Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in Michigan
Rent money imbalance - extortion?
An acquaintance and I recently moved into an apartment together. As I was short on money, he paid the entirety of the first month's rent (which was reduced from the normal amount due to a rent credit made part of our lease because of his employer.) There was no written agreement of repayment, though I said I would try to pay him back.
I am now moving out (changing my place on the lease for someone else) and he is trying to claim half of the first month's rent as a legal debt - or more accurately, trying to claim half of a normal month's rent, claiming the rent credit applied only to him, not to both people on the lease.
Does he have any legal claim? For that matter is what he's doing count as extortion?
Other info:
Both our names are on the lease currently.
The lease does not address proportional payment for multiple names on the lease.
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Rent money imbalance - extortion?
I don't see how this is extortion. You are jointly and severally liable for the rent, so if he didn't pay you'd both be evicted, but that doesn't mean he can't pursue you for your share of the rent.
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