(NYC) Gone girl, roommate owes a full years rent and she has left the country...and now we might be getting evicted.

I also did not read your post and I am just guessing based on the details of most threads that get posted here.

We’d like to contact Carly’s parent/sister to try and help resolve this outstanding balance issue. From a legal standpoint, is this a good idea? Logistical standpoint?

They are under no obligation to pay unless they cosigned for everybody (unlikely) on the lease. They can tell you to piss off.

What rights, do we as tenants who have always paid our portion on time, have when inquiring about a new lease in this situation?

You have the right to talk to your landlord. Your landlord can tell you "tough shit" and hold you to the terms of your lease until it expires.

We understand that the balance to be paid is a completely legitimate claim and the co-signers of the lease would be responsible, but what rights do we as co-signers have against the one roommate not paying?

You could sue the roommate. You would win. Collecting on that judgement would be one hell of a task.

Hypothetically, if she decides not to come home, what rights do we then have as co-signers? We’ve thought that it is possible she stays in Thailand, would filing a report with the police help?

You can sue her if you find out she comes back. Again, winning a small claims case is one thing, collecting is another.

In your opinion, what are the best next steps for us to take on this?

Find somebody to rent the room, if possible.

Again, I did not read your novel.

/r/legaladvice Thread