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Lease Validity
My question involves landlord-tenant law in the State of: Texas
I signed a lease with two other people last July for 24 months. This is through an individual homeowner and not a real estate service. Two months into the lease, one roommate decided she wanted to leave. We contacted the landlord who came to meet with us while the homeowner was on the phone. The homeowner allowed her to move out with no penalty at that time. A new lease was never signed by myself and the other occupant.
Things have gone wrong with myself and the other occupant. She has allowed, without my consent, her cousin to move in. I am now in a position where I can no longer live here as it is currently a 2 on 1 situation. The utility bills are all in my name and are not being paid as they should be. The amount of bills has grown to over $600. I cannot afford to continue things in this manner. All control has shifted from me and I am incredibly uncomfortable.
I guess I need to know what legal ramifications I face should I choose to move out. My first question is that since a new lease was not signed and the 1st occupant was allowed to move out, is the original lease still valid? Also, since the precedent was set that one could move out without penalty, could I be penalized should I choose to leave? This situation is incredibly sticky and I unfortunately have the most riding on it with the excessive unpaid bills and the majority of the furnishing in the house belong to me.
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Re: Lease Validity
If you agreed to release the third roommate, and the landlord agreed to release the third roommate, then the third roommate is released. From her perspective, ideally she would have obtained a written release.
You're still bound by the lease. You can see if your landlord will release you.