Multi-dwelling in northern New Jersey. The co-signer of my lease has been on leave from his job for a psychiatric disorder for the past four weeks. He informs me that in another two weeks, his leave status changes and he goes onto half salary. He tells me that a lawyer informed him that under those circumstances, he can then be legally released from the lease, leaving me in the unfortunate position of being legally responsible for a rent I cannot afford on my own and I will be forced into debt in order to pay the full rent until the time that I find a replacement housemate.
If that's true that he can get legally released from his lease agreement, what's the procedure he must follow? Does he inform the landlord with written proof and then how long before he's released from the lease? In addition, even at half salary, he'll be making about $67,000 annually and his portion of the rent is $1100 monthly. Can he really claim that he could no longer afford the rent and does that justify his release from the lease?
In addition, he had a job interview a few days ago at another company. Suppose he goes onto this half salary, gets released from the lease and then starts working at another job? In other words, he told me that he doesn't know if he'd be going back to work in two weeks, four weeks or possibly longer? But, it certainly sounds like he expects to go back to work. How does that justify someone being released from their lease?
Thank you.