Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in Massachusetts

I subletted a room in an apartment from Sept-December. I was told I'd have to cover 1/2 the utilities, which I agreed to. The other roommate did not inform me until the end of the tenancy that I owed her 3 months of back bills-even though I have emails asking her if I owed. There was also a cleaning service I never knew about or agreed to pay for that came every 3 weeks. I asked them not to clean my area of the apartment and have refused to pay. Once I moved out and the original tenant returned, she wrote me a check, but canceled it when I refused to pay for the cleaning services. She is now demanding that I pay her canceled check fees. Is this even legal? This occurred in Arlington, MA. I currently reside in Medford, MA. There is no written documentation that I signed stating I'd pay for cleaning. There is only email correspondence stating that I would be moving in and would be responsible for 1/2 the utilities. The landlord has paperwork that I moved in, but it only states the dates of tenancy, and that any damages I incur are the responsibility of the original tenant. Can anyone tell me what my rights are, please?


Asked on 12/10/10, 9:40 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Paul Lancia Attorney Paul Lancia

Written document controls with agreements for property.

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Answered on 2/22/11, 1:18 pm


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