I just moved into a two-bedroom apartment and am searching for roommates. It's a nice apartment, but it's slow going right now, and in the past 3 weeks I've only had one person serious about moving in.
She's a 41 year old woman, married with 3 kids, who is coming here (to Ohio) temporarily to take some course. I'm 26 and honestly I would prefer a single woman aged 20-30 as a roommate because I would like someone I could relate to, but this woman seemed desperate to find a place quickly so I said she can come meet me and possibly move in.
When we first talked, she said she needed a place right away (by this coming Sunday) and this was the main place she was looking at. We kinda agreed she didn't have to put her name on the lease since it was temporary, but I did say it was important that she give me at least 30 days notice before moving out, and she agreed. She also said she can't give me a deposit, which already made me a little leery right there. I can understand not putting her name on the lease if she's only going to be here a short time, but why does she expect me to take her into my apartment without a deposit? And she immediately asked me if I could come down on the rent and utilities for her. To be honest I'm a little annoyed that she would even ask that. We would be ROOMMATES, everything would be equal so why the H should I have to pay more than she does? If I "come down on the rent" for her it would be money out of MY pocket, and that's not fair.
I really feel that in this situation, if anything I should INCREASE the rent for her, not decrease it - she's not putting her name on the lease and is thus a liability to me. But I wouldn't do that because I like to be fair - I still think though that she should pay as much as me and not less.
Why does she think she's entitled to pay less than I do for the very same thing? And why does she not understand that there's no reason for me to take her as a roommate when I can probably find someone who is willing to pay the deposit, put her name on the lease, and pay the rent as it SHOULD be paid??
Then, this morning, she came to the apartment with her husband (from Canada, and I live in Ohio), and asked AGAIN if I could come down on the price, even though I had clearly explained to her when she asked before why that was not possible. (I'm a college graduate with tons of loans by the way). I explained again that I cannot do that. She then dropped the bombs that she wanted to pay the rent in two installments per month (instead of all the rent at the beginning of the month), and that she didn't think she could give 30 days notice when she left because she may go back to visit her family at any time and immigration could possibly keep her at the border. This started really raising red flags for me because she doesn't want to give me a deposit, and if things are done on her terms it would make it very easy for her to just leave whenever she wants, taking the key and everything, not giving me time to find another roommate, and screwing me over and detracting from the deposit that I had to give the landlord. She and her husband kept talking about how the apartment doesn't look well-maintained (it's no palace, but it's fine and well worth the price to me), and she even had the nerve to say I should TRUST her to pay me the rent "at some point" even if she doesn't give me the full first month's rent right away, because the first of the month has already passed, I've obviously already paid the rent, and I don't urgently need her money anyway! They also want to pay $275 for February when the rent is $375 - I said I would prorate it, but even prorated it's $310, not $275 that they *claimed* they had calculated.
As for what I'm going to do: when she calls tonight, I think I am going to politely yet firmly tell her that she needs to give me first month's rent and deposit before I give her the key or else this will not work. I can find someone who doesn't feel that they're entitled to all sorts of unusual privileges, even if I have to pay the full rent by myself for all of February. Is this reasonable of me, or am I crazy?
Sorry about the long post, I just had to vent LOL. And I really know pretty much what I want to do, I just wanted to get input on whether it's understandable that I'm so annoyed. Are her questions and requests inappropriate? And is it normal/understandable that I'm a little ticked by them? It mostly bothers me because she and her husband seem to be trying to take advantage of me and feel that they're entitled to things which would burden ME.|||Do NOT let her move in! Just ignore her calls, seriously. This woman doesn't want to be on the lease b/c she wants to be able to skip out on you whenever she feels like it. This is a disaster waiting to happen. And I'll tell you this, if she steals something from you, you won't be able to do anything about it because you let her live with you. Don't do it!|||Please do not trust this woman. She sounds very sketchy.|||tell her your sister had a fire and is now living w/ u its a emergency SO Sooory|||Please tell her that she is not suitable to share with you. This sounds to me like maybe the husband might end up moving in also. It could develop into a dangerous (for you) situation. You could end up forced out onto the street but still responsible for any debt and damage caused.
I am saying this as I know someone this happened to. They ended up with nowhere to live and going to court because of rent arrears, plus they had to pay for carpets, furniture and curtains that her flatmate ended up taking when she did finally leave.
I know you are probably needing someone to share with soon but do not do this. The right person will come along. Do NOT trust this person.
Cissie|||Sharing an apartment with her would be a horrible mistake. Do NOT let her move in with you regardless of how much money she offers to give you.|||Please! take it from me.....DONT DO IT!!!!! just politely decline and say sorry not able to do this roomate thing with you......|||I wouldn't even consider having her as a roommate. She sounds like she would try to stiff you. I'd go for someone who is more reliable and willing to pay her share.|||Yep, I'd definitely tell her that it wouldn't be a good fit. She sounds way to sketchy to put yourself out there for.
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