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To clarify a bit more, my previous roommate and I split the rent 50/50 (this was set by him), and he even had the opportunity to take the larger room and have me move into the other one. Ultimately he didn't, because he enjoyed having a small balcony and a window facing a quieter street. More space and an ensuite vs. small balcony and quieter street is a relatively subjective argument, so that's not where my issue lies. And I don't fundamentally disagree with the premise of splitting rent by square footage, but my current roommate wants over 10x that. Again, this was not mentioned once in the months before we signed a lease together - not even in passing.
Having read most (not all) of the posts in this thread, I'm a bit surprised nobody has brought up the issue of the smaller room having a balcony and window facing a quieter street, assuming I'm understanding things correctly. Isn't that of value too ?
One person's idea of what they value and another person can be vastly different. Let's say I rent out two homes, one larger and inland, and one smaller and on lake front property, and charge the same rent for both. After showing a person both homes, they accept the smaller one (both are renting for the same amount), and a few months later they complain they think they should get reduced rent since this lake home is smaller than the inland home. Really ? How do I know what you value ? I assumed you wanted a lake view and were willing to pay for it....now suddenly you're not and you want to pay by square footage ?
If one room is smaller, but features an outside balcony and is facing a quieter side of the building.....that sure as heck is worth something. Rent a hotel room, or cruise ship room a few times if you want to see what a quiet room and/or outside balcony is worth !
I have been living in an apartment for the past year, but my previous roommate relocated. I found a new roommate that passed background checks, and everything seemed to be in order. We signed a lease and he moved in. Unfortunately, the pleasantness of the situation did not last long. A month into the rental period, my new roommate informed me that because his room is slightly smaller, more awkwardly shaped, and his (private) bathroom isn't connected to the room, he thinks he should be paying less rent; A substantially smaller amount. Alternatively, he proposed that we switch rooms halfway through the rental period.
As background, he and I were previously clear on the fact that the rent and utilities would be split 50/50. This is the way that it was done with my previous roommate, and no problems ever arose then. In hindsight, I should have also gotten this in writing, but hindsight is 20/20. He also had knowledge of the apartment layout. Although we co-signed the lease, and it stipulates the amount of rent due each month, it does not have any mention of splitting or division. I'm stuck here, because I don't want to create an uncomfortable environment, but I also don't want to pay out the nose for something that was never previously an issue.
Am I in the wrong for being upset by this? Any advice is greatly appreciated.
This is why I don't have roommates anymore, and I live by myself!
I found this thread while looking for information on how to go about being the other guy in this kind of situation.
I made an agreement to get the middle sized room. Only to find out that smaller room is only a couple inches smaller and that person also has access to a garage which they said would be an extra $100 a month.
My situation is different but I hope the OP made the switch. I think if he spent awhile in the other guy's shoes he might realize the guy was not blowing smoke.
As for the people saying a deal is a deal, information asymmetry was clearly in the OP's favor. The new roommate has a different experience than he thought going into the deal. Perhaps the OP would if liked the new room better and all would be happy. If he is opposed to switching rooms, either he has some extremely heavy furniture or he knows his current room is much better.
A $20/month difference is reasonable. A $90/month difference is not. Tell him if he's so worried about it, you'll switch him rooms and HE can pay $90/month more than you do.
^ I like the way azurabug thinks. Put the shoe on the other foot and see if he likes the idea of paying and extra $90 per month.
I have been living in an apartment for the past year, but my previous roommate relocated. I found a new roommate that passed background checks, and everything seemed to be in order. We signed a lease and he moved in. Unfortunately, the pleasantness of the situation did not last long. A month into the rental period, my new roommate informed me that because his room is slightly smaller, more awkwardly shaped, and his (private) bathroom isn't connected to the room, he thinks he should be paying less rent; A substantially smaller amount. Alternatively, he proposed that we switch rooms halfway through the rental period.
As background, he and I were previously clear on the fact that the rent and utilities would be split 50/50. This is the way that it was done with my previous roommate, and no problems ever arose then. In hindsight, I should have also gotten this in writing, but hindsight is 20/20. He also had knowledge of the apartment layout. Although we co-signed the lease, and it stipulates the amount of rent due each month, it does not have any mention of splitting or division. I'm stuck here, because I don't want to create an uncomfortable environment, but I also don't want to pay out the nose for something that was never previously an issue.
Am I in the wrong for being upset by this? Any advice is greatly appreciated.
Do you have your old agreement in writing?
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