Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Virginia
Roommate not paying share of utilities
My roommate isn't paying his share of the utilities. Small claims court would cost more than what he owes. The apartment management has placed the roommate, we have seperate leases for our own bedrooms, so I have no choice of who my roommate will be. I consider this to be theft, just like stealing cable. I've notified the management and they say its not their problem. Aren't they responsible for my security if they know there is crime taking place in their complex and and they actually placed this person in my home?
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Roommate not paying share of utilities
What you've described (utilities mooching)from an involuntary roommate, I would not categorize as a crime as you've described it.(Breach of contract or promise would likely be closer to the mark).
However, once this moocher has accumulated a couple hundred dollars worth of unpaid utilities owed to you or six months worth(whichever comes first), you should have a sum suffficent (in my view)to justify suing him in small claims court for the accumulated amount in addition to the $48 filing fee if the matter is in Fairfax County.
I further see no reason as to why this landlord could not place you in a different unit with someone else who has a more responsible view of
these kinds of matters.
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