Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Pennsylvania

Threatens to come after us with lawyers

My roommates and I moved in to an apartment in June 04, there were three of us. Our one roommate lived in the apartment by herself during the summer and then moved home until school started at the end of Aug. End of july beginning of august my other roommate and I moved in. The day before classes started my other roommate moved back in, and two hours later (with no real reason except, my parents don't know if college is for me) she moved out. She agreed verbally to continue to pay the rent and said she felt very badly. We pay our rent every 3months, she continued to pay the next 3months rent, however when Dec. 1st roled around for the 3rd payment of our rent, she didnt pay. I contacted her and she said she had gotten the wrong address for him i said okay and gave her the address again. My landlord came over today with the building inspector to look at the house and mentioned that our other roommate had not paid the rent and it was not his responsiblity to get it from her. I was at the bank when this happened but my roommate said that he said to her if we dont get this situation figured out in 10 tens, he is coming after the two of us w/ lawyers! if we have been paying our rent can he come after only us & not her?


Asked on 2/22/05, 2:26 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys

Mark Johns Mark Johns, Esquire

Re: Threatens to come after us with lawyers

Unless you have an unusual lease chances are you are the hook for the rent. You will need to file suit on the ex-roomate for money damages and attempt to find a new roomate. I offer free consultations.

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Answered on 2/22/05, 3:33 pm
Marc V. Taiani AAAL - Allegheny Attorneys At Law

Re: Threatens to come after us with lawyers

Depends on the lease, but if all 3 of you are on the lease, then yes he has the right to begin eviction proceedings against the two of you for failure to pay rent! You need to have your former roommate payup ASAP, or you will be evicted from your property. Of course you can always go after the difference owed to the LL from your former roommate, but that wouldn't help you when you're on the street.

My office also offers flat rate pricing and free consultations, for additional information please visit my firm's website at www.AlleghenyAttorneys.com or by calling my office at 412.731.0865.

Sincerely,

Marc V. Taiani, Esquire

AAAL - Allegheny Attorneys At Law

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Answered on 2/23/05, 9:09 am


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