Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Massachusetts
Sued by ex-roommate
Last year, a friend of mine asked me to be his roommate in an apartment he had been renting since 2005. We both signed (jointly and severally) a one-year lease with two landladies. The lease term was from August 1st, 2008 through July 31st, 2009. However, due to domestic violence, among other important reasons, I decided to break the lease in December 2008 with the approval of the landladies. It turns out that my ex-roommate is suing me for $2,000 because, according to him, the landladies have prohibited him from looking for a new roommate and, as a result, he is paying the monthly rent on his own. The landladies told me that he is lying because he is allowed to look for another person to share the expenses.
I think he is doing this to evade paying me back $5,000 he owes me. Please, could you give me some advice? Can my ex-roommate win? Should I get a written document from the landladies stating that it was agreed that I needed to leave the apartment?
Thank you very much.
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Sued by ex-roommate
You should file an answer to his (small claims, I assume) law suit, and bring counterclaims against him for the money that he owes you.
If your landladies are cooperative, it would be extremely helpful to obtain affidavits from them, as well as any letters or correspondence from them releasing you from the contract at the time.
Please do not hesitate to contact this office if you would like to discuss this matter further.
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