Am I allowed to be picky?

Question

My room mate decided to tell me friday night that she will be moving out the next day. We have a lease on our apartment until mid January. She has paid for July but says she found a room mate to replace her. Do I HAVE to take this person even if I don't approve of them? I am a young non-smoking college girl and the person she is having replace her is a 24 year old MALE smoker. He is really gross and used to be on drugs. (I don't know if he does them anymore) Do I have to just accept anyone to replace her on the lease(if he gets approved by the apartment complex) or am I allowed to be a little picky?

She needs my approval and signature before she can get off the lease and I told her I will not approve unless we find a replacement I am willing to live with. I told her she will have to pay her part of the rent until we do so. Am I allowed to do this? Are there anymore suggestions on what I can or should do?

Answer 1

No you don't HAVE to take this person in as a roommate. If you don't want him to live with you, don't let him. I would tell her that she either a) needs to help you find an ACCEPTABLE roommate or b) pays half the rent until you find one yourself. A lease is a commitment, she signed it, and she's just as responsible for it as you are.

You may also want to check with your apartment manager, and see if they can make some sort of arrangement with you to move into a 1 bedroom apartment in the same complex. While it costs more to live alone, it's worth it.

Answer 2

I'd say you've answered your own question.

She needs your approval and signature, you can decide not to sign. She doesn't have a right to put just about anybody with you - as a tenant, your decision to live there was based on the conditions in the apartment, and on of the living conditions, and probably the most important one, is the roomate, changing this would be like cutting off your water supply, or letting you have a 1 room place when you paid for 2.

It might be that she's putting pressure on you, trying to make you feel guilty that she might have to pay for the rest of her contract (which she has to, by the way), if so, read her that last part. This is really her problem now, and the law is on your side - there's a signed contract, and she's bound to it, like it or not.

Actually, it's you who has a right to be upset, don't let anybody push you around, or make you feel guilty - if the new guy doesn't fit, it's all up to her.

Answer 3

BE PICKY!!!! It is your right to do all the things in your question. I don't know what the time limits are where you live, but most places you have to give a 30 to 90 day notice before you move out. If you don't give any notice, and you still have a lease, you are responsible for the rest of that lease. That would appear to apply to your roomate. You can find someone yourself to replace her with. Consult with the manager at your apartment complex. Good luck!!

Answer 4

Dear Picky,
You have every right to to picky your new flat/ roommate. I think it is pretty sheppish of your old one not to give you enough time (but that is besides the point).Since both names are on the lease , Iam sure the complex that you live in or landlord can have her pay her or his way out of the lease . Try looking over your contract and see what the total would be. Until she can get her name off that lease she is viable under contract for everything, if she break the lease she can be held accountable

Answer 5

No way! She's breaching your contract with the apt. complex and you. First of all, she should have given you more notice than one day so that would give you time to find a replacement too.

I don't know what or if anything happened between you two, but either way, she can't just walk out and say take any body as a roommate. Don't sign it and have her pay a month's rent in order to give you time to find someone else.

Answer 6

I don't' know what your lease reads but I am certain it protects you from your roomie bolting and sticking you with someone who is totally unacceptable. Are you in college? If so, speak to someone there as well as your landlord. DO NOT sign any release papers! Talk to your parents if you can and perhaps a lawyer. Your roommate is liable for her portion of the rent and cannot just sublet her portion of the apartment without approval.

Answer 7

Darn right you are allowed to be picky! It sounds like your roomies intent was to find you a roomate since she's leaving and probably didn't want to leave you stranded, however, you are the one to decide who you will and will not live with. She should have given you at least 1 month notice as apt's expect the renter to do. So minimum she should pay you for next months rent. During that time, you should hurry and find yourself a respectable roommate who you trust and want to live with. The guy she found for you is not the type of person you want living with you, that's for sure!

Answer 8

You have all the right in the world to be picky cause you have to live with this person, being a collge student, the last thing you need is drama at home, if you know ahead of time your roomate replacement is going to be a issue, then you have every right to fix the issue now and reject your roomates replacement.

Answer 9

I think it's ok for you to do this and to be a little picky about who moves in. You don't want to live with just anyone, you need to find someone you can live with. It's not fair of her to tell you in such short notice and expect you to just put up with whatever replacement she finds. I think it's fair that she pays her part of the rent until you find a replacement that you can put up with. I wouldn't sign anything till then.

Answer 10

I think you are allowed to be picky especially in a case like that. It all depends on why she is leaving if you should make her continue paying rent but then she should have just offered to do that until you find someone that you feel that you can live with.
If this guy smokes, you have the right to protect your health.