Grex Scruples Conference

View Responses

Grex Scruples Item 35: THE ROOMMATE AND THE LEASE
Entered by nadine on Thu Jul 14 14:53:06 UTC 1994:

You and your roommate are _not_ getting along.  All seemed to be going
well in the beginning, but since then things have taken a downward
turn.  You are unwilling or unable to confront your roommate (its
just not your nature - you hate to argue) and you've decided you want
to move out.
 
1)  There are 6 months left in the lease, which both you and your
roommate signed.  You know that if you disappear, they'll hold your
roommate responsible for the balance of your rent.  What do you do?
 
                           -and-

2)  Assume you have decided to skip out since you figure your
roommate's such a jerk it'll serve him/her right.  Before you
leave, s/he confronts you (eek!) and asks you if you are moving
out.  Do you lie and say no (to end the confrontation) or tell
the truth?

7 responses total.

#1 of 7 by mta on Thu Jul 14 15:24:09 1994:

As a matter of fact it *is* in my nature to hate confrontation -- and this
has happened to me, with the exception that a) it was two roomates
b) the "landlord" was a friend of mine, and c) I was the only one who
could pay the bills.

I did confront them.  I gave them warning by almost two months.
(They still didn't start to move out until after I had the phone 
and electricity turned off so I could turn them on in my new place.
Then, with two months notice, I was still the bad guy.)  

I hated it.  I did it anyway.

#2 of 7 by vishnu on Thu Jul 14 20:58:29 1994:

1)  I would put the rest of the money in an envelope and put it under 
his/her pillow :)

2)  I would tell him/her the truth...  Maybe it would make the 
'punishment' more severe?

#3 of 7 by aruba on Fri Jul 15 00:46:28 1994:

Like Misti, it is my nature to avoid conflict, and also like her I have
been in this situation.  I did not and would not skip out without paying,
though.  In a worst case I would do what vishnu said, pay the balance
and leave.  A better solution would probably be to try and get the roommate
to agree to approach the landlord together about breaking the lease,
but that might be more stress than I could take.

#4 of 7 by popcorn on Fri Jul 15 01:18:02 1994:

This response has been erased.

#5 of 7 by carson on Mon Jul 25 02:41:51 1994:

speaking from experience...

1) I moved.

2) I lied.

#6 of 7 by ewhisam on Thu Dec 28 00:05:48 1995:

I would not skip and jeapordize my credit rating

#7 of 7 by diznave on Sun Nov 9 07:15:44 1997:

Eat plenty of LSD.

Response not possible - You must register and login before posting.