Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Oklahoma

Lease and Utilities

I am leasing a home with two other roomates. All three of us signed our own lease. I no longer live there but still pay the lease until august of 08' my name is not on any of the bills, do I have to pay for the utilities and cable if I am no longer living there. The two roomates are saying they can take me to court to pay the utilitys and cable. We never sat down and had an aggreement that we would split the bill, it was just understood. I payed up until Dec. which is when I moved out. Do I have to pay for either bill?


Asked on 3/07/08, 1:32 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys
David Anderson Anderson Business Law LLC

Re: Lease and Utilities

What does lease say?

What did you pay before you ditched the house?

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Answered on 3/07/08, 1:52 pm
Marsha Dixon

Re: Lease and Utilities

My answer is no. Because rutilities are subject to usage or the users. The users are now the the remaining tenants and this usage do not include you because vacated the dwelling. It would be different if you had agreed to pay even after vacating the premises.

Secondly, you do not have a written agreement stating that you are responsible for the utilities, which left your participation merely ethical and voluntary. If you have continued to pay your rent which, is advisible until they find another replacement tenant, I applaud your efforts.

Never-the-less, utilities are a service to the unit itself and separate from the lease agreement so you should not be held liable for a utility services you did not use or take responsiblity for.

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Answered on 3/09/08, 2:15 pm


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