About Sylvia Bergthold Expertise I can answer questions dealing with roommate situations including compatability, leases, placing roommate wanted ads, what you have to offer to a roommate, sharing of utilities and other services, interviewing techniques and questions, some legal aspects of housesharing, clearance information, etc.
Experience I have had roommates in my home for over 32 years and am the author of:
"SORRY, THE BOA HAS GOTTA GO!" A Roommate Survival Guide
Publications The Los Angeles Times, The HB-FV Independent, The Arizona Tribune, Lansing Michigan Rental Guide, Roommate Locator Newsletter, The Plain Dealer,, Las Vegas Sun, Apartment Lifestyles Magazine, Instyle Magazine, The Whiz.com, Cosmopolitan, Under 25, The Portsmouth Herald
Expert: Sylvia Bergthold Date: 12/6/2006 Subject: Roommate's "bail" on lease
Question Me and my four roommates (all girls) rent out a house from our landlord in which we signed a one year lease (Aug '06- Aug '07). Just last month (Nov. '06) one of the roommates got engaged. They are planning a middle of March wedding. We were under the impression that she is still responsible for that rent regardless, whether that means paying it or finding a replacement that we all agree upon (we made a verbal agreement of this to each other...as friends!). In addition, we believe that according to lease she is responsible for the portion of the rent. The engaged roommate just left us all a letter stating that she had contacted our landlord and he had agreed to remove her from the lease as of April 30, 2007 and that the remaining roommates would be responsible to either find a replacement renter or divide the rent among us. What grounds does our roommate and landlord have in this situation? What happened if we all decided to move or get married....is it true if he makes an exception of one he should be capable of making it for all of us? What are the legal backups we have in this. We do not have any replacement in mind nor can we afford for our rent to go up. Thanks so much
Answer Hi Heather
I don't understand your dilemma here, honest I don't. Your roommate gave you FOUR MONTHS to find someone. It is NOT like she is walking out on all of you tomorrow. Are you telling me you can't find a roommate in four months? In todays rental market, I find this extremely hard to believe. I find roommates in a matter of weeks and I have been doing this for 32 years. If you need help, buy my Roommate Survival Guide and learn how to find a responsible and compatible roommate. Trust me it works and you are panicking for nothing.
And verbal agreements are worth zip, okay? My book explains WHY and HOW to write up an agreement between all the roommates. Having roommates is a business and you always need paperwork to run a business.
Your roommate has already made arrangements with the landlord to be removed from the lease at the end of April so deal with this. And yes, I suppose if each and everyone of you decided to get married or move out, the landlord can rewrite the lease agreement. He is the landlord. He is the boss. You have certain rights, I grant you but making a roommate continue to pay rent when she no longer lives there is ludicrous. She is supposed to be your friend isn't she? Shouldn't you be happy that she is getting married? I just lost a roommate to marriage this year and I was very sad to see her go but happy for her. Now wish your roommate the very best, okay?
Go to the Fair Housing Council in your city if you still want to pursue the "legalities" of this matter. However I think you are being childish and foolish. And I believe the courts would see it my way too. You have FOUR MONTHS. Now go on line, buy my book and get started looking for someone. And make sure it is a stranger, NOT someone you know. The first rule in my book is NEVER roommate with friends (or relatives).... read the letters to this column for backup of this rule...
Good Luck
Sincerely
Sylvia Bergthold
www.aroommatesurvivalguide.com
