I have a single-family home lease with 3 other roomates. 3 of us moved in fine and split all bills, including utilities. One roomate was very unreliable, but paid his first months rent and deposite and thats it. He informed us that he lost his job and would be looking for work all over the US. After he informed us of this, he disappeared for 3 weeks with no communication after multiple calls daily to collect utilites deposites and bills. I had a homeless friend who was involved in a serious car accident and was down and out. I offered to help her out by giving her a place to stay (and weekly allowance for food and such). She stayed a few nights (4 or 5) out of a 3 week period. I was driving her to and from school and helped her get a job. She started to move her stuff in to the house so she didnt loose it from storage. She made the mistake of putting some of her stuff in the 4th persons room (who was MIA) and we planned on somehow transfering the lease from him to her once we reached him. Then out of the blue, the old roomate stops in and goes nutty- yelling and screaming. Anyway, he offered sign off of the lease if we repay his deposite plus first months rent. I however spoke with an attorney who said that is a bad Idea and that I should let him default on his obligations and then take him to small claims. Any oppinions???
BTW... this roomate is a cocaine addict and sexually harassed two of us also on the lease.

