Housemate Moving Out

langer91 wrote: »

Hi,

So there are 4 of us living in a house.

1 of the lads is currently back home for lockdown, and has decided he’s going to move out today (the day rent is due).

Do the 3 of us have to pick up his rent due, or is this a matter between the person moving out and the landlord?

Cheers for any replies

Depends on how the rent is currently sorted.

If the house is rented at X total value to which you all contribute then that value is likely not changing (without LL agreement) and thus it will now be split by 3 not 4.

If the rooms are rented individually then your agreement would still be for X value for your room, that wouldn't change. LL problem on the shortfall.

regardless, roommate should be paying their rent up to today, at the very least (next month too depending on notice).

langer91 wrote: »

Thanks, we rent by room.

Landlord has text the housemate moving out to sort it out with us, so just wanted to see where we stand.

Do each of you have an agreement with the LL specifying the rent each person has to pay or is there the one agreement with four names with the total rent?

langer91 wrote: »

We had 1 agreement with 4 names on it before this guy moved in...but not sure if the guy moving out actually signed the lease so it could be an out of date one the landlord currently holds. Does this effect things?

Then you don't rent by room and are all liable for the entire rent.it is the job of the moving tenant to find a replacement. If he doesn't he should continue to pay the rent. He won't do that is the most likely outcome so the remaining tenants will have to pay.

langer91 wrote: »

has decided he’s going to move out today (the day rent is due).

Tell him his name is on the lease, so he's liable for the rent unless he can get someone else in. TBH, leaving when the rent is due is a scummy thing to do.

This is an absolute nuisance, and I assume is happening regularly given the present climate and all that

I assume the arrangement is that one of the housemates transfers all the rent to the landlord directly each month and each tenant/licensee gives their share to said housemate? So quite frankly the landlord doesn't care who's paying what as long as housemate X is paying 2500 (for example) into his account by a certain date

With regard to deposit - in some instances the landlord will hold the full deposit until the end of the full tenancy, and a replacement housemate usually transfers their share to outgoing housemate. If this is the case can you split his share of the rent between the 3 of you just this once, and when new housemate moves in use their deposit to reimburse yourselves (and the outgoing housemate won't get his back). So you'll only be out of pocket temporarily

If you can't facilitate this maybe try working out a solution with the landlord, in the current climate they'll surely see the human element to this, but in fairness won't be obliged to accommodate less rent being paid, given not everyone is liable separately for rent