What can I do if my roomate, who is not on the lease, decided to leave giving us only 2 days notice and she owes $600 in rent and utilities?

Get Legal Help Today

Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption

What can I do if my roomate, who is not on the lease, decided to leave giving us only 2 days notice and she owes $600 in rent and utilities?

I already had her sign written documents saying what she owes and the date we need it by. Can I change the locks so she can’t get in to take her stuff?

Asked on September 28, 2012 under Real Estate Law, South Carolina

Answers:

SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 11 years ago | Contributor

No, you may NOT change the locks or otherwise keep your roommate from getting her belongings: doing so is potentially a crime, since you have no right to her belongings (i.e, depending on the exact circumstances, it could be a form of theft). What you can do is to sue her, including in small claims court (where filing fees are low, you can act as your own attorney, and cases move fairly quickly) to recover the money.


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