Roommate issues: Civil or Real Estate Matter?

[letikaysa]

Long one: My roommate created a hostile environment by violating agreements that we had in the home regarding cleanliness, conduct, and house guests. We had a verbal agreement prior to signing the lease as co-tenants regarding these behaviors and she agreed to adhere to the agreement but didnt. I spent 2 months away from the property (still paying rent) before giving her notice that I was leaving. She did not dispute this and wrote a contract to hand full tenancy over to her (I did not sign). I questioned the property manager about this and he said she needs a new roommate and that I need to pay rent until she does. This is almost 60 days of written notice and 4 months of leaving the home. Needless to say, I am not paying rent anymore as of this month. I need to be off the lease, she doesnt want/need me on the lease, yet shes only paying partial rent. Now, do I sue her for rent AND/OR the landlord for allowing her to stay in the property? It is early in the lease and there is no buy out (or I wouldve paid that myself) and she clearly wants to live there. So what can I do?

[Ethel]

Are you in the UK?

Was the verbal agreement ever put into writing?

The agreement you have with your room mate is separate from your lease. How long is the lease for? Are you in breach by trying to terminate the lease early?

[letikaysa]

1)No, US.

2)No, never put into writing BUT the argument that lead to the argreement IS in writing since I was not speaking to her.

2) I am in breach since it is a year's lease BUT she is staying and we are joint lessees (treated as tenants in common, similar to a married couple with both names on the lease). We both want my name off of the lease but the landlord will not do that until she finds another roommate. My argument is that she is not inclined to find another roommate if I am pressured into paying rent for another month, I've paid 2 months since moving and that is penalty enough. So now it becomes an issue with the landlord SINCE by law, only is allowed 60 days of my rent and there are no written penalties for breaching the lease.

[Ethel]

This is mainly a UK site so there aren't many users familiar with US tenancy law.