Results 1 to 2 of 2
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2016
    Posts
    1

    Default Can You Break Your Lease if Your Roommate is Mentally Ill

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

    My roommate, who is on the lease with me until August, has suffered a severe mental break. His behavior has become erratic and disturbing. The police have been called several times due to noise complaints, and he was recently suspended from law school for his "erratic behavior," according to his parents, with whom I'm in contact. I haven't been living at my place for close to two weeks.

    My roommate has never threatened physical harm, but, again, his behavior has become erratic to the point of creating an environment I do not feel safe in. The Psychiatric Emergency Response Team has been called to our apartment several times to deal with my roomie, and he was hospitalized for 72 hours of psychiatric observation several weeks ago. I have the incident numbers for these police visits.

    My question is: am I able to legally break the lease without my roommates consent? I have had a lawyer call him, and I have tried to talk to him as well, but he will not speak with anyone and constantly threatens to sue everyone when they do speak to him. So anything with his consent seems to be out. Can I cite the apartment as an unsafe environment and move my things out without being legally held accountable for the rest of my rent until August?

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

    Default Re: Can You Break Your Lease if Your Roommate is Mentally Ill

    You can move out at any time you choose, but that does not relieve you of your contractual obligation to pay rent. Your landlord is not responsible for your choice of roommate.

    If and when the conduct rises to the level that it would support an anti-stalking restraining order, domestic violence restraining order, or act of domestic violence, you can explore your options under Civil Code, Sec. 1946.7.

    1. Sponsored Links
       

Similar Threads

  1. Roommates: Can Your Roommate Break the Lease if She is Out of Money
    By WorkingGirl1058 in forum Landlord-Tenant Law
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 01-30-2016, 10:39 AM
  2. Breaking a Lease: Roommate Wants to Break Lease, I Do Not
    By Richard C M in forum Landlord-Tenant Law
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 10-19-2013, 09:16 PM
  3. Breaking a Lease: Roommate Wants to Break the Lease
    By PaulZ in forum Landlord-Tenant Law
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 05-10-2011, 08:46 PM
  4. Roommates: Roommate Wanting to Break Lease
    By PaigeL in forum Landlord-Tenant Law
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 02-06-2009, 10:09 AM
  5. Roommates: Roommate issues, want to break lease
    By autumlunn in forum Landlord-Tenant Law
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 05-12-2006, 08:21 AM
 
 
Sponsored Links

Legal Help, Information and Resources