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  1. #1

    Default Roommate Refuses to Pay His Full Share of the Rent

    My question involves landlord-tenant law in the State of: California

    I have a month-to-month contract together with my roommate. We're both co-tenants. I've been here for almost 5 years and this is my 3rd roommate. He moved in in January 2014. I showed him the master room and we agreed on splitting the rent in half and he'd take care of internet and electricity bill. Things went well for the first 4 months. Then he started being a pain in the butt. We had our neighbor knock on our door to complain about his music. He started leaving dishes in the sink, and he said he'd not clean them because I slam doors at night and don't let him sleep (which is absurd because I don't even get up at night). Last month, when I complain about him leaving a pot with pieces of boiled broccoli on the stove for more than 2 days, he said that my clean kettle bothered him too. He also added that he would deduct some money from rent because he wants 50% of the common area space (cupboards and cabinet that belongs to my bathroom). I own all the furniture in the apartment, as well as kitchen utensils, etc, so obviously that stuff takes more room, but he had his own shelves. This month I only paid my share of rent because he didn't give me his check. On the 4th he told me he was in the hospital and would pay me when he came back. Since I didn't want to have problem with property manager for ate payment I paid. On the 7th, when he came back I had to ask for the check and he said he's give me 2 options, either deduct $50 from his rent or I had to pay the electricity bill. I said I didn't accept any of those because we had a deal from the very beginning. I told him I'd clear half of the cabinets in the kitchen to make him happy and so I did, but he still deducted $50 from the total amount and gave me a check for $750, when the total due on July 1st was $800. I told him he owed me $50 and he said he also wants half of the cabinet space that belongs to my bathroom because it's located in the common area. That is part of my bathroom and I told him that was not pat of the deal. He has the master room and I have the small room with bathroom across the hall. He refused to pay me those $50. The cabinets that I cleared for him are still empty because he only has 2 plates, 2 cups, 2 bowls and 2 glasses. He's been having those stupid complaints in order to upset me and leave.
    On top of that, he told me that he had given fake references to secure this place because he knew his previous landlord wouldn't give good reference. He told me hat had happened and I believed him, but it was something similar to what he's been doing here, that's why the previous landlord let him leave without giving any notice.
    Can he just deduct money from rent because he want to? In the end I paid more than him this month when he has the master and I have a small room.
    I don't want to have to leave this place where I've lived for almost 5 years. Is it fair that such a jerk, who's only been here for 6 months can get his way and make me leave?
    What can I do? He's been very rude and aggressive in his responses and I've been locking myself in my room for 2 months because I'm scared of his reactions.
    I contacted the property manager and obviously they don't care.
    What can I do??? HELP

    Thanks!

  2. #2
    Join Date
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    Default Re: Roommate Refuses to Pay His Full Share of the Rent

    His rationale for deducting the $50 is what?

  3. #3

    Default Re: Roommate Refuses to Pay His Full Share of the Rent

    He just decided that since I don't want to share the little cabinet next to my bathroom with him (which has always belonged to my bathroom), he's going to deduct $50 from rent (he came up with that amount). According to him my other option is to pay the electricity bill. He never actually asked me for it. He just told that if I didn't clear it he'd do that.

    Is that legal?! What if next month he says that my couch and my dinning room table take too much room or something stupid like that?

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
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    Posts
    98,846

    Default Re: Roommate Refuses to Pay His Full Share of the Rent

    If the situation is untenable you can give notice and move. In the interim, or at the conclusion when you move, you have recourse through small claims court.

  5. #5

    Default Re: Roommate Refuses to Pay His Full Share of the Rent

    I know I can move out whenever, but I wouldn't like to have to do that, since I've been here for so long. Next month I'll just pay my share. It's going to bring problems with the property manager so if she sues us, what are the scenarios? Would I win if I say that he decided to deduct that money but we never agreed on that?

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