My wife (31F) “broke up” with me (34M) and still expects me to help pay her share of the rent
My wife and I both make pretty good money, and we just signed a 12-month lease for an admittedly overpriced apartment, $6000/mo for a 3-bedroom. We’ve been together 7.5 years, married for 2.
She’s been stressed about saving money, so I offered to pay $4500 and she could pay only $1500. We’re both named on the lease.
She “broke up” with me a month after signing, refuses to see a therapist to attempt to repair, and wants to move out.
We have an agreement which considers all of our personal finances separate, but says we’ll split joint assets & debts 50/50 (basically furniture, and our joint credit card).
Since we’re “broken up”, I consider my offer to help pay her rent cancelled, and we should each pay $3k/mo until we can escape the lease.
She thinks the offer still stands and she only has to pay $1500/mo, leaving me paying $4500 for an apartment I don’t even want anymore (she actually picked the place, it wasn’t my first choice). She also asked if she could leave immediately and pay $0, since I’ll have the apartment to myself.
I’ve reached out to the landlord, and he said we’re responsible for the full amount until the end of the lease, no exception. (He suggested we stay together instead!)
TL;DR: I’m trying my best to find a subletter ASAP, but no luck so far. Do I have to pay 3/4 of rent? Should I get a lawyer even though this is our only financial conflict?
Netizens’ comments
- Clearly the rent split was only so she could save more money to leave you. Lawyer up and get divorced ASAP.
- You dont break up with your wife, you get divorced
- Dude just break the lease and get out of there. Let him come after you and your wife both as leasees. Unless she agrees to pay 50% x remaining months you don’t have much choice. Also get as lawyer, they can likely also advise on the lease.