Legal Question in Civil Litigation in North Carolina
I have been staying with a friend for 7 weeks or so. I have chipped in with the utilities and groceries. There was never any mention of paying rent (and nothing was presented for me to sign). I have leased my own place now and all of a sudden I have been presented with a BILL for RENT??? Am I legally obligated to pay this random sum?
2 Answers from Attorneys
you would not be legally obligated if your facts are accurate.
If you have nothing in writing, then you are not obligated. However, legal obligation is not the same as moral obligation. Do you value this person as a friend and do you still want to be friends with him or her? If the answer is no, then by all means, don't pay. Don't expect him or her to be friends with you anymore.
If the answer is yes, the fact is that you got to stay there for nearly 2 months rent free. Although you chipped in for utilities and groceries, this does not begin to compensate your friend. If it were me, I would offer to pay something, but factor in the utility bills and the groceries.
Just my opinion on this - you owe nothing and if he/she tries to sue, he/she would not recover anything provided that you did not sign anything that could be contrued as a lease.
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