Do you really have to pay a sorority for room and board if you quit beforehand and never lived in the house?

Answer 1

Usually during your association with a chapter that has a chapter house, all members are required to live in the chapter house for a specified period of time. At some point in time, a member will sign a housing contract with a separate entity from the chapter, a housing corporation, which manages the affairs of the property. This housing contract covers the expectations of payments, rules and regulations similar to an apartment contract. If you are resigning your fraternity and sorority membership, you may still be held liable for the separate contract signed with the housing corporation. For example, if you signed a lease for an apartment, and then don't go back to school, the apartment complex is going to want you to pay a lease breakage fee or pay the all of fees that you agreed to pay. By signing this contract, income was expected from you.If you are in this situation, it is best to contact the responsible party for the chapter house and see if you may recruit another member in good standing to meet your lease obligation by signing a housing contract themselves. Fraternity and sorority housing corporations depend upon the follow through of those signing contracts to be able to pay their taxes, mortgage and utilities.If no such provision exists for you to sublet to a member in good standing, make a financial offer to the housing corporation to be released from your contract if no such provision exists. Don't expect to walk away, saying "I quit that chapter" and not expect to find yourself in small claims court for the total amount of the fees due, plus court costs and legal representation. Signing a lease for an apartment or fraternity/sorority house is making a legal commitment.Usually during your association with a chapter that has a chapter house, all members are required to live in the chapter house for a specified period of time. At some point in time, a member will sign a housing contract with a separate entity from the chapter, a housing corporation, which manages the affairs of the property. This housing contract covers the expectations of payments, rules and regulations similar to an apartment contract. If you are resigning your fraternity and sorority membership, you may still be held liable for the separate contract signed with the housing corporation. For example, if you signed a lease for an apartment, and then don't go back to school, the apartment complex is going to want you to pay a lease breakage fee or pay the all of fees that you agreed to pay. By signing this contract, income was expected from you.If you are in this situation, it is best to contact the responsible party for the chapter house and see if you may recruit another member in good standing to meet your lease obligation by signing a housing contract themselves. Fraternity and sorority housing corporations depend upon the follow through of those signing contracts to be able to pay their taxes, mortgage and utilities.If no such provision exists for you to sublet to a member in good standing, make a financial offer to the housing corporation to be released from your contract if no such provision exists. Don't expect to walk away, saying "I quit that chapter" and not expect to find yourself in small claims court for the total amount of the fees due, plus court costs and legal representation. Signing a lease for an apartment or fraternity/sorority house is making a legal commitment.