Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in California

Legality of Verbal Agreement

My housemates and I split up our

lease according the rooms that we

have in the house. We decided this

shortly after signing our lease, which

didn't state the cost per room. All of

us agreed to the prices. Now, some of

the guys want to change the price

per room after we already started

paying rent. If all of them but me

want to change it, and I say no, are

they legally bound by agreeing to the

original terms?


Asked on 6/19/09, 8:08 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Jerold M. Gorski Law Offices of Jerold M. Gorski

Re: Legality of Verbal Agreement

So long as your portion does not increase, does it matter? If it's 400/450/500/600 and you are paying 450 and they decide they'll each pay 500, it's no different than if they follow the lease and roommate #1 pays 100 towards roommate #4's rent as a gift every month. That said, it really isn't so much what they want to decide amongst themselves, but the fact that you have an agreement that *your* rent is 450 and they can't now try to insist that everyone pay 487.50. But, it depends a great deal on many other factors (including, what the written lease says, whether your agreement on the rent split is in writing, etc.).

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Answered on 6/20/09, 2:56 am


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