All Forum Posts by: Lisa Craig

I have a condo I rent out in Michigan. I rented it to 2 roommates and the lease is up at the end of July.  Back in February they were not getting along and one of the roommates just up and moved out without notice to the other roommate or myself.  Neither I nor the remaining roommate have not heard from this roommate since.  The one remaining roommate has paid the full rent each month.  The lease is now ending at the end of July and I have the full security deposit still.  When they moved in they each paid me 1/2 of the security deposit even though no where in the lease did it state they each needed to pay half, just what the total security deposit was. 

I am wondering how to give back the security deposit.  Should I just give it all back to the remaining tenant?  My thought is that she has paid the rent since the roommate left so she should get the full deposit.  There is no unpaid rent so I feel that I can't keep the half of the roommate that left without notice.  Also, the roommate that left gave no notice and no contact information so I wouldn't even know how to return the security deposit if I needed to.  

Thoughts?

Thanks!!

I have a condo that I rent out.  I leased it in July for a one year lease to 2 friends who each co-signed the lease together as roommates.  They have not been getting along and one of the roommates just up and moved out recently with no notice to me or the other roommate.  Now I'm trying to figure out what needs to be done.  I have tried contacting the roommate who moved out with no luck, she won't return my phone calls or texts.

I have spoken with the roommate who is still in the condo and she wants to stay and is willing to work with me and pay the full rent or find another roommate (as long as I agree).  

I have several questions.  

1.  The lease has been broken because one roommate has moved out.  Do I need to create a new lease with the remaining roommate?  Do I have to somehow notify the roommate who moved out?  

2.  What do I do with the security deposit for the roommate who moved out?  Am I able to keep it for unpaid rent even if the other remaining roommate paid the full amount after she moved out?  Since the roommate that moved out did not notify me and is not returning my calls I have no way of knowing where she is to even return her part of the security deposit.

3.  I assume if the remaining tenant pays the full rent amount until the end of the lease term, she is the one who needs to go after the roommate for not paying her share, correct?  Do I need to do anything?

I have not rented to roommates before and am not sure exactly what is my responsibility and what is the remaining roommates responsibility.

Any advice is appreciated!

Thanks!

Hello!  I have a condo that I rent out in Michigan.  My renters just moved out and they left my condo filthy.  I've been reading up and apparently in Michigan I cannot deduct a cleaning fee from their security deposit.  However, they left some rust stains in the corner of the bathtub (what looks like from a metal can they had there), I've tried CLR, Lime away, bleach, etc. and I cannot get this to come out.  Is there something I can withhold from their security deposit for this type of thing?  Any input is appreciated.  Thank you!!