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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Posts
    2

    Default My Roommate Backed Out On Me Before The Lease Started

    I live in MS and am about to go to law school (go figure). I was going to room with this girl, a friend of mine. She and I both talked many a time about rooming together. She told me to go ahead and find any apt. I did. I signed a 12 month lease with a complex. She authorized me to forge her signature on the lease, even though I am the primary renter. Now she wants to back out and stay where she is now. I am stuck with a 12 month lease at $780 a month, plus utilities.

    By the way, this is the 2nd time she has backed out on me.

    I offered her a solution: I told her that she would have to pay for her half of rent and utilities for 4 months until I find a roommate.

    If she doesn't agree to this, do I have any legal standing?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
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    Default Re: My Roommate Backed Out On Me Before The Lease Started

    Forging her signature on the lease does nothing to bind her to the lease. Is she going to admit that she authorized you to sign for her?

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Posts
    2

    Default Re: My Roommate Backed Out On Me Before The Lease Started

    bad choice of words...she authorized me to sign her name...i have written proof of her giving me authorization to sign her name...

  4. #4
    panther10758 Guest

    Default Re: My Roommate Backed Out On Me Before The Lease Started

    Without power of Attorney you cnanot sign someone elses name to any legal document

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Behind a Desk
    Posts
    98,846

    Default Re: My Roommate Backed Out On Me Before The Lease Started

    It's a bit more complicated than that, but not worth going into the esoteric nuances here. The agreements, and documentation of the agreements, may be sufficient to support a legal action for the would-be-roommate's share of the rent during the time it takes to find a replacement tenant, should it come to that. Not as an agreement with the landlord, but as an agreement between prospective roommates.

    Next time:

    (a) Think twice about entering a lease with somebody who has backed out on you before; and

    (b) Have your prospective roommate sign the lease herself.

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