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Sub-tenant passing bad check, owing money, moving w/o notice

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beth22285

Junior Member
What is the name of your state? CA

Leaving without notice/stopping payment on rent check

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I live in Los Angeles, California and have recently had some problems with my roommate. Our situation is this: we lived together in a two bedroom apartment, but our lease was in my name only, as well as all of the bills, etc. and she was my sub-tenant. After some disagreements (including her moving in her obnoxious boyfriend who started fights with the neighbors who are relatives of the landlord, etc.) we mutually decided that it would be best that she move out, and she said that she would move out in the end of May, giving me 30 days notice to start looking for another person to help me with the rent. I attempted to cash the check she had given me for the rent but was unable to because payment on the check had been stopped. When I confronted her, she told me that supposedly her mother had frozen her bank account (the account is in my roommate's name only) because she didn't want her to move to another apartment, she wanted to her come and live at home. This explanation is obviously a poorly crafted lie, but I don't have access to a lot of information that would serve as proof of its falsity. I told her that she could not stay if she didn't pay me, and she in turn moved out instead of paying me (not surprisingly, she already had two of her friends who own pickup trucks ready to help her - obviously she had this all planned). I believe that I may sue her for up to 3 months of rent because she gave me no notice, and she owes me utilities for March and April. Does she also owe me for May because she gave no notice? I am now in possession of her refrigerator as collateral because I believe she also owes me money for a month of rent from early on in our agreement, and we need to come to an agreement over certain items that she took/that I have. Because the contract is in my name only,the owners of the apartment have already told me that they will act as witnesses as to the terms of my ex roommate's contract. I would appreciate any advice, tips, or direction on how to handle this situation. Thanks!
 


south

Senior Member
The stop payment check is your evidence.
In regards to what you can sue her for besides the amount on the stopped check, look at your lease/agreement with her if it requires a certain period of notice you can sue for that but place a few adverts for new roommates so you can show the judge you made an effort to replace her during that time frame.




beth22285 said:
What is the name of your state? CA

Leaving without notice/stopping payment on rent check

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I live in Los Angeles, California and have recently had some problems with my roommate. Our situation is this: we lived together in a two bedroom apartment, but our lease was in my name only, as well as all of the bills, etc. and she was my sub-tenant. After some disagreements (including her moving in her obnoxious boyfriend who started fights with the neighbors who are relatives of the landlord, etc.) we mutually decided that it would be best that she move out, and she said that she would move out in the end of May, giving me 30 days notice to start looking for another person to help me with the rent. I attempted to cash the check she had given me for the rent but was unable to because payment on the check had been stopped. When I confronted her, she told me that supposedly her mother had frozen her bank account (the account is in my roommate's name only) because she didn't want her to move to another apartment, she wanted to her come and live at home. This explanation is obviously a poorly crafted lie, but I don't have access to a lot of information that would serve as proof of its falsity. I told her that she could not stay if she didn't pay me, and she in turn moved out instead of paying me (not surprisingly, she already had two of her friends who own pickup trucks ready to help her - obviously she had this all planned). I believe that I may sue her for up to 3 months of rent because she gave me no notice, and she owes me utilities for March and April. Does she also owe me for May because she gave no notice? I am now in possession of her refrigerator as collateral because I believe she also owes me money for a month of rent from early on in our agreement, and we need to come to an agreement over certain items that she took/that I have. Because the contract is in my name only,the owners of the apartment have already told me that they will act as witnesses as to the terms of my ex roommate's contract. I would appreciate any advice, tips, or direction on how to handle this situation. Thanks!
 

Who's Liable?

Senior Member
Yes you can sue her for the utility bills for the time period she was living in the apartment with you.

If she has indeed left the unit, change the locks on the door and if you catch her back in the unit, call the cops as it is B&E
 

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