Roommate lost her job and moved back home and will no longer pay rent. Trying to find another roommate but it’s been very difficult and I don’t expect to fill this place until maybe September. I still have my job but can not afford to pay for this whole apartment for more than 2 months without burning through all my savings. Would you recommend emailing the landlord? Would they even do anything to help?

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She still has a contractual obligation to pay her share of the rent. Sorry but losing your job is not an excuse to stop being responsible.

I would reach out to your LL, explain the situation and work out a deal.

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Your roommate signed a contract agreeing to pay for her part of the rent, make her pay. It’s not fair on you. Alternatively try to sublet your apartment out, but again, if you can’t find someone, she needs to pay

likefunny

She’s the unemployed one. She should be making arrangements to figure out her rent portion and not burden you on it. It’s not on you. It’s her responsibility - dont feel bad. You shouldn’t have to pay her half. Would she do the same for you?

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She needs to pay rent. It sucks and it’s unfortunate that she lost her job, but you shouldn’t be punished because of her circumstances. She signed the contract too.

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Did both of you sign the lease? If so it’s a legal obligation to pay - you can’t decide to just stop paying. Also if they moved back home and are collecting unemployment they should be able to continue making rent payments.

If your roommate refuses to pay and you are unable to convince them I’d email your landlord and let them know the situation and request that any missed payments and late charges etc be reported only on their credit scores.

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Agreed to CYA. Also, how long would her share of the security deposit cover? Could give her a few weeks breathing room while she files for unemployment and start paying.

Take her a** to court, that's not acceptable and in no world should you be held fiscally responsible.

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That really sucks for her but it’s ultimately her responsibility to pay rent or find someone to sublease, not yours.

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Do you have a link to the posting? I’m in search of a sublet...

likehelpful

Best of luck OP, but just remember that in case you can’t find someone to sublet in time, make sure not to be a pushover. Even if you feel bad it’s not your financial responsibility to cover all parts of the rent/sublet!

likehelpful

Only pay for your part of the rent and talk to your landlord. Your roommate still needs to pay

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This is what contracts are for. She needs to own up to it. You’re making it hard on yourself by being nice. Don’t.

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I mean she should be collecting unemployment? And basically living for free now ? She can ship you rent money until you sort this out.

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When the going gets tough, you can’t just run away from your problems. She is dumping this on you OP, and this has the potential to impact your credit. Not cool. She should have made an effort to talk to the landlord or try to find a sublet. Talk to the landlord and take legal action against her if necessary.

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If you both signed the lease, than you're both liable for the entirety of the rent. Whatever split arrangement you had with your roommate (50/50,90/10,etc.) is your own concern and not the Landlord's.

You can certainly hold her liable for her half at some point in the future but that won't help you resolve your immediate problem.

I'd speak to the Landlord and ask him to work with you. Pay what you can now while you look for a roommate and agree to pay the past due over time. I'm a landlord in NJ and I've done this before for my tenants who have a good record with me. I've only evicted those who just flat-out refuse to pay more than whatever they had agreed to with their roommate.

likesmart

This is correct. There's a lot of bad and inaccurate advice in other responses. Unless you signed separate leases you legally responsible for paying the rent. Good luck.

Is this a serious discussion? OP how old are you and have you ever lived with someone before?

I’m assuming she’s a friend so you feel awkward forcing her to pay, but come on. What reasonable adult would dip into their savings at the beginning of a financial crisis to cover a roommate’s rent who has clearly dipped and DGAF?

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When is your lease up? If the landlord is not reasonable or helpful you can probably hold it over his head. It’s true that he might be able to hold you liable for her half of the rent but at the same time he can’t evict you until at least August as of right now. You probably have leverage to get him to sign something that if you continue to pay your half of the rent he won’t hold you accountable for it or sue you/affect your credit for it and that he will only go after the other person on the lease. If he won’t agree to this, you’re probably better off not paying any of the rent because the impact to you will be the same anyway if he takes you to court over half vs the whole thing (the court will likely make you and your roommate each pay half of the amount either way I would think? Whether it’s a bigger amount or a smaller amount). Make sure you get any agreement with the landlord in writing and have written records of all payments you make.

Also, if you come to any agreement with your roommate make sure that’s in writing as well. If she’s a friend it might sound awkward but honestly she’s the one making this an awkward situation to begin with and putting you in a terrible spot.

likehelpful

Yes, this is exactly the way to look at it now that The eviction-stop order has been extended till August.

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Try to lower the sublet rent (either you or ex roommate pay more into it)

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Okay everyone here is being mean but also your roommate is being kinda shitty for straight up saying she won’t pay. I would talk to her and tell her to talk to the landlord and work to find a subletter, because neither of those are your responsibility. But of course she’s in a shitty situation right now too so offer her help to find a new subletter as well, and since the reality is there probably won’t be too many takers see what the landlord says and work out a payment deal with her and the landlord. *only if you’re comfortable and she’s a good friend,* offer to subsidize part of her rent for right now that she can pay later (whatever you’re comfortable with, this number is up to you and not her), and then she’s on the hook to either pay or cut a deal with the landlord for the rest. If you were a millionaire that’s one thing but burning through your savings for this reason is a no no, esp in these times

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Who's on the lease?

If your both on the lease, both of you are liable for the rent. Your recourse will be to take your roommate to small claims court for her share of the rent. Most likely the LL will be expecting the full rent.

She gets unemployment...so she can pay.

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