Q: What can I do to avoid taking the financial fall for early lease termination when the co-signee won't pay?
I co-signed a 12-mo. apt lease with my then-boyfriend. We established that neither of us were able to afford the entire rent individually and agreed, in the event of a split, we'd initiate lease termination and split the cost. We broke up, I remain in the apt and have initiated lease termination. My ex is refusing to provide his portion of the rent and lease-termination expense. I cannot afford the entire expense. What are the possible results? If I demonstrate cooperative intention in paying my half of the expenses, will the property pursue him only? Will I be evicted prior to termination for being unable to pay the entire expense? What will likely happen? What can I do to handle this appropriately?
A: Get another roommate? Use common sense. The landlord will most likely not let either of you out of the contractual obligation.
A: You are both jointly and severally liable. Get a new roommate or attempt to work out a payment structure with the landlord.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
