Legal Question in Real Estate Law in New York

roommate broke lease, wants security deposit

I am a female who signed a lease with a male roommate. He turned out to be quite verbally abusive. He moved out at the end of May, leaving me to pay the rest of the rent through July. He continued to email and call me to get me to agree to pay his share of the rent. He kept claiming that I ''owed'' him for things he bought over a year ago, which was absolutely absurd. He even wrote that he needs me to give him money now because he needs to pay for his new security deposit in his new apartment. What nerve! I truly didn't owe him any money, he was just trying to bully me into giving him money. I knew i had to keep paying the rent anyway, so i finally responded to one of his emails stating that i will pay out the rest of his rent and we are even. I only wrote that to get him to stop harassing me and because i have to pay his share anyway if i want to continue living there. Anyway, i finally moved out and the landlord gave me the full security deposit, including my old roommates portion. Now, he wants his half of the security deposit, stating that i agreed to payout his rent, thus entitling him to the security deposit? He actually paid me July rent, but not June. Why would he do that if we had an ''agreement''? Who is liable?


Asked on 8/05/05, 3:23 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys

Robert R. Groezinger GroezingerLaw P.C.

Re: roommate broke lease, wants security deposit

Why not just keep the money until he sues you for it. If you are in Jersey now, this will be quite a feat if he is not in NJ--it will not be financially worth it for him to sue you there.

Good Luck

RRG

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Answered on 8/05/05, 3:47 pm
Robert Davies The Davies Law Firm, P.A.

Re: roommate broke lease, wants security deposit

These types of situations are nasty. You paid his rent, and now he wants back his part of the security? NO. You have a couple of options, but continuing to let someone harass you is not one of them. If you want some assistance, give me a call. I am in northern NJ. 973 890 0400

Bob Davies

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Answered on 8/05/05, 4:26 pm


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