miranadobe
Posted : 6/21/2006 11:46:13 AM
Since there four names on this lease, will it be possible if the ammount is divided by four,
It depends on the TYPE of lease you signed. It should be explicit in the lease if all signed parties are equally 100% responsible... I had a lease like that and when my roommate skipped out and let her rent check bounce, I had to pay the difference because I was 100% responsible (
as was she, although she was gone.) Other lease types will say the tenants are proportionally responsible - ie, 25% to each of the 4 roommates. It's less likely you have that type of lease - most landlords want the most accountability they can get.
Check out the laws in CA for your rights and your landlord's obligations to report the problems or return the deposit. I suspect that friend has been contacted well before now, so don't let the 9months fool you (but the landlord would have to provide proof that he's tried to contact all of you within whatever legal timeframe is allowed.) I also would NOT respond to ANYONE until I knew my rights and obligations first. Once you know what you're legally obligated to, then contact the property management company directly. Be warned that your ex-roommate may be ignoring the landlord and is trying to get you to take the fall for it ALL.
Landlords go through this all the time, so don't expect much leniency. It's a business and they want as much money out of it as they can get. But you should know what they're legally intitled to at this point. Ugh - good luck!