Shared Accom Problem.

Check the contract, is it direct with the landlord or through an estate agent? If she has signed the contract then I think there isn't much she can do.

But things can change, I'm still awaiting £2k from a guy who left without paying the rent. If they do take her to court, she can just turn around and say I can't afford it and I'll pay £5/10/month for however many months.
 
You could be screwed if the contract you signed stipulated joint and several liability, that means you can be liable for the others debt, the landlord can start proceedings to claim the money from you individually or as a group.

I had this after a couple of housemates decided they weren't going to pay rent for a few months. After talking to the the landlord I managed to convince him not include me in the claim, I lost my deposit though.
 
Abraham said:
irrelevant, they can persue her for the debt, but they can't take it out of her deposit which should be protected in a scheme
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your deposit should be protected in some sort of scheme (i forget the exact details) you should have a letter about the deposit you put down. if you want to annoy the landlord check to see if it has been put into the protection thing. if it has not and they are just keeping it "safe" you can claim a couple of grand i think as they are not allowed to do that. this will cover the missing rent ;)
 
I hate people who do this. They sign a LEGAL contract and then think they can just leave and not pay.

If you have individual contracts (unlikely) then you are in teh clear but she is not. If it's a joint contract the amount is paid whether there are 1 or 4 of you...

If you do not pay the small claims court is a simple process these days and you wouldn't have a leg to stand on. And if you didn't pay that you get a CCJ against your name...this will be bad for any future loans/mortgages/whatever you wanted to get.
 
As people have said before it depends on your contract. I never understand why for student housing they don't have individual contracts because lets face it you can't rely on people you don't know.
 
Semple said:
As people have said before it depends on your contract. I never understand why for student housing they don't have individual contracts because lets face it you can't rely on people you don't know.
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Because then the landlord takes the risk of an empty room, and as you say "you can't rely on people you don't know." I think its fair for the tennants to take the risk. I'm doing it in the house im in atm

If you really are struggling with the contract go find help at the Citizens Advice Bureau, ITS FREE
 
Feeling the need to chime in with "Check your contract"

If its a joint contract (i.e all names listed on the contract and the sum total of the rent expressed as a single number) then you're liable. If you each have your own contract (Only your name, plus a the share that you pay), you're not liable to split the remaining rent between the rest of you. Just keep on paying what you're paying until the landlord puts the rent up when/if you renew your contract at the end of its period.

If not a joint contract, then the issue lies between the landlord and the girl that left. Don't let him bully you out of any money.
 
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