Results 1 to 2 of 2
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Posts
    1

    Default Roommate Did Not Pay Rent

    My question involves a roommate in the State of: Maryland

    I entered in to a year long lease in Baltimore, MD with my name and one other person. Immediately after moving in I got orders to deploy to Afghanistan for three months. During which I sent my rent to him every month via wire transfer. After returning and being home only a few weeks I came home one day to find an eviction notice on my door. I took the notice down to the leasing office to find out the details. I was informed that my roommate never turned in rent the entire time I was deployed. I returned to my apartment to confront him. He went down to the leasing office and returned stating it was all taken care of. Three months go by and to my surprise I return home to find another eviction notice on my door. I once again head down to the leasing office and find that he did not pay the full amount but only enough to stop the eviction. So once again he heads down and returns stating that it was all taken care of. The day that the eviction was going to happen he informs me that he did not take care of the rent and that the police would be there to evict us because he did not have the money to pay the bill. The remaining balance that needed to be payed was $1800. At this time the sheriffs show up to begin the eviction process. I work with the sheriffs and pay $1500 while the roommate payed $300 to stop the eviction. The eviction is stopped and a payment plan is worked out between the apartment complex and the roommate to pay for the unpaid rent. The month before we were due to leave the lease we received another eviction notice. The final eviction notice was stopped because we were due to move out before the eviction would take place. We left the apartment with roughly $6800 unpaid. The matter was discussed with the apartment company and the roommate was said to have an allotment set up out of his paycheck to pay over a year the unpaid rent. Almost 6 months go by and everything looked to be taken care of, until I received a phone call from a debt collector in regards to the full balance of $6800 still unpaid. At this time I bring the issue up to the roommates bosses to see if they can help facilitate getting this resolved. A back and forth dialogue went on between the claims company, myself, and the roommate for another 3 months just ending with me paying $5122.00 before the claim was placed on my credit report.

    I have recently moved out of Maryland and into Virginia due to the military.

    Where do I have to file? Maryland or Virginia?

    Can I take criminal action? Grand Larceny? Due to the money I sent him not being used for its intended purpose?

    What action should I take to try and get the money back?

    Thanks alot for any advice!!!!!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Behind a Desk
    Posts
    98,846

    Default Re: Roommate Did Not Pay Rent

    If you're on active duty be sure to assert your rights under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act.

    You lived with your ex-roommate in Maryland and you've given no indication that he has any association with the State of Virginia, so if you're going to sue your ex-roommate you would do so in Maryland.

    I would expect the police to tell you that your dispute over the division of rent with your ex-roommate is a civil matter.

    1. Sponsored Links
       

Similar Threads

  1. Roommates: Roommate Won't Pay Bills or Rent After Giving Notice
    By princessj91 in forum Landlord-Tenant Law
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 05-01-2011, 11:43 PM
  2. Roommates: Roommate Won't Pay Rent
    By thurley451 in forum Landlord-Tenant Law
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 04-26-2010, 05:44 AM
  3. Eviction Process: Does a Non Rent-Paying Guest Have Rights Vis a Vis the Rent Paying Roommate
    By TKNYC in forum Landlord-Tenant Law
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 02-12-2009, 07:45 AM
  4. Roommates: Do I Owe Rent to My Roommate After I Move Out
    By HornBlower in forum Landlord-Tenant Law
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 01-09-2009, 05:15 PM
  5. Roommates: Roommate will not pay rent
    By far2006 in forum Landlord-Tenant Law
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 11-06-2006, 09:24 PM
 
 
Sponsored Links

Legal Help, Information and Resources