Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Connecticut

I live in an apartment in Connecticut with my fiance and our roommate. All three of us signed a year lease in June 2009. The agreement was My fiance and I would put up half and he would put up half of rent, we would split electricity (it is in my fiance and our roommate's name), and cable would be split as well. A few months back (I believe September) we ran into some trouble and asked our roommate to foot the whole month's rent and the agreement was we'd pay for the last month's rent (figuring we'd be completely stable by May and have no problem doing this).

It is now November 9 and our roommate tells us he will be out by November 11. He said he has already put down a security deposit on another place.

I'm wondering what our rights are with us all being on the lease and what we could do to not have our roommates actions in the future haunt us.


Asked on 11/10/09, 1:19 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Linda Subbloie Linda A. Subbloie, Esq.

I'm curious as to what the lease says and whether it is specific as to each of your responsibilities. My guess is that it merely says you are all responsible equally. I would think that you and your fiance are both responsible for the entire lease if your roommate bows out.

The landlord can pursue your roommate, however, he/she may not choose to if you both are responsible pursuant to the lease.

You may be able to seek reimbursement from your roommate in court, but you may owe him the last month's rent or it's equivalent pursuant to your agreement.

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Answered on 11/15/09, 8:47 am


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