Can Your Roommate Move Out Mid-Month and Make You Pay the Full Rent After That Date
My question involves landlord-tenant law in the State of: DC
My roommate has mentioned that her move out date is uncertain and it would depend on her receiving her work permit. Now that she has, she has claimed that she wants to move out mid-month and claims I am responsible for paying her half of the rent after she moves out. I already managed to receive her full payment by then and refused to do. She did not attempt to find a new roommate and hoisted that responsibility on me. We are the only lease owners so if any room or space other than what we occupied couldn't be filled with another, we would split the cost for that. However, she is claiming that this is a similar position.
I firmly denied this and told her that she is responsible for getting a replacement if not only she is obligated to pay for her space. I am now looking for her replacement and my landlord says that the rent must be fulfilled and they dont care about this stuff. I have decided to pay her back only if I find a replacement and same goes with her security deposit. She also wants to remain on the lease till she receives her drivers license.
What are my options? Am I legally bound to return her amout or even the security deposit given that she suddenly wants to move out? Is there anything she can do? We don't have a roommate agreement.
Re: Roommate Wants to Move Out Mid Month and Wants Me to Pay the Remainder
Rent...
I'm betting you owe her nothing and she may in fact owe you.
Security Deposit...
You likely owe that minus anything DC law allows you to deduct.
Re: Roommate Wants to Move Out Mid Month and Wants Me to Pay the Remainder
If you are both on the lease as cotenants, nobody is being removed from the lease unless all parties, including the landlord, agree to it. You do not have the authority to release your roommate from the lease unilaterally. Even if you find a replacement for your roommate, your roommate will remain on the lease and the new roommate will become a sub tenant to you, and will not be a party to your lease, unless all existing parties to the lease agree to the change.
So, if you are co-lessees, you are both jointly and severally liable for the lease until it ends or one or the other is formally released.
She she is not due her share of the deposit until the lease terminates or she is released from the lease.
Re: Roommate Wants to Move Out Mid Month and Wants Me to Pay the Remainder
Thank you both for your replies. The landlord said the deposit thing is something we work out between us. They only refund the entire amount if the lease is terminated.
However, since that is not happening, she cannot claim it ffrom the landlord but she has to ask me or the new tenant if I find one. I dont owe her anything you are right! I already paid for the month. I got lucky because she sent the entire amount to me initially. When she asked for a return, I firmly said no.
So I am not obligated to pay her anything until all conditions become stable again right? She wants to move out. She's refusing to help look for a roommate and she wants to be on the lease until she finishes her legal stuff. I am staying for another two months so in order for the lease to end, I'd also have to move out. And that is not happening as yet.
We have no roommate agreement. I was a bit short-sighted about this but know better now.
So based on the information above... is there anything else I should be prepared for or take note of? I've been communicating all this with landlord and I have a good relationship with them. I mean can she do anything legally if I refuse to give her back any amount of money on grounds of basically not following the rules, paying me what she owes and not giving me proper notice or looking for a replacement? We are both fully liable for the rent btw.
Re: Roommate Wants to Move Out Mid Month and Wants Me to Pay the Remainder
If she is also a tenant on the lease (As in you both signed it) she is nit entitled to anything other than paying her share of the rent. A court will not award her any money becasue she is not due any. There is no proper notice if she is in the lease. She is on the lease until it expires or is released by all involved parties.
Re: Roommate Wants to Move Out Mid Month and Wants Me to Pay the Remainder
Wow thanks all this really helps put my mind at ease. I'd say that if I find a replacement then I could repay the deposit to her. That would be fair given what she has put me through?????
Thanks again!