Each roommate is responsible for the entire rent and for all damages done to the apartment, in the absence of any written agreement with the landlord to the contrary. Roughly translated: if your roommate splits, the landlord can collect it all from you.

The Right To Sublet. Have the landlord agree in writing that the remaining roommates have the right to replace roommates who leave, especially if your rental agreement includes a provision which prevents assignment and subleasing. Although California courts have stated that a landlord may not unreasonably withhold permission to sublet, it can be an unpleasant hassle if the management wants to fight about it. The best approach is to find an understanding landlord who will accommodate a change in roommates when necessary. Sign A Roommate Contract. Roommates should always develop and sign an agreement among themselves. Use the Roommate Contract in the appendix to cover: notice before moving out, responsibility for rent and damages, refunding of deposits, and finding substitute roommates. This roommate agreement gives the remaining roommate(s) a basis for going to court (if they must) to force the non-paying roommate to pay them back any extra rent they may have had to pay the landlord.

Without a written roommate contract, only the landlord may go to court to obtain rent from the roommate who is not paying. Only roommates who are "main tenants" (i.e., subletting to other roommates) may evict their subtenants through court proceedings. When all roommates move in at the same time, all are "main tenants" and none can evict the others.