i got the money order for the security deposit and took it to the rental agent. my former roomate paid 1/2 of the deposit to me in cash. i deposited the cash into my account, got the money order and have the receipt for the money order. we lived together 3 years. all the utilities were in my name, i paid by check and have a paper trail of every bill i paid. the leasing agent never even met my roomate, but her name is on the lease. the landlord has no idea how the desposit was split between me and my former roomate, therefore when we moved out, the final security deposit check was made out to me.
my former roomate owed me money for utilites, moving van etc, and back rent so i kept the whole deposit check, since it was made out to only me. is my former roomate entitled to 1/2 from me, even though she owes me alot of money. the leasing agent is saying she (agent) may now have to pay my ex roomate her 1/2 of the deposit since she (agent) made the check out to me.
my ex roomate was lazy and never expressed any interest in dealing with the rental agent or any issues with this house. she never even got a copy of her lease agreement.
what are my options, since i refuse to pay back a dead beat. she owed me money.
i know small claims court, but i don't want to go that route if i don't have to, since i will never see the money - that's why i kept the 450.00 from the 900.00 deposit -
angry in florida

