Roommates
What do I do if my roommate stops paying rent?
Updated By the Housing Rocket moderators
Short answer
Talk to them right away, in writing, and find out whether it is a short gap or a real problem. If you are all on one lease, the landlord can usually hold any tenant responsible for the full rent, so protect yourself first and pursue the roommate for their share afterward.
On a typical joint lease, tenants are "jointly and severally liable," which means the landlord can collect the whole rent from whoever is on the lease. Letting rent go unpaid to make a point usually hurts everyone: late fees, a mark on your rental history, and in the worst case an eviction filing with all your names on it.
- Ask what is going on and put the conversation in a text or email so there is a record.
- Agree a written repayment plan if the problem is temporary.
- If the landlord will be short, decide whether the rest of you can cover it this month, and tell the landlord early if you cannot.
- If they will not pay or will not leave, talk to the landlord about options: a replacement tenant, a lease change, or letting them go.
- Recover what you covered through small claims court, where your roommate agreement, texts and payment records are your evidence. Filing limits and procedures vary by state.
If your roommate is not on the lease and pays you, you are effectively their landlord, and the rules for ending that arrangement depend on your state. Ending that arrangement is a separate process with its own notice rules.
Want the whole picture? Read How to Find a Roommate You Can Actually Live With.