Q: Leasing co. going after both me and roommate for charges roommate is responsible for.
Leasing company charged hundreds of dollars for new person to be added to lease, which new roommate did not pay (I paid another 'application fee' as remaining roommate on 'altered' lease). Leasing co. added late fees, which roommate never paid. I moved out a week before roommate did near the end of our lease, and roommate left the place full of furniture and trash. Leasing co. added on charges for this as well. What are my options?
A: In Virginia, generally all residential leases make all tenants jointly and severally liable for the terms and conditions of the lease. If your roommate failed to pay his share, as you agreed with that roommate, the landlord and leasing company is not bound by the agreement between you and your roommate. The lease controls the rights and obligations between the parties to the lease. If the landlord sues you for monetary damages, you do not have any options except to put them to the burden of proof test in court. If the landlord sues only you, you have the right to implead your roommate and claim contribution.
1 user found this answer helpful
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.
