Housemate living for free

[emathias]

While what the guy did was dickish, my honest opinion is that you need to just move on.

I mean, seriously, you paid what you felt was a fair price for rent. If you'd never found out about this, you'd be content having paid the rent, you'd have felt like you were saving money by sharing space, you'd have been appreciative that the guy collected the money and dealt with the landlord.

So you find out he wasn't paying his full share because you neglected your own rights and duties in verifying financial information provided to you (the actual rent). What he did is unethical. It *might* be illegal, although you might be surprised to know that it might not be illegal. It'd be hard to prove that he said, "The rent now is $1,500," and not just "your share of the rent is now $X" - because if he just gave you a new number that you had to pay, then the total rent on the unit may not even be relevant legally.

My advice to you as a human, as a person, as someone who has other things in your life that need your attention, is to simply let it go. Move out if you feel you must, but if I'd been a former roommate of your's, I'd be more pissed at you for telling me about it than at him for doing it. You're sowing seeds of discontentment, in a situation I've already left, and for what? Seriously? Money you will probably, realistically, never see again? Money that, in the big scheme of life, is chicken scratch?

Get over it. Move on. Worry about things that *actually matter*, and next time read the paperwork. It's rare for someone to be scammed and not be partly responsible, and I certainly think that's the case here. Don't project your own regrets for not verifying things onto your misleading roommate. He may deserve scorn, but you do yourself a disservice if you don't recognize your own portion of the blame.

[christiner81]

Originally Posted by rdykilawat

The original lease had everyone on it. Everyone here knew the rent was $1250. He then told everyone it was increased to $1500.

so then you should have asked for documentation before forking over the extra cash. that's a pretty significant increase. live and learn.

[Minervah]

Woulda, shoulda, coulda.

It looks like from his last post the OP has realized he is just going to have to cut his loses and is walking away. I wish him luck. I am sure he is a wiser person for all of this.

[Squidlo]

If I was in the same position I'd simply say "well played ... well played". Next time do your homework. Live and learn. If you are still talking of this a year from now. You probably need a hobby.