questions & answers

Question: Four people in household. One roommate has a severe drinking problem that is a safety concern (mostly because they tend to stumble into things) that is becoming expensive. The rest of us have told them repeatedly to stop drinking and not bring alcohol into the household, and they're doing it anyway. All four of us are on the lease, and all four of us contribute to bills and rent. What are our options for removing our roommate who won't stop drinking, and does anyone have suggestions for some kind of service we can send them to for professional help?

Answer: So long as you are comfortable discussing the situation with your landlord, from a landlord/tenant law perspective the second step in dealing with a problematic roommate – after speaking with the roommate directly – is contacting the landlord, explaining to the landlord what is happening, and requesting that the landlord intervene to ensure that the terms of the rental agreement and the Arizona Residential Landlord and Tenant Act are complied with. It is important to remember, however, that if all four roommates signed the lease together, then all four roommates may be responsible collectively for paying the total rent and for making sure that the premises remain in good condition.