Results 1 to 3 of 3
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Posts
    2

    Default Roomate deposit issues

    My old roomate told me she was coming to move out the rest of her belongings and clean 5 days before our lease expired. She did move out her belongings, but did absolutely no cleaning. My boyfriend (not living there or part of the lease) and I had to do all of the cleaning for the apt we had lived in for 2 years.
    When the deposit checks were sent to me, I contacted my ex roomie and asked her what portion she thought she deserved. She emailed me back a number, and I sent the check in the mail the next day.
    Then, a month later I get a letter in the mail from her mother's lawyer/coworker that I did not send the correct amount and they expected a new check for 1/2 of the deposit checks. This required me to get a lawyer involved (costing $50 b/c he didn't expect much of a hassle).
    I maintain that the initial email between us is a written agreement, and she is bound to it. She came up with the amount, not me. Is an email a bona fide agreement?
    Also, all of a sudden (three months after this issue started) I got a "Limited Power of Attorney" sheet supposedly signed and notarized in September...before those emails were sent. Can my ex roomate still make her own decisions, or does this Limited Power of Attorney agreement mean that she gave up all of her own rights to make an agreement with me?
    Any and all info anyone has would be greatly appreciated!!!

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

    Default Conflict with Roommate

    Your rights depend upon the laws of the state in which this occurred. What did your lawyer tell you?

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Posts
    2

    Default deposit issues

    My lawyer didn't say too much. He initially thought it shouldn't be a hassle...that the email should act as an agreement between us, so I shouldn't be expected to reissue a check for 1/2 of the deposit. Most recently my lawyer said I should either negotiate a new price or let it be decided in small claims court.
    This whole issue is taking place in Wisconsin.
    My ex roomate's mother is behind this whole problem. She works for a lawyer, so the letters sound like she is trying to scare me into giving them more. However, the most recent letter from them says they will settle for $375 which is $50 less than 1/2 of the deposit. The original amount she decided she thought was fair was $250. Now she is trying to blackmail me by saying that she will tell our previous landlords that we had a cat. However...getting a cat was a joint decision by both me and my old roomie. I did not get a cat until after we moved in. Also, all of the carpet was replaced after we moved out b/c it was in bad shape and had a iron burn in it from previous tenants.
    I am willing to negotiate a price b/c I really don't have time for small claims court. However, I am not will to settle for $375 b/c that only covers the money it cost me to get a lawyer which was their fault to begin with.
    I am especially wondering if those initial emails are still valid despite the fact that her mother now has Limited Power of Attorney. I feel like they wouldn't have been willing to accept a smaller amount if they didn't think I had a case.

    1. Sponsored Links
       

Similar Threads

  1. Roommates: Ex-Roomate Issues
    By willself in forum Landlord-Tenant Law
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 07-22-2008, 07:01 AM
  2. Security Deposits: Getting A Deposit Back From A Roomate In California
    By missy1013 in forum Landlord-Tenant Law
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 04-12-2008, 07:50 AM
  3. Security Deposits: Ex-Roomate Not Returning Security Deposit
    By rohankumar2000 in forum Landlord-Tenant Law
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 04-10-2008, 05:34 PM
  4. Security Deposits: Ex-Roomate Will Not Return Portion Of Deposit
    By jbdit08 in forum Landlord-Tenant Law
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 03-30-2008, 07:20 AM
  5. Roommates: Withholding Roomate's Security Deposit
    By Poopsie in forum Landlord-Tenant Law
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 03-07-2008, 07:21 PM
 
 
Sponsored Links

Legal Help, Information and Resources