Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Florida

roommate's termination of lease

My roommate and I signed a 12 month lease in July of 2001. She is now breaking to lease by moving out to live with her mother in a house out-of-state. I have tried to find a new roommate or a new place to live that i can afford by myself, but have come up with nothing. This means I now have to give up my full time job, my part time job, and my apartment to move back home with my own mother. Between losing my two jobs and the cost of moving to another state, I do not have the funds to pay the fee for breaking our lease. She told me that she was moving the day before she told the apartment manager, giving me almost no notice. I told her that i would give her what I could, but I think that it is her responsibility to pay the rest since this was not a mutual decision. I know that we are both legally responsible, but does that mean that we both have to pay exactly half, or does that just mean that we are both held accountable if the money is not paid? Should I have to pay for her termination of the lease even though I am actually being forced to move on short notice?


Asked on 12/06/01, 5:36 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Joel Cohen Joel M. Cohen,P.A.

Re: roommate's termination of lease

This is not an uncommon problem with "roommate" situations. She left you holding the bag. The landlord has no legal obligation to collect one-half of the rent from each of you. You each owe the entire rental.I suggest that you offer the landlord a lesser amount to let you out, as opposed to your simply moving and the landlord gets nothing. Take a lesson from this roommate.

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Answered on 12/06/01, 11:20 pm


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