If I’m moving into an apartment with 2 other people and we will all be on the lease, is there a way to protect myself if one of them bails?

Get Legal Help Today

Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption

If I’m moving into an apartment with 2 other people and we will all be on the lease, is there a way to protect myself if one of them bails?

I’m currently attending school, and the school provided living is expensive. For the same price we found an apartment where we would each get our own bedroom. We are planning to move out but I don’t want to get stuck in a lease and have one of them leave and the other 2 of us have to figure out how to cover what he owes.

Asked on May 21, 2012 under Real Estate Law, Utah

Answers:

SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 11 years ago | Contributor

There really is no way to protect yourself from this. If one roommate breaches the lease and leaves without paying his/her share, the remaining roommates will have the right to sue him or her for the money he or she owed under the lease and pursuant to any agreements among the roommates...but while that is a way to recover money later, it does not protect you from the fact that you and your other roommate will be liable to the landlord (and so could be sued by him or her, if you don't pay) for the full amount of the lease.

 


IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.

Get Legal Help Today

Find the right lawyer for your legal issue.

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption