Tenants rights enquiry

s08t

Hi. I dont know if this is the right forum to be sending this into but I hope someone can help and give me advice.

I rented a house in Sept 2011. My contract was up at the start of june 2011 so I moved out. I shared the house with another girl who also left the house at the start of june without mine or my landlords knowledge. I have my bills up to date and rent also. She has not paid her share of the bills and also owe some rent money.
I asked my landlord for my 200euro deposit back. He said he isnt giving it back until my housemate pays her share of bills. My landlord told me to keep on at my housemate (who lives in the south of ireland) to pay her share of bills and rent. I live in the northwest. Surely I should not be made to keep on at her to pay up and held responsible for housemate for my housemates actions. I was thinking of sending a formal letter to my landlord. Does anyone know if that would do any good? or Is it my landlord or myself in the right? If anyone can help it would be much appreciated. Thanks a mill.

Farcear

Call the Private Residential Tenancies Board.

They deal with all tenant/landlord queries in the first place.

If your landlord didn't register you, then even just threatening to call them could sort the situation.

Link: https://www.prtb.ie/

hertz

If you were the sole person on the lease agreement you are responsible to pay the rent for the house.

valleyoftheunos

most residential tenancies will make all tenants "jointly and severably liable" for the entirety of rent and bills. this means that you are liable for the entire rent individually and all together at the same time. It means that the landlord can pursue just one tenant or all tenant for any arrears.

Landlords use this as it provides them with a great deal of protection, he has your deposit and if you are liable as above he doesn't have to give it back.

Claire McCarthy Cork

http://www.threshold.ie/

Threshold are a very helpful source of free legal information about housing and tenancy issues as well.

s08t

Thanks all for your help, much appreciated.
I am a registered tenant.
Hertz, I have paid up my rent and bills for the house, I owe my landlord nothing.
I find that unfair, the tenant who pays her rent and bills no bother, has to be made liable then for my other housemate. And not only that but my landlord expects me to keep on at my housemate and make her pay. That should be his job not mine.
Thanks claire, ye I looked up threshold, thanks for the link. they say to request the prompt return of it in writing, so il do that.

FML - housemates this year were awful, hopefully il get better ones in September.