What are my ex-roommate’s rights concerning entering our leased property?
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What are my ex-roommate’s rights concerning entering our leased property?
I live in a 3 bedroom condo. My 2 roommates and I moved in and signed a 1 year lease which ends in 7 months. After several conflicts, about 2 months ago, 1 of my roommates signed a new lease on a different house and moved all of her stuff out of our house. So, I guess you could say she has technically “abandoned” the property because all of her belongings are gone. However, she is still paying her portion of the rent directly to our landlord. I am wondering what her rights are concerning entering the property, since all of her stuff is gone and she doesn’t pay utilities anymore.
Asked on December 24, 2011 under Real Estate Law, North Carolina
Answers:
FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
If your former roommate has vacated the unit that she was sharing with you and took all her belongings, but is still paying a portion of the rent for the unit to the landlord, she is still a tenant of this unit.
Since she is still a tenant of the unit despite not living in the unit, she is legally entitled to access to the property. Since she is not actually living in the unit, she really should not be required to pay any utility bills.
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