My roommate moved out do i have to pay the whole rent?
Short answer
In Quebec, it depends on the lease: solidarity between roommates is not presumed. Without a solidarity clause, each person answers only for their own share; with such a clause, each one can be required to pay the entire rent.
In detail
If the lease says nothing about it, the obligation is joint: each roommate is bound only for their own share. If the lease contains a solidarity clause, the landlord may claim the entire rent from whoever stays.
In every case, the landlord is entitled to the full rent. If only part of it is paid, they may apply to the Tribunal administratif du logement (TAL, Quebec's rental board) to cancel the lease.
A roommate's departure does not change the lease on its own. To release the person who is leaving, you need either a written agreement with the landlord or an assignment of their share of the lease.
What to document
Your complete lease, paying attention to the solidarity clause; proof of who paid what (transfers, agreements between roommates); and the date your roommate left, along with any written agreement made with them or with the landlord.
Put your facts in writing, free. Writing your version down early, keeping your documents dated and preparing your questions for a lawyer: the tool is there to document, never to advise.
Open the application Up to 3 files, no card · see the plans
Official sources
- TAL — Signing a lease: shared accommodation
- Éducaloi — Shared accommodation
- Tribunal administratif du logement — Frequently asked questions
Related questions
- There are bed bugs who has to pay the exterminator?
- There is mould in my dwelling what are my remedies?
- My landlord is not doing the repairs what can i do?
- My apartment is not warm enough what is the minimum temperature?
- Can my landlord enter my home without warning?
See all the answers · the full guide collection · Lire en français
What this page is not
This is general legal information about the law of Quebec and Canada, dated and sourced. It is not legal advice, not a strategy, and not a prediction about the outcome of a case. In Quebec, only lawyers and notaries may give legal advice (Act respecting the Barreau du Québec, ss. 128 and 133). Laws and amounts change: the official source always prevails over us.