Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Florida

Co-tenant moving out without notice or paying.

My girlfriend, myself and a coworker all signed a lease on a 2 bedroom apartment in Tampa, Fl 3 weeks ago. She just went back home (NY) saying she would come back in about a month and a half, and that she would send us any money in the meanwhile for rent and utilities.

We feel that she may not be coming back, she has already failed completely to communicate with us after 5 days of being gone.

When can we determine/decide that she has moved out (including the fact she hasn't given any notice), assuming that she continues to fail to communicate with us? We all signed the lease, and it requires 60 days written notice to move out.

How much rent will she be liable for if we had to bring her to court?

We have nothing written between the three of us, but certainly have a verbal agreement, and she did sign the lease with us.

What should our next step be? We will continue to attempt to reach her, but do we have to wait until she said she was going to be back to really begin taking her off the lease and to start attempting to get money from her? Is there anything we can do currently? She is 19, should we bother attempting to contact her parents with whom she is staying?


Asked on 9/08/08, 11:06 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Alan Wagner Wagner, McLaughlin & Whittemore P.A.

Re: Co-tenant moving out without notice or paying.

You may be out of luck. The contract you three signed allows the landlord to sue either one, two or all three of you if the rent is not paid. The contract does not give you the right to sue her. You would have to depend on your verbal agreement, whatever that is, and it will be tough to prove.

Read more
Answered on 9/09/08, 9:07 am


Related Questions & Answers

More Landlord & Tenants questions and answers in Florida