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About a month back my sister (16) was living with me. She had her bum of a boyfriend in and out all the time. Finally I said enough was enough and he wasn't allowed over anymore.
Anyway, after I banned him from my building he came over to see her again (was unaware) I guess he became mad and when he left my building's front door he pushed the door SUPER hard (on purpose) and it hit the door buzzer box, shattering the window.
This was caught on camera and they had a witness. So as soon as I found out it was him I called my mom and she called the police for vandalism. The police got here and they're all outside talking. My mother is telling them to do something with my sister's ex and my sister is pleading with my landlord for him to let her ex make payments. For whatever reason the landlord decided to be nice and let her boyfriend make payments. He listened to a 16 year old over my mother who was a co signer on the lease... (I was at work when the police showed up)
My sister's ex put 50 down (total cost 350 to repair the window) and hasn't made a payment since. So lately my landlord has been nagging me about payments. Last night he finally told me he's taking 100 out of my rent for the door. So I looked at him and told him he can have his rent or the door fixed but I can't do both (more like won't).
Tldr can he force me to pay something I didn't do? I guess I'm guilty by association because her boyfriend was here to see my sister when he shattered the door... so he's holding me personally responsible despite the fact we called the cops on the day of the incident and I was unaware he was IN my apartments building.
Most residential leases will have something in them about tenant responsibility for guest conduct. As this was not some random vandalism and was caused by your (unwelcome) guest, your landlord can indeed hold you responsible. If you want to continue living there, your best move is to pay the LL for the damage and then go after your sisters boyfriend in small claims. Should be an easy win with a police report, collecting might be another matter.
If you did indeed "ban" the BF and your sister still allowed him over she should feel obligated to help you out but probably couldn't legally be held responsible as she was also your guest, assuming she isn't on the lease (she should be if she's living there).
Edit- if your sister and her boyfriend are both minors, then you're probably out of luck.
Her boyfriend is 20. So despite the fact the landlord agreed to make payments with the boyfriend i'm stuck paying cause the boyfriend didn't? Doesn't seem right, imo.
Depends on the person. I'm just simply stating that it is their responsibility to pay for it to the landlord, the landlord certainly did not cause the damage. Tenant needs to pay for the door and if they feel like they need to, sue the boyfriend. Their choice, but the landlord needs to be compensated.
The damage happened due to someone you allowed to be in the house. That makes it your damage, whether you did it or not. Same as if you had a party and someone threw a ball through a window. Or if you had kids and the kids cut a hole in the carpet with scissors. The police report will allow you to sue the boyfriend if you so choose.
And if the landlord has a halfway decent lease, they will be able to evict you for nonpayment of this. So unless you want an eviction on your record (they stay for life and most landlords will not rent to you if you have one), you'd be well advised to pay this. Plus, if your mother is a cosigner, your refusal to pay this will result in her credit also being hit if a judgment is filed.
Fair? No. Life? Yes
In my opinion, I'd be requiring my sister to pay for this and sue her own boyfriend. But ultimately, you are responsible. If your mother is a cosigner, then ultimately she is also responsible. Make sure she knows about this.
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