My question involves a roommate in the State of: Arizona
My roommate and I entered in an apartment in December. I am not, and have never been on the lease because she has a bad history of breaking leases. We have no written or formal agreement as to my terms of staying in this apartment. It is basically paying month to month and I also had been paying extra because I could leave without a lease problem.
I lost my job and April but have been able to pay rent until now, rent is due on the first. I have always paid on time, helped them out with rent, and paid multiple full utility bills. I can no longer borrow money from family and friends and have decided to move back in with my parents. I informed my roommates of this. Everything was fine and now they are saying I must leave my laptop, camera, plus basically everything but my clothes as collateral for money owed. Is this legal? I have been told it's not and that them trying to harbor my belongings is considered theft. Any truth to this?

