Roommates Won't Allow Me To Get Out Of The Lease

Roommates Won't Allow Me To Get Out Of The Lease by Brien O'Conan (Massachusetts) on June 13, 2014 @19:25

I live in a college apartment with 2 other roommates (a couple). We need to give our 30 day notice soon to tell the leasing manager if we want to renew or not.

We were told that we have 3 choices:
1.) If everybody is staying, tell them we want to renew
2.) If one or more of us wants to leave, tell them we will not be renewing, and a new lease will be written up for those (plus any new tenants) who will be staying
3.) Do not respond and be automatically put on a month to month lease

So I drafted the letter for all of us to sign, saying that we won't be renewing since at least one of us is leaving. My roommates are refusing to sign the letter saying that I am giving them too short notice, and that they won't be able to find a roommate in 30 days because of their busy schedules, and don't want to risk paying higher rent if that happens.

I tried talking/reasoning with them which led nowhere. How do I get out of this situation in the short time we have til the lease ends? Can I just refuse to sign the month to month lease that they will make us sign for failing to provide notice? Can I revise the notice saying that we all agree to renew so my roommates will sign it, and then just refuse to sign the new lease? Should I just skip out and hope for the best, that I won't be sued, and my credit ruined???

I absolutely cannot stay because I am moving out of state for a job offer. My roommates are psychopaths.

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Re: Roommates Won't Allow Me To Get Out Of The Lease by Katiekate (New York) on June 13, 2014 @19:34	[ Reply ]

What is the problem. Take option 2 Inform the landlord that you will not be staying. Do it in writing. The roommates that want to stay can sign a new lease...figure out how to get a new roommate or not as they choose. You are not on the hook here. Take option 2. But, be sure you do it in writing with the proper amount of notice to the landlord. Then...move when the time comes. M

Re: Roommates Won't Allow Me To Get Out Of The Lease

Stick with Katie-Kate's line of reasoning by CA/OR on June 13, 2014 @22:56	[ Reply ]

Don't scare easily and look into it. I'd follow the theme of Katie Kate's advise.

Re: Roommates Won't Allow Me To Get Out Of The Lease by Kim on June 14, 2014 @12:11	[ Reply ]

Have you thought about consulting an attorney? Yes, it may cost money...but some attorneys will do an initial consult for free and even if it does cost you, it may be cheaper than paying even one more month's rent. I'd make an appointment with one ASAP that specializes in either real estate or contract law (or both) and find out if you really are on the hook here and what could potentially happen and what your options are. Obviously, you don't want to have your credit ruined or be sued and found at fault. And, you don't want to lose any more sleep over this. Perhaps something as simple as a letter from the attorney to your roommates and to the landlord will solve the problem. Or you may have even more options. This is a stressful situation for you...you don't need to leave town and go to your new job worrying about what these narcisistic roommates and the landlord may do to you.

Re: Roommates Won't Allow Me To Get Out Of The Lease

Re: Roommates Won't Allow Me To Get Out Of The Lease by Brien O'Conan (Massachusetts) on June 16, 2014 @10:43	[ Reply ]

Thank you all for your advice. I have opted for option 2 and sent an individual notice to vacate via Certified Mail Return Receipt Requested.

Re: Roommates Won't Allow Me To Get Out Of The Lease

Roommates Won't Allow Me To Get Out Of The Lease - Landlord Forum thread 319962