Almost 3 years ago, I moved in with my ex-roommate and singned a lease. We stayed there for 11 of the 12 month lease until he left and got a new apartment. He lived at this new apartment for 1 month before asking if I wanted to move in. I told him I might not be able to afford it for too long so he said to live there until he found another roommate. I agreed to pay part of the total rent every month I continued to stay. His dad is on the lease and I never made any verbal or written agreement with him or his dad. I never signed any contract whatsoever.
Since late Feb. of this year another person moved into our apartment with us. I asked if he was going to pay part of the rent and I was told that he wasn't going to stay. However, he never moved out.
At the end of March, I was asked to pay rent a few days early for April. I did and was then told a couple days later by my roommate that his father was purchasing a house and I would have to move out. I asked for my rent money back and he refused. I promptly moved out on April 10th. The day I moved out, I was asked to pay for the utilities for the month and I refused since I knew there was no way the bills were already turned in and he had refused to give me the rent for April back. He handed me a handwritten document with garbled math and a hefty sum at the bottom. I believe he was attempting to get money from me to help pay for the cost of breaking his lease.
A couple of days ago, his father mailed me a letter saying I owed him 464 dollars, and he would call a lawyer if I did not pay. I am worried now because I am leaving for law school on the other side of the country and need money to pay for it. I feel that he still owes me money for rent. Part of the amount is bills that he claims I owe him. $125 is for half a pet deposit that he claims he lost due to my cat. I was never informed nor did I sign a pet deposit. My rommate also had a cat but mine is only 7 months old. $75 dollars is for a couch and window blinds that he claims my cat ruined since his son's cat does not have any claws. However, I have witnesses that will say they saw the blinds from the last apartment and this apartment, as well as the couch, were ruined before I got my cat (who is only 8 months old)
His father is not a landlord so I do not undertsand how the landlord-tenent laws apply here. I have no written agreement with him or his son. I believe he might attempt to take me to small claims court, and I want to know if he has a case or what I should do. Thank you very much for any advice/help.
Since late Feb. of this year another person moved into our apartment with us. I asked if he was going to pay part of the rent and I was told that he wasn't going to stay. However, he never moved out.
At the end of March, I was asked to pay rent a few days early for April. I did and was then told a couple days later by my roommate that his father was purchasing a house and I would have to move out. I asked for my rent money back and he refused. I promptly moved out on April 10th. The day I moved out, I was asked to pay for the utilities for the month and I refused since I knew there was no way the bills were already turned in and he had refused to give me the rent for April back. He handed me a handwritten document with garbled math and a hefty sum at the bottom. I believe he was attempting to get money from me to help pay for the cost of breaking his lease.
A couple of days ago, his father mailed me a letter saying I owed him 464 dollars, and he would call a lawyer if I did not pay. I am worried now because I am leaving for law school on the other side of the country and need money to pay for it. I feel that he still owes me money for rent. Part of the amount is bills that he claims I owe him. $125 is for half a pet deposit that he claims he lost due to my cat. I was never informed nor did I sign a pet deposit. My rommate also had a cat but mine is only 7 months old. $75 dollars is for a couch and window blinds that he claims my cat ruined since his son's cat does not have any claws. However, I have witnesses that will say they saw the blinds from the last apartment and this apartment, as well as the couch, were ruined before I got my cat (who is only 8 months old)
His father is not a landlord so I do not undertsand how the landlord-tenent laws apply here. I have no written agreement with him or his son. I believe he might attempt to take me to small claims court, and I want to know if he has a case or what I should do. Thank you very much for any advice/help.
