questions & answers

Question: I moved in with my girlfriend and her sister back in March 2017, I am not on the lease but I have been paying half of the bills since I got here. Her sister is now saying I need to leave or she will call the police. My girlfriend is the primary lease holder and said it's fine for me to stay. What are my rights?

Answer: Without knowing why your girlfriend’s sister is threatening to call the police unless you move out, it is impossible to say what their reaction would be. Assuming that the issue is a landlord-tenant law issue (rather than a criminal law issue) what matters the most is precisely who is living within the dwelling under a rental agreement with the landlord and what that rental agreement says. If only your girlfriend is named on the lease, then, in theory, she should be able to ask her sister to leave. However, if both your girlfriend and her sister are on the lease (or one is on a sublease), then, in theory, they both have a say. If you would like to discuss your specific situation with an attorney, there are links to organizations offering free or low-cost legal services on this website.