deathboy | Legal Advice - Joint Tenancy

I'm trying to gather some information for my little brother. The situation is the typical pitfall of joint tenancy contracts: one or more party decides to simply leave and refuses to pay.

My understanding is that, as much as it sucks, the landlord can hold the remaining tenants (or indeed just one of them, from what I read) responsible for any money owing.

Ryan's situation is this: one housemate left last month. This month they haven't yet filled the vacancy and have discovered that (as they were paying individually, despite being on a joint contract), the housemate had not paid last month. They also, therefore, haven't got anyone to pay this month's rent, which has just gone. This means they are out to the tune of 600 quid.

To make things even more unpleasant, one of the remaining tenants has said he too intends to leave just before christmas, back to Spain, where he has no intention of returning, or continuing any financial obligations.

This leaves Ryan and his single non-asshole housemate with numerous problems: the debt, how this could be recovered from the individual that's already left, what steps could be taken against them by the landlord, and what they should do next.

At this point, they're considering upping and leaving in the middle of the night before the next rent is due, forfeiting their deposits and hoping they're not pursued by the agency for either the debt or any compensation for the months remaining until the contract ends.

If you have any experience about the legalities or the practicalities of this situation, please let me know your opinion, it would be very much appreciated.

I'm sending him down the CAB at his earliest convenience, but I'm a little stuck on this one; in the past, I've had it happen and simply paid the deficit myself out of desperation (never live with West End actresses in dives in Wimbledon...).

Like I say, comments much appreciated.