need some advice

[AGDangel]

Alright I need some advice on something so bear with my story...

I have this roommate, we were sharing a one bedroom apt. probably about the end of feb. she stopped coming home. she would call me occasionally saying "oh i've been staying with my bf, cuz its easier and shorter distance to work. i was like alright, i didn't really know what else to say. so basically she hasn't been there since and a couple of weeks ago she came and picked up basically the rest of her stuff, except the big things she couldn't fit. my worry after that was that she would pull some crap like not pay rent anymore, or pay for her half of the bills. but i thought she would be better then that and still pay.
well i guess my fear came true cuz on this past sat. i got a letter saying her half of the rent wasn't paid for this month. i called her cell phone and left a message, i call her work and leave her emails but there is no way to get ahold of her, and she wont call me back.
i guess my question is what should/can i do about her not paying? both of our names are on the lease and it clearly shows every month i pay my half of the rent. should i call the landlord and tell him to take it out of her security deposit? should i call him and tell him the situation and see if he can get ahold of her?? would there be a way for me to take her to court to get back the money i might have to pay to cover her half?
she never physically talked to me about moving out. if she did she would of had to talk to the landlord as well and put someone elses name on the lease.
so i'm asking for a little help about what i should do, i dont want to get "screwed" over by all of this crap she is trying to pull or whatever she is doing.

hope this all makes sense if not i'm sorry

[theta sig agd]

Jillian,

I am not a law expert but I will say this because I have gone through something similar.

Since she is on the lease I do believe you can take her to court to get her portion of the rent. Read your lease she may also be liable for abanddonment. If she does nto give so many days to the landlord it is abandonment. However, I do NOT believe you are exempt from paying the entire rent. I believe if you both signed the lease if one doesnt pay the other is responsible for the full amount, something like a co-signer would do.

My advice is to call the landlord cuz then they could put something on her credit record that she did that. Document how you have contacted her, send her a certified letter telling her she owes so much rent and then go to court.

I would ask some one who is actually in the legal field. This is just what I have learned through personal experience and it was for Georgia so I dont know about where you are.

Good Luck!

[LeslieAGD]

Jilly,

I agree with Wendy...make sure you document EVERYTHING. As she is still on the lease, she is still responsible. Were both your names on the letter or was it "to the tennant of..."? The fact that the landlord is contacting you, telling you the rent wasn't paid in full, gives me the impression that he doesn't know what's going on. Letting him know is a good idea, just in case she called him and said you were covering it.

As far as the legal stuff...Maria (greeklawgirl) can probably answer that for you.