Okay…so Andrew lived with six guys and is under contract on a least until mid August. He and another of those six are living in the apartment in Madison for the summer. Of the 4 others, only 1 (Nate)has decided he will not be using his room or the apartment at all this summer. The others will come and go and use their rooms when they visit as they have jobs in Sheboygan. All six are high school friends.

So Nate went out and posted a room available and is trying to sublet.

Well yesterday, while Andrew and TJ (the other guy staying for the summer) were gone, Nate showed the apartment and his room to someone.  He wanted Andrew/TJ to sign off on the sublet WITHOUT MEETING THIS POSSIBLE ROOMMATE.

But since Andrew was not around, he FORGED Andrew's signature on the form and called and left him a message telling him so and that this stranger was moving in on Monday.

Needless to say, this is..

A.Illegal.
B.Immoral.

Andrew called Nate and ripped him a new asshole and said he is either calling the police or the rental company. Nate apologized and said he would not turn the form in until Andrew and TJ could meet this prospective roommate.

My question to you. What is the legality of subletting? 

Can Andrew and TJ just flat out refuse to allow someone else stay with them? A complete stranger? What if this subletter is an alcoholic, kleptomaniac or just plain is not someone they want to live with?

What are their rights?

I told Andrew to contact the rental office and find out.

I realize this Nate kid is going to waste about $900 this summer if he doesnt use his room, but they all knew this going into and signed a lease agreeing to that.

Can this Nate force a roommate on Andrew and TJ?

I don't know the laws regarding this, but he can't force a roommate on them that they disagree with.

I thought that they couldn't sublet unless they all signed… given that Nate FORGED Andrews signature, he hasn't met that requirement yet

No one else signed. And so far, this Nate has not called Andrew or TJ to set up something to meet this guy.

So….Andrew comes home from work tonight and viola. This complete stranger is sitting in his living room watching TV.

Andrew say…"Can I help you?"

The kids says…"I live here".

Andrew says…"Oh? Can you show me your copy of the sublet agreement from the management company?"

The kid says…"I paid Nate the money, he gave me a key..I am moved in."

So Andrew went to his room and tried to call this Nate. No Answer. So he called Nate's house and talked to his Dad.  "Oh he is in Northern Wisconsin on a job…wont be home for a few weeks. I have the agreement you signed here and was going to fax it in tomorrow."

His dad just about died when Andrew told him Nate forged it.

He then called us and asked our advice. I told him that what they did was illegal and he has every right to call the police.

But…..maybe first go downstairs, sit down with the kid and tell him your side of the story. Try to get a feel for what he is like and go from there.

So he did. He explained how the signature had been forged (the cocky shit said "I know…I watched him sign it") and Andrew told him that before he settled in, they needed to talk about rules, get to know each other and maybe they could work this out tonight and Andrew would sign off and let him stay.

The kid got all pissed off and started bitching about Nate and Andrew and how he paid Nate and Andrew was screwing up his summer and blah blah blah blah.

So Andrew said…."You know, this is a big misunderstanding, but really you should not have been given a key by Nate until I signed the agreement and it was processed by the management company. Since you seem to have an attitude, I'll help you pack up your stuff and you can leave."

The kid left….in a huff.

Wow…that boy's got just as much strength and integrity as his father.

I had something similar happen to me in college.  I was in a campus-owned 4 bedroom apartment with 3 roommates.  One of them left for the summer and let another one of his friends stay in his room.  One of my other roommates worked for Resident Services at the university, but it seemed that there was nothing we could do.  It was campus housing, so we each had individual leases.  Since the new guy had permission from the other guy to stay in his room, we had no recourse.

WOW…you have raised one amazing son there David.  Good for him for standing up for what is right.  I still can't believe his friend did that to him…

dude, David, give Andrew props for me…. I totally would have been much *much* ruder when giving the same "you need to move out" speech… he does have huge amounts of self restraint and integrity.

most definitely.

I cannot believe that Nate did that and went through with it even after Andrew talked to him about it.

extremely out of line.

and dude, that kid should not have been so fucking rude! he actually saw the signature being forged and then had the audacity to bitch to Andrew about "ruining" his summer? p-lease!

So last night, Nate finally calls Andrew back and of course, he is mad because he lost the income. The kid who moved in is pissed and finding another place.

Andrew told Nate, next time he wants the prospective sub let to give him name, date of birth, address and at least two rental references to check him out.

Nate thinks that is unreasonable.

Right.

Boy, Andrew really does have a good head on his shoulders--and class.

How the hell did you raise such good kids being the way you are???  :P

He was raised on chatter advice…that's why!

Believe me Glo….he's been on the phone with us for advice alot over this whole situation.

But I give him tons of credit for standing up for himself and having the balls to confront not only Nate, but this sub let guy.

All the while, his room mate TJ was covering upstairs afraid to speak his onions.

LOL

Good for you, david, for raising such a smart kid.

I agree with tj, I would have smacked that kid upside the head before throwing him out the door on his ass with a "by the way, forging someone else's signature is illegal and since you witnessed it, you're an accomplice.  So, I guess you'll have a nice jail cell to stay in for the summer…hopefully your new "girlfriend" won't ruin it more for you."

The other roommate, TJ, needs to grow some balls and defend Andrew.

LOL @ Mac…I will see TJ on Saturday and will let him know….LOL.

That's funny Mac…