Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Pennsylvania

Are we all liable for one bad roomate?

I leased a house with 5 other roomates at school. We have all paid our full rent on time except for one. Now our landlord is threatening to not only withhold our security deposit, but also sue for the remaining balance. All of our names appear on the lease. Can our landlord just take any money he wants out of our deposit? Is it possible to be exempt from the lawsuit if I have paid my full rent? Thank you.


Asked on 7/14/04, 5:04 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Charles A. Pascal, Jr. Law Office of Charles A. Pascal, Jr.

Re: Are we all liable for one bad roomate?

Not sure what he's suing you for. Are you saying that you routinely paid 5/6 of the rent? And that the landlord is suing you for rent that one person didn't pay?

If that's true, then yes, all people on the lease can be sued for the unpaid rent, unless the lease says that each person is responsible for their own portion. It is very unlikely that the lease says this, as no landlord would sign it with that provision.

Since you are all liable on the lease jointly, all of you (or any of you) can be sued to recover rent. If you lose, and have to pay the unpaid rent, then you may have a suit against the person who didn't pay their "share."

If you are asking a different question, please repost.

Read more
Answered on 7/16/04, 8:44 am


Related Questions & Answers

More Landlord & Tenants questions and answers in Pennsylvania