roommate lawsuit (lease, tenants, landlord)

[12mlin]

My roommates and I have been having issues and I am moving out a couple weeks early, before my lease is up. One of the utility bills is under their names and the girl hasn't paid it for three months. Now she wants the money from me and I refuse to pay it because I have asked her several times to turn down the heat and she has that she doesn't care if she has to pay extra money if she is cold. She is threatening me that she will take me to court, should i be worried? also she is technically not on the lease because she never signed it.

[gwgirl80]

You should be careful moving out before she does if your name is the only one on the lease. Any damages to that unit will be your financial responsibility. And the landlord can get a Judge to agree to you paying legal fees later to get rid of her if she refuses to move and you brought her in. You can be sued for your portion of the utility bills, even if she does not pay the bill. I always discourage tenants from sharing, get a cheaper place alone when possible and avoid the headaches.

[hsniox]

If I were you, I would definitely continue to reside at this location until the lease is up and ensure that this roommate vacates the premises. Let it ride, talk is cheap, is it really worth all the trouble and aggravation to bring someone to court over a couple hundred bucks? Even if you did pay your portion and she remained disgruntled, what proof would you have that you did indeed pay? Also consider what the worst possible outcome could be for you... simply a portion of the utility bill.