Should I ask for my money back?

Question

I asked this question last night but I figured I'd ask when more people were awake.

I'm subletting a shared room in a townhouse in DC. Change of plans and I'm leaving almost a month early. I signed a sublease agreement so I can see where the problem is, but I paid through August 31. I wouldn't have a problem if she was actually going to be gone and it would be my place until August 31. But she's moving all her stuff back in on August 16th. Since I won't be there and she will it's like I'd be paying for half a month of her rent.

1 month's worth of rent here is worth 3 months worth of rent back home. It would help a lot to get even two days of the money back. She doesn't have to pay any bills with it because the landlord pays all the bills (except cable, which I already paid her separately.)

Do you think I'm right for asking for my money back or should I suck it up since I already signed something? Should I find a person to sublet from me if she won't pay me anything back?

Answer 1

It depends.

Is this strictly living arrangements or are you friends with the person you sub-letted from?

If it is strictly business (a living arrangement), then I would ask for the half month of rent back (when the original person plans on moving their stuff back in).

If this person is a friend you have to ask yourself whether this friendship is worth that amount of money, because bickering over it will likely result in hard feelings and someone feeling like they were taken advantage of.

What would have happened if you had stayed through the end of August? Would they have been able to move their stuff back in?

Answer 2

You should negotiate.

Technically, you have the place until 8/31, and push come to shove, you could choose not to allow her to move in her stuff.

Tell her that unless she gives you some sort of financial reason to do so, you will enforce the terms of your sublease agreement, and keep the place until 8/31.

Don't expect to get any more than a half month rent at a local storage place though, because that's probably what she will do if you charge too much.

-->Adam

Answer 3

If she is moving back early and asking you to leave early...I would ask for the prorated amount back. If she is letting you stay until 8/31 I wouldn't.