Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Texas

''Oral rental agreement gone sour''

My boyfriend made an oral rental agreement with a friend for 1 years rent, before we began dating. When he began dating me, we spent little time at his apartment and little time with his friend and his girlfriend. This upset the two of them, and they became rude and obnoxious anytime we did try to come over. We found out that the reason he needed a roomate in the first place was that he and his girlfriend ran his previous one off. We had to put our groceries in his room so they wouldn't eat them--something they had admitted doing to the previous roomate while we were still in their ''good graces''. After being treated horribly for a couple of months, my boyfriend moved in with me. He has not been back to his apartment in 3-4 months. Yet, he continues to pay rent and bills tohis so called ''friend''!!! The lease is over in May, but I need help with my rent (at the place where he ACTUALLY lives). My boyfriend is not on the lease, the agreement was completely oral. Is there any way to get out of it? If not, the guy is moving away in May with his girlfriend when she graduates. Do you think he would actually sue?


Asked on 1/27/03, 9:55 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Michael Dover Michael A. Dover, PC

Re: ''Oral rental agreement gone sour''

An oral lease agreement for a term of less than 1 year is enforceable under Texas law. Your boyfriend could be held liable if he stopped paying his roommate. Whether the roommate would sue over a few months rent is a factual question that I cannot answer.

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Answered on 1/28/03, 12:40 am


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