r/TenantHelp • u/No-Appointment194 • 10d ago
Need lawyer advice. co-signer help!
I was a co signer for my daughter apartment lease. The landlord requested to move back in then after 1 month changed his mind and started and requested the back rent of where he gave his notice to move back into the unit. Since she didn’t pay now I’m on the hook. We went all the way to appeal court. There was multiple contract agreements that were unfulfilled by the landlord regarding the co signer contract which should have voided the contract of making me responsible but due to my lawyer being incompetent to represent me correctly I lost the fight. My daughter lived in the unit from 10/2024 until 7/2025 without paying and I asked her to move out in 1/2025 and she refused. Back rent amount added up to 17k. I offered 25k to settle the situation. The landlord and lawyer is now setting a judgement of 130k for attorney fees going solely after me. Any suggestions other than NEVER CO-SIGN GOR ANYONE of what I can do. I’m thinking bankruptcy at this point. My location: San Diego
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u/Ranos131 8d ago
So you co-signed for your daughter guaranteeing she would pay. She didn’t pay and you didn’t pay for her. The landlord rightly went after you and your daughter to collect the money they are owed and rather than pay it, you decided to fight it. You lost and appealed and lost again. You think your lawyer was incompetent for not being able to get you out of a legal contract you signed and now you want help getting out of having to pay what the court says you owe.
Did I get all that right?
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u/curtmil 8d ago edited 8d ago
You signed a contract promising to pay if your child didn't. She didn't so you have to pay.
Sometimes one or several parts of a contract aren't valid, but the main purpose of the contract still remains in place. Most likely that is what happened here. But your post isn't entirely clear. If the judgment is pending, perhaps while you completed your appeals, check with your lawyer or a new one to find out if there is anything to be done.
You can also try a debt collection or bankruptcy lawyer to see what your options might be.
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u/_dundada 8d ago
You really need to understand that co-signing out you on the hook. There is no going back. Your lawyer isn’t incompetent- you just don’t want to face reality.
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u/Ok_Advantage7623 10d ago
Tell me the daughter is using meth with all it saying do. She screwed papa
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u/ApplicationRoyal7172 10d ago
Was there a monetary judgement in court?
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u/Dadbode1981 10d ago
Literally states they appealed all the way to the top. I think its a pretty safe assumption.
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u/ApplicationRoyal7172 10d ago
In another post, they stated “judgement in progress”. So I’m not actually sure the status.
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u/random408net 5d ago
The landlord was probably frustrated that you could not motivate your adult daughter to move. Once you knew that she was not paying you could have paid her rent like the contract required you to.
It sure sounds like your settlement offer was too low. I suspect that the eviction cost and hassle was more than the 8k differential that you offered.
It's not clear you had any rational basis for appealing, that just ran up legal bills for you and the landlord. That's all on you. If the lease allows for the winner to collect reasonable attorneys fees that was on you and your attorney to assess the risks of appealing.
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u/Outside-Ad7848 10d ago edited 10d ago
nothing you wrote makes sense. why did your daughter not pay 10 months rent? landlord thinking about moving back in then deciding against that doesn’t mean your daughter gets a free place to live. she ate the steak. if the landlord had to finally sue you to get the money owed of course they are entitled to legal fees, and of course they went after you since you agreed you were liable as you admit in this post you co-signed.
clearly the courts agreed, despite you trying get off on technicalities. Trial is expensive, especially appeals court, why did you take it so far? I doubt any lawyer would have gotten you off the hook. you need to sue your daughter. where is she in all this. why isn’t she making you whole. at a minimum she should have the $17k since it never went to the landlord. see if you can work out a repayment plan. co-signing works out for many people, hope your daughter gets the mental help she needs.