Hello, I'm writing this on behalf of my little brother. I'll run the situation by and hopefuly get some feedback, thanks!
He currently attends college as a second year student, and during this past summer decided to live off campus. He ended up sharing a house with 2 other friends, one of them being the nephew of the landlord. There was never any kind of written lease or agreement, only a general understanding that my family would be paying $500 a month to the landlord (aswell as cable and internet services split 3 ways among the other two boys), throught the semester.
However thing quicky went downhill. The nephew of the landlord soon allowed his girlfriend to move into his room, now making the total number of tenants 4. Even though a new tenant was introduce, my brother's rent or utilities amount was never reduced. My brother informed us that living there soon became very hard, as his room was right next to the nephew's room, and he and his girlfriend would get into huge arguments almost everynight.
Then shortly after that, ANOTHER tenant was allowed to move into the house by the landlord and his nephew, making the total number of tenants five. Yet still my brother's rent and utilities remained the same. This new tenant didn't even have a room to stay in, and isntead took over the common room/living room, intruding on what should have been a shared space.
So, because he just couldnt the crowding or arguements anymore, after my parents paid his November rent, my brother moved out of the house to retutn to campus housing. He informed the landlords nephew but may not have contacted the landlord. He tells us that this was about one week before Thanksgiving.
Now, the landlord is asking for almost $1,000 from my parents, stating that he should be paid for the December rent and also damage that was done to the house, he hints he could take them to court. However my brother informs us that he was not even present the time of the damage, and it was done mostly by the last tenant to join the house.
My question: Should my brother and parents be responsible for paying December's rent, and the damage done by another tenant? How can he have the nerve to expect them to pay for that months rent when my brother had left the house more then two weeks prior due to his abuse and neglect as a landlord. What part does not having a written lease agreement play into this, as it was only an oral agreement. They are quite confident he is only trying to milk more money from them.