I Moved Out and Somebody Else Moved In - Am I Still Responsible for Rent
My question involves a roommate in the State of: Texas
Long story somewhat short:
I was living with 2 of my closest friends. Two months into our lease, I started dating someone and stayed with him more than I did at my own place. I still paid my share of the rent because all of my personal belongings were still there, that didnt bother me. The guy Im seeing asked me to move in with him and the next day my roommate asked to talk to me about the living situation. She asked if she could go out and find a friend that would replace me so I didnt have to continue paying rent for a place I wasnt living at. I told her it was ok and to give me a good notice once she found someone.
Not even a week later she texts me and tells me that she found someone and asked how long I needed before this person could move in. I told her I could be out by the end of the month (3 weeks) since I had already paid this months rent. A few days later she texts me again and yells at me to get my stuff out, because she needs to move this new person in. I didnt feel like arguing with her at this point and told her that I could have my room cleared and cleaned up by the end of the month. She texts me the next day telling me that she packed my stuff and moved all of my things out to the shed and that I had to come get it. I went by to get my things 2 days later and found out that her friends had already moved in and had been sleeping on my bed and they got upset with me since I was taking it. Since this was only 2 weeks into the month I asked if I could get half of my rent money back since I didnt feel that I should have to pay for her friends to stay there for free for 2 more weeks. She said that she didnt have it at the time but she would get it too me when she could. No problem, I thought I could trust her.
Today, she sends me a text telling me how much the rent statement was. I reminded her that I no longer live there. It started a long arguement that pretty much told me that she wanted my things out so these people could move in and pay for her share of the rent not mine so she could live for free. But I still have to pay. Like I said in the beginning, it didnt bother me to pay the rent since my stuff was there. And if my things were still there I wouldnt have a problem with it, but since she moved my stuff out of the house and told me I HAD to come get it, am I still responsible for paying the rent?
I have all the messages saved on both my cell phone and email, and have a list of things that were missing and that I no longer have because of damages caused by her packing/moving it. The people that I have already talked to had told me that I am no longer responsible for it anymore and that I can take her into small claims court for the half a months rent and the broken and missing belongings.
Any advice is greatly appreciated.
Re: Am I Still Responsible
You're still responsible to your landlord. If your ex-roomie defaults on her rent such that she gets evicted, you're going along for the ride.
She wanted you out, and found a paying tenant for your room. Although strange things sometimes happen in small claims court, I can't see how she would succeed in a small claims case against you to recover what amounts to her half of the rent.