[jjshabado]

[ QUOTE ]
...They have to be actively look for a replacement...

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Where do you live? This definitely isn't true in Ontario and I suspect most other places. Everyone signed the lease making everyone responsible for the money. There was an agreement between the four people that they would each share the rent equally (no judge would ever believe otherwise). OP is on the hook for all of his share of the money.

That being said, if I were one of the other three guys I would have helped find a subletter for OP. Right up until I found out he was planning on being a giant douche. At that point I would go out of my way to [censored] him over and start making plans to sue him in small claims court. I'd do it on principal even if ended up costing me more money.

I [censored] hate people like the OP. I realize he didn't want moralizing, but I don't care. OP, please die.