Legal Question in Real Estate Law in New Jersey

Re: Renting question

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Answer: This really depends upon your agreement with your roommate and whether you and the roommate agreed that it was okay for you to move out. Your lease must require you and your roommate to pay the utilities. You are a party to that lease and between you and the landlord (not you and your roommate), you have agreed to pay the utilities. But, if you are not living there and are being honest enough to pay half the rent to the roommate, it would not be fair for the roommate to expect you to pay for utilities that you do not use. This would be your defense to a suit by the roommate to force you to pay the utilities. You need to discuss the matter with your roommate rather than wondering if she can sue you. It's not whether she can sue you (anybody can try to sue somebody for anything) but whether she will sue you.

Hope this helps.