month when he will be living in the house and using the utilities (which are in my name). He, of course, refuses to pay his half of the rent. If I would have known that this was going to be the situation, I never would have agreed to the three months of paying his half of the rent. Am I justified in telling him that I will not pay for him to live here for free? Also, if he takes me to court, is the fact that I initially agreed to this situation going to be used against me?

[Mr. Knowitall]

If he takes you to court for what? If you take him to court for the money you claim he owes you, he can try to defend against your claim by arguing that you agreed to pay all of the rent during the period in question. If you made that agreement before he told you he would be back part-way through the third month, you would of course inform the court that the agreement was based upon your understanding that he would be gone the entire time.