my lease is up – i want 2 move out – house mates want 2 stay
Because rental laws vary from state to state as well as city to city, you would want to confirm all information with a Realtor or attorney;
That said, if you signed a lease that ends on a certain date, and you do not renew the lease, YOU should have no liability to/with the landlord. If you have been forthright with your roommates, and have not lead them to believe that you would be continuing your tenancy there, they had a responsibility to locate a suitable replacement for the coming NEW lease about to be signed.
To cover yourself legally and financially, you DO want to put your date of departure in writing to your landlord, and ask if (s)he wants to do a walk-through with you so that you an get back any portion of a deposit you may be due.
DO NOT move out without notifying the landlord. To do so COULD put you in breach of contract (month-to-month tenancy) or worse yet, your former roommates may allow the landlord to believe that you are still there – which puts you in financial liability for whatever rent is due and whatever damage might be done in your name.
In the name of friendship, I would, however, let my roommates know what my plans were before I did anything.
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