Can a minor be held to a housing contract?

by **culley96** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 6:46 pm

When I was 17, I signed a 6 month rental agreement in Utah with an 18 year old. I moved out after a couple months, but the other tenant stayed.

Now, four years later, I'm being contacted by a debt collection agency for charges (cleaning, unpaid rent) occurred during the other tenants stay in the apartment.

Am I bound by the contract that I signed at 17? Or do the charges apply to the other tenant because I was a minor at the time? I can't find any statutes for the state of Utah that detail Landlord/Tenant laws regarding minors.

by **morcan** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 6:58 pm

Normally it would not be binding. But it sounds like you were emancipated, in which case it is a binding contract.

by **curran** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 7:01 pm

No, but they may not know your age then and they may be trying to bluff you. They are going after both of you hoping someone will pay up.

by **jabin20** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 7:03 pm

Generally, some one underage can void a contract, unless you were emancipated. And living on your own, you probably were. Check out Utah's definition of emancipation.

I'd try writing to the collection agency and telling them that you VOIDED the contract because you were underage at the time it was signed and that you moved out at such and such date and that any charges after that date were not yours because you Voided the contract. Give relevant dates. May be enough to make them stop bothering you. Have to really push it to get it off your credit report though.

by **pannoowau** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 7:22 pm

NO. not if you were a minor signing the contract. even if you signed as the main signer, the 18 year old counts as a cosigner and therefore bears all financial responsibility. collection agencies are such a jokeee. they cant force anything,. the most they can do is try to take you to court, in which they will lose badlyyy. no court will force a kid that was seventeen to pay for charges for an 18 year old
dont worry hun
ignore the collection agency

by **ayize** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 7:26 pm

agree with the above, but address the collection agency. Is it worth the hassle to not pay?

by **torran** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 7:28 pm

Like everyone else is saying, you must be 18 to be legally bound to a contract.

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