Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Virginia
Roommate/landlord
My previous roommate and I signed a 1 year rental lease. The lease expired on April 1, 2004. I decided to move out after 3 months and the roommate agreed and confirmed this in an e-mail. The landlord had no problem with it and I remained on the lease. The lease does NOT have an automatic renewal clause and requires 60 days notice of intent to leave, which was provided by me but not by the roommate.
The roommate was given permission to stay a couple months after the ending of the lease by the landlord.
The roommate chose to paint the apartment different colors, paying out of her own pocket the cost of the paint and painters when we moved in. The roommate chose not to re-paint the apartment back to its original color when she moved out 2 months after lease end.
The roommate had multiple pets (3 cats and 1 large dog). During the roommates stay, the pets left many stains, tears, and rips on the carpets. According to the landlord, the carpets will need to be replaced because of the pets. The roommate chose not to have the carpets cleaned or replaced either before or after she moved out.
The landlord is taking us both to court to pay for the painting, lawyer, and carpet costs. Am I responsible for any payment?
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Roommate/landlord
You as well as your roommate are what's called in the law jointly and severally liable for the damages which the landlord is seeking to recoup, meaning that the landlord can seek and obtain a judgment against one and/or both of you and collect from one and/or both of you an amount equal to(one)judgment which is equal to the total amount of your damage claim awarded by the court.
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