I am a petty bitch.

[Chicklet]

I do wish I had his mother's number, but alas. I do not.

 

[Calvin]

Argh. I'm sitting here, trying so hard not to write a nasty letter to my current roommate. I really, really want to, but it seems so petty.

When my last roommate moved to North Carolina, I chose to give a guy moving here from Texas a chance. To let him send me a check for rent to ensure him a room, and then when he got here help him out with rides and education on the area and hanging out with my friends, etc etc. He seemed cool enough.

It's been a few months, and on the one hand, I totally understand that he's homesick and misses his friends and his cat, and all the stuff that hasn't been shipped here yet. I understand that he's 25 and has never lived away from his family, and has just started working his first job, and minimum wage sucks and labor sucks and it's hard to get used to not having your own computer and your own tv and your own bed... I feel bad for him, I really do. But I also try to look after my own interests.

It's the first of the month, and I've already sent the rent-check in. Since his payday comes today, the day rent's DUE, I sent in the check early and take cash from him. But yesterday, last night around 11pm to be exact, he told me he's not going to pay rent. He's going to run back to Texas, instead.

No 30 day notice. No nothing. Just "Oh, I'm spending what would have been rent money on a plane ticket home. So long, and thanks for everything."

When I started talking to him when he was being considered for the position of my roommate, I told him I would be moving to Seattle in August. He said no problem, he'd stay with me until August, since I was already having a hard time finding someone to only commit to six months. Nobody likes to know there's a time-limit on their housing situation. But now it's going to be even more impossible for me to find someone. Just for three months? At my rent price? At my location? In the summer when EVERYONE is subletting? Good luck me. Another option becomes moving myself for the summer, subletting someone elses place. But I'm already planning to move everything I own in August, and I don't know if I can afford two moves in three months. Scratch that, I know I can't.

So I'm sitting here playing over a letter I want to write to him. A sort of "thanks for fucking me over" "don't use my computer since you've never helped with the cable bill" "stop borrowing my quarters for laundry since you've never replaced them" "stop using my dishes since you never washed them" "stop using my toilet since you've never scrubbed it" "fuck you and your mother for wasting my time and screwing my plans up." but I don't want to be petty. I want to be the bigger person, sit it out, deal with the situation rationally and let it smooth itself over.

But god, being petty is so appealing.

you can take him to small claims court.... oral contracts in this state are legally binding.... it is not a fast remedy however but he would have to pay to return to attend the court date... unless of course he just paid.....

as for the immediate problem.... maybe you have some friend who could help you get by or something like that....

Personally.... I think you should have made him read the letter and then helped him eat it....

 

[rosco rathbone]

Lesson learned: always get a deposit. Always.

 

[ScarlettRose]

At the very least tell him what you think. You aren't doing him any favors either by letting him act like a spoiled brat

 

[rosco rathbone]

Putting his shit out and changing the locks is a great idea, if you have the stones. Or just threaten him with it.

 

[graceanne]

Putting his shit out and changing the locks is a great idea, if you have the stones. Or just threaten him with it.

I'd agree, but . . . well this is portland, the land that favors the jerks. She can't legally kick him out for 72 hours (I learned htis the hard way). She needs to go down to Home Depot and get a 72 hour eviction notice, fill it out and give it to him. Then, in 72 hours, she needs to do so.

Also, if he steals any more of your quarters, PROSECUTE. I mean it's not a big deal, but it'd make you feel better if you filed a report on him for theft.

 

[Chicklet]

I'd agree, but . . . well this is portland, the land that favors the jerks. She can't legally kick him out for 72 hours (I learned htis the hard way). She needs to go down to Home Depot and get a 72 hour eviction notice, fill it out and give it to him. Then, in 72 hours, she needs to do so.

Actually, I can't evict him at all since I don't own the property... all I can do is hope. And glare. And glare I shall.

 

[caela]

Actually, I can't evict him at all since I don't own the property... all I can do is hope. And glare. And glare I shall.

Does your landlord know you had a new roommate? If so can you have the landlord evict him?

 

[Chicklet]

Does your landlord know you had a new roommate? If so can you have the landlord evict him?

the landlord knows, and can't evict just one of us, since we're on the same agreement. i really seriously did have this exact same thing happen in october, so i've already been informed of all of my options: sit. wait. move out if I need to. (which is what i'm going to have to do, but I have a month, and I'm irritated at the loss of all the expenses for moving = ( )

 

[caela]

the landlord knows, and can't evict just one of us, since we're on the same agreement. i really seriously did have this exact same thing happen in october, so i've already been informed of all of my options: sit. wait. move out if I need to. (which is what i'm going to have to do, but I have a month, and I'm irritated at the loss of all the expenses for moving = ( )

I'm sorry you're having these problems. Is there any way to make him pay the rent for this month at least? Even if it's just prorated for the time he's there??? After all if he'd there in June and hasn't paid June's rent than he'd just mooching off you and quite frankly you should have some big nasty men make a sport of him if that's the case.

 

[Chicklet]

I'm sorry you're having these problems. Is there any way to make him pay the rent for this month at least? Even if it's just prorated for the time he's there??? After all if he'd there in June and hasn't paid June's rent than he'd just mooching off you and quite frankly you should have some big nasty men make a sport of him if that's the case.

I'm trying to convince my guy to come down and rape the roommate with a spiked mace, but I don't think he's going to make it... There isn't really any way to MAKE him do anythin. The situation just really sucks ass right now.

 

[Pure]

hi chiclet,

i'm unclear whether there's documentation.

if there are no docs [in particular, no lease], it's not provable as a subtenancy; that may work to your advantage. (i.e., call it 'roommates', so you're not his landlord, i.e. a sublandlord under your landlord)

around here a landlord cannot just lock out a tenant in a rent dispute; if so the police can let the tenant back it (if there are documents)

IF you can simply say he's a roommate with whom things broke down because of dishonesty, you can get rid of him immediately, or use that threat. I tend to say do it, then negotiate; do not give warning while he has a key and access to your stuff. as a kicked out roommate he has hardly any legal rights, and is certainly not in a position to enforce them, i.e., take you to court.

Also, around here, a landlord cannot seize or lock away goods, where rent is owed. Or place them on the curb. BUT, if he's a roommate he may have no legal recourse if his goods are either locked away or put out. I would tend to favor the former, since then you retain some leverage. (In the law you cannot steal or vandalize his goods.)

in future, take a deposit, if that's legal, or a 'last months rent'. get things in writing. here, however, your story can benefit if there's no writing.

it would help if you're on good terms with the landlord, and if he has never paid the landlord directly. let the landlord know you consider the fellow a roommate, and then the landlord can back you up saying, if necessary, "I don't know about an subtenancy."

perhaps this will help.

PS. if you plan any of these nasties, do NOT write the letter or give warning. just have it be that he did not pay you the money (which presumably you've said to him). the onus would be on him to prove otherwise.

PPS. around here, when you change a lock, you must give the landlord the new key. if he supports you, however, he needn't let your 'roommate' in or given him a copy.

 

[rosco rathbone]

Actually, I can't evict him at all since I don't own the property... all I can do is hope. And glare. And glare I shall.

At the very least, confront the bastard and don't let him off the hook. Explain exactly how he's fucking you over and then ask "Now what do you propose to do about this state of affairs, sir?"

 

[rosco rathbone]

I'd agree, but . . . well this is portland, the land that favors the jerks.

Ha! I'm totally picturing a city full of passive-aggressive little pothead twits.

 

[BiBunny]

Actually, I can't evict him at all since I don't own the property... all I can do is hope. And glare. And glare I shall.

Ah, yes, but does he know that? You could always threaten to evict him. If he doesn't know actually know that you can't, it might make a little sissy boy like him pack up and leave on his own accord. Just a thought. I hope everything works out.

 

[Guest]

Actually, I can't evict him at all since I don't own the property... all I can do is hope. And glare. And glare I shall.

*grin* Thats the beauty of it all..... You are the person on the lease ...correct?
Which means that he...not having a document stating otherwise... Is in shit up to his ears...
Technicly...he is a non entity.....

I would check...that 72 hours probably doesn't even apply to him...Because there is no lease for him..
And you are not the "landlord".
Nothing but a verbal agreement, that he is already in violation of..

Gods I love technicalities....

 

[graceanne]

Actually, I can't evict him at all since I don't own the property... all I can do is hope. And glare. And glare I shall.

Yes, you can. Unless he's on the lease. I'm assuming you're the one who signed the info? When I talked to the police about my brother in law they said that I could evict him, but I had to do it legally.

 

[graceanne]

the landlord knows, and can't evict just one of us, since we're on the same agreement. i really seriously did have this exact same thing happen in october, so i've already been informed of all of my options: sit. wait. move out if I need to. (which is what i'm going to have to do, but I have a month, and I'm irritated at the loss of all the expenses for moving = ( )

Yes, he can. My sister had smiliar problems with a roommate, and her landlord gave the roommate a 30 day no cause eviction notice.

 

[graceanne]

Ha! I'm totally picturing a city full of passive-aggressive little pothead twits.

I hate to say it, but the people are the only bad part of Portland.

 

[delboccore]

Remind me not to piss you ladies off!

You aren't being petty, you are being a human being. It's a shame people shit on others for their own selfishness. Consider it a lesson learned and forget the loser!

 

[Chicklet]

I found myself an even shittier slummier place to move for the summer, with cheaper rent... gonna just shove my stuff into storage and curse this roommate from afar. He's on all the papers right next to me. And as I said before, my landlords say they can't get rid of just one of us. But, cutting my losses, and moving on.

 

[Shyjohn]

Hi Chicklet, I've noticed that, throughout this thread, you didn't mention the name of this pond-dweller. Good job really, because if you did all your friends here might spam him into oblivion wherever his mother lets him surface next.
Remarkable restraint.
BUT if you just happened to let his name slip in a reply to this post it would be a special secret only shared by the members here. A lot of us don't know how to do "petty". He's ripped you off and seems to think he can do that and just walk away. This tosser has dipped his hand in your purse and got you to subsidise his sad life. I think someone should have a word with him.
I don't think that contacting his mother would be much help as it's probably too late to have him aborted.
I know that generally people get what's coming to them but more often than not, we don't see it happen. However if you can be one of the ones that makes it happen It's a great feeling. You have enough friends here to make his life a misery for a while. Why not use them?
Whatever you decide to do I hope your move goes well. Good Luck.