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How can I get out of the least! HELP!
Anonymous3 views2 answers
I moved here in houston to work on a research project and co signed an apartment with a student of Public health from nigeria. I recently noticed the smell of marijuana from her room a few times and confronted her a few times. However, she has not stopped.
I am worried that as I am a co signer, it can land me in trouble for no mistake of mine. Also, I am planning to get a lock to lock my room from outside. However, I really need to know the options I have to get out of the lease, or at least be leagally secure because I dont want to get into trouble for no mistake of my own.
The lease runs till June 2016. Please let me know if you could provide me a consultation for the same.
Talk to the manager and ask if you find another person to take your place on the lease, will they release you. If yes, then suggest and help her find a new roommate.
To properly answer this question, you'd need to have an attorney look over the terms of your lease.
Unfortunately, when you are both signed onto the lease it is extremely difficult to get out of unless you both agree to terminate the lease or your roommate agrees to take over the entire lease on their own. Most of the time your best option is to speak with management and see if they will release you if you find someone to sublease the property. If they will, then find a new person to move in, however this may be hard because of the actions of your roommate.
Another option you may have is talking to the apartment complex about what your roommate is doing, they likely have the option to cancel your lease based on illegal activity occurring in the apartment. However, this is probably going to reflect negatively on your credit as well as your roommate's. I would say that this is probably your option of last resort.
Aside from taking your roommate to court and having one of you judicially removed from the lease, or having the lease judicially terminated, there is not a lot that an attorney is going to be able to do for you. If you still need some guidance try contacting an attorney who gives free consultations, they may be able to take a look at your lease agreement and give you some additional guidance.
Keep this experience in mind for the future, as it is generally a better idea to have one roommate sign the lease and the other added as an occupant in order to avoid this situation. Leases are extremely difficult to get out of once both parties have signed.
Best of luck!
