My roommates won't give me my security deposit back.?

Question

I am a college student and was rooming with three other guys in a house. The house was only made to house three people but I was the forth and the one not on the lease. However, the landlord knew of this. My roommates renewed the lease without informing me as I planned to move out. We agreed that the guy taking my spot would pay me my $450 security deposit back after I fixed the damages that were caused by me and I am unable to contact him. My mother is seriously considering getting a lawyer involved. What other options are there? How can I be certain that I get my $450?

Answer 1

Taking a hit out on someone is very cheap now, what with the new economy and all...two hundred tops....or seriously, you could call a lawyer.

Answer 2

My roomate tried to do that to me. I peed in his orange juice.

Answer 3

You're not going to get a lawyer involved over $450 are you?  Because a lawyer is going to cost you way more than $450.

Just forget about the $450 and just be happy to be out of there.

And for someone who legally wasn't supposed to be in the house to begin with, you should consider yourself lucky that the landlord doesn't sue you.

Answer 4

First, did you fix the damages caused by you, or did they need the $450 to fix it up because you were to slow.  

Do not let you Mom fight this battle for you.  You need to learn to deal with these things on your own.

Was the agreement between you and the new roommate re the $450 or you and the old roommates?  Look at the situ, leave more info, and I will try to help you more.

PS

What City and state?

Answer 5

What's the point of getting a lawyer for $450??  You will spend more than that on lawyer fees in the end!  Good luck but you are probably S.O.L!

Answer 6

Unfortunately it is their word against yours, and if you only made verbal agreements, your pretty much out of luck.  If your not on the lease, how did you have to pay a security deposit and who did you make payments to?  Did you pay directly to the landlord or did you give money to your roommates for them to pay the landlord?  Do you have any documentation of your security deposit and rent?  Not sure of the laws in other states, but in CA renters are not allowed to sublease to other tenants.  Since the guy is living with your ex-roomies, you can't contact him through them?

Answer 7

You would have to go to court, you wouldnt necessarily need a lawyer though, you could just go to civil court and represent yourself. Theres no way to force the guy to pay or anything, if he isnt going to pay up, go to civil, or small claims court. Watch a couple of those shows on during the day, you'll get a general idea on how it works and you can contact the necessary people by looking through the government pages of your phone book.

Answer 8

I think a lawyer fee would cost more then $450.00. You might have to let it lie and take your loss, especially if you were not on the lease. You never had a legal right to be there.