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HELP - roommates screwed me over (self.montreal)

submitted ago by sleav099

I live in a 4.5 apartment in Little Italy (Dominique and Beaubien) with three closed bedrooms. It's super cheap. But in January, one roommate moved out for a job in London. It's $810 per month so I thought it would be fine with just two of us paying, and having more space in the apartment. BUT NOW my other roommate is moving out! Here's the thing, I'm moving out in May, to move into a condo I bought. So I'm saving as much money as I can before I have to deal with mortgage payments and furnishing my new place. What are the chances of finding somebody to move into my current place with me for February (or March) to May 1? Think it can happen?

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[–]redman2014 9 points10 points ago

Just tell your roommates that they have to pay their share.

[–]Unspool 25 points26 points ago

If everyone signed the lease, responsibility remains with each tenant. It doesn't fall to the last guy living there. If only YOU signed the lease, you're an idiot.

[–]tallwill514 4 points5 points ago

If everyone signed the lease, responsibility remains with each tenant.

ALMOST. Usually landlords want multiple tenants to sign as 'mutually and solidarily liable' / 'mutuellement et solidairement responsable'. The 'solidarily liable' part means that each tenant is liable for 100% of the lease. So if OP is tenant 1, and tenants 2 and 3 just moved out without paying the remainder of their share for the year, the landlord can go to OP/tenant 1 and request 100% of the lease. Then OP/tenant 1 has a civil recourse against tenants 2 and 3, but that's relatively expensive/time-consuming (notice of default letters, file in small claims, bring in witnesses, file lease as evidence, court date, execute judgement, etc.). If you're going to sign a 'solidarily liable' clause, you better make sure you're really good friends with your roommates.

[–]Unspool 0 points1 point ago

What if this guy ONLY pays his portion of the rent? Then the landlord has to go through civil court and I imagine it would just end in his favour anyway. I'm asking out of curiosity

[–]tallwill514 2 points3 points ago

OP paying only his portion of the rent is tantamount to you paying only a random fraction of your rent to your landlord (e.g. you're the only tenant and your rent is $600/mo, and you decide to cut a cheque for $200 only). Hell, he can even decide not to pay rent at all, it doesn't change the fact that he is (possibly) still responsible for 100% of it. If the landlord finds it easier to go after tenant 1 because tenants 2 and 3 are hard to find, he can still get 100% of his rent from him (again, through time-consuming administrative efforts).

[–]Unspool 0 points1 point ago

I feel like there would be some recourse in a province as tenant-friendly as Quebec. Thanks for the info, though!

[–]m-p-3 5 points6 points ago

This is IMO the best response. If you're the only one on the lease, then you're screwed.

If you co-rent a place, ALWAYS have each tenants to sign the lease. If they don't want to, then they can find somewhere else to live.

[–]Shufflebuff 2 points3 points ago

Who signed the lease? Whoever's name is on the lease is responsible for the payments. If you all co-signed the lease then EVERYONE needs to pay.

[–]DeLaRochelle 0 points1 point ago

And if you are the only one who signed the lease, but the 2 others told you they were going to stay for much longer than what they did, I'm pretty sure than you can ask them to pay you (even if the landlord can only asks the money from you), since you had a verbal contract.

[–]nihilocrat 0 points1 point ago

Hmmm, I have never heard of a "verbal contract" having any worth at all, thus the saying "get everything in writing". Is this something that holds weight here in Quebec?

[–]tallwill514 1 point2 points ago

Except in some special circumstances, a contract doesn't have to be in set form to be valid. A verbal contract is legally binding, the issue is only when it comes to evidence if a conflict arises (Bring a paper copy of a signed contract in front of a judge v. who said what). It's not a Quebec matter, verbal contracts are binding in most places.

[–]DeLaRochelle 0 points1 point ago

Well a verbal contract is valid, but it is pretty hard to prove it, wich is why you should always write it down. I think it is like this in pretty much every country.

[–]Ragland_Park 6 points7 points ago

I have 2 friends looking for a new place to live that fit this description. If the apartment is available for them to stay after may they might be interested to share it with you for march and april. PM me more info and I'll check with them.

[–]supjeff 4 points5 points ago

Pics, mate.

[–]brilliam 2 points3 points ago

a 2 br (that fits 3) at beaubien for $810? write it on a piece of fish and throw it on the street. somebody's cat will drag it home & you'll have a subletter in hours.

[–]demonsurge 0 points1 point ago

Doesnt sound like they screwed you over, more like you poorly plan for what will happen.

[–]jeannaimard 2 points3 points ago

Ça dépend de beaucoup de choses… Qui a signé le bail?

Mais tu devrais pas avoir de misère à trouver des co-locs pour un appartement si bien situé; mets une annonce sur Craigslist et tu verras, ça va se bousculer…

[–]chileangod 0 points1 point ago

Ok so jeannaimard might not be the most liked guy around here but giving him downvotes for the only reason he gives up advice in french is pretty idotic. The guy is giving up pretty good advice and a good view of the situation. Screw you guys, upvote for you jeannaimard.

[–]jeannaimard 0 points1 point ago

Oh, c’est juste la petite coterie de rhodésiens du Waste-Island et du Mile-End qui n’acceptent pas que le Québec (et Montréal) soit français qui pensent me faire peur avec leur downvotes…

Mais avec plus de 20,000 karma, les downvotes ne m’énervent pas du tout.

[–]Genghis_Jones 0 points1 point ago

ohhhh shit y'all! 20,000 K! WE HAVE A BADASS OVER HERE! LOL

[–]kampamaneetti 1 point2 points ago

Chances are very good! Put ads on craigslist and kijiji and make sure to include pictures. Don't say that they screwed you over in the ad though. Just be upfront about the fact that you're moving in May, tell them that they can renew the lease then if they like.

[–]Vacantless 1 point2 points ago

kijiji ! I was in a similar situation few months ago, and I rented my apt. within HOURS of posting the ad on kijiji, no jokes. It was such a relief.

BTW, we're like totally neighbors. Dominique/Beaubien as well !

[–]Square-Cross 0 points1 point ago

Me too !

[–]Salamabam 0 points1 point ago

Actually...I'm moving to Montréal with hopes of an early March move-in. Can you PM me the address and possibly some pictures?

[–]Square-Cross 0 points1 point ago

Hey, I live also in St-Dom/Beaubien also and I'm looking for a place for 2 friends for March/April/May, pm me the infos

[–]sleav099[S] 0 points1 point ago

Here's the Craigslist:

http://montreal.en.craigslist.ca/sub/2824254016.html

I have two empty rooms, one doesn't have a closet. If two people move in, the rent is even cheaper.

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