Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Georgia

I cosigned on a property lease for my girlfriend. Due to the lack of insulation and poor doors and windows she could not pay rent due to utility bills. She is moving out and the landlord is coming after me. She was having to live without using the heat or air. Her utility bills were astronomical, she put up candy wrap and blankets over the windows and sliding doors to keep out the cold,There were huge gaps in the sliding doors, and windows. It stayed cold all the time in winter, and hot in summer, she has a 6 year old and was a bad situation for them. The gas co. said it was the worst home in the neighborhood as far as large bills. The master bath would back up every time u take a shower, so u stand in your own dirt. Took 3 weeks or longer to repair a leaky roof, the fireplace was not usable, smoke came straight into the house. Also he did not disclose there were 2 child molestors in the nieghborhood, one right across the street. Not sure about landlord disclosure on that. I was wondering if I have an arguement as to having to pay the 4 months she will not be paying. Thanks for any help u can give me. Bert


Asked on 8/19/09, 8:18 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Scott Riddle Law Office of Scott B. Riddle, LLC

This was the risk you willingly agreed to take when you signed the agreement. You fail to mention a thing about the lease, any discussions with the landlord about defects in the property, etc. If she just irresponsibly up and left, landlords are generally accustomed to tenants coming up with all kinds of reasons later (when it comes time to pay), and rarely will that work.

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Answered on 8/24/09, 8:29 am


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