I’ve already talked to several of my friends about an issue I’m having, but I figure some unbiased advice will be handy as well.
The background is: Up until May I’ve been living in the DC area, but faced a sudden mobilization with the Army National Guard. Since time was an issue, I made an issue with my then current roommates to keep my stuff in storage inside the apartment (in a closet that’s about 5 feet by 10 feet). I’d also made an arrangement with them that I would continue paying my full portion of rent until they replace me in the apartment, then at that point I’d contribute 200 dollars a month as a storage fee. The paying of rent wasn’t so much for my benefit (after all why would I really want to pay for an apartment I wasn’t living in), as I didn’t feel it was right for me to leave them empty handed on the bedroom and that portion of the rent. The law allows a mobilized guardsmen or reservist to use their orders to terminate all lease agreements they have at the time, so I could have just walked away at that point.
But I got this email last night:
This caught me completely off guard. Now I don’t mind compensating them for the 211 dollars because we didn’t fully realize the ramifications of adding a fourth to the lease. But the 300 dollars is, in my opinion, outrageous. It feels like a mild form of extortion to me. Especially considering the fact that when I last talked to my roommate (who seems to be the go between with me and the other two), that we agreed that I would continue with 200 a month. I want to make sure my response is level headed, or see if there’s any options that I may be over looking. This is my draft response:
OP, you’ve been more than reasonable, i think. If they stick to their guns and continue to hit you up for money, i’d get my stuff out of there and ditch the lease. Hell, i’d probably do that anyway, now.
You really, really need to get off the lease period and get your stuff into a storage unit. This “you owe” drama is going to continue as long as your name is on the lease. You should have made it a clean break earlier, but pay the utility differential and cut the cord on this bullshit. They are not going to be all that motivated to replace you on the lease if you are paying $200-$300 a month.
As a side note I’d arrange to have a friend pick up all your belongings and put them in storage BEFORE you get too much further.
Yup, no more mister nice guy. They are taking advantage of you, the 200$ is already more than generous for something I’d consider a favour (I wish i could charge 2400$/year for a closet). They should have been able to cover the additional costs easily, they are trying you on.
Thanks all. I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t being unreasonable.
Since I’m leaning towards option B, I’ve already started contacting them and asking for their help. It’s complicated by the fact that I’m 8000 miles away and need to make some arrangements. That and I would need my parents to come down there since they have all my POA.
What I’m thinking what I will do is remain on the lease as long as it takes to get my stuff moved out. Since I would be a lease holder they wouldn’t be able to bar those I’ve delegated my affairs to entry. Once my stuff is out of there, I’ll contact the management company, send them my orders, and take my name off the lease.
Jumping on the bandwagon. They’re ripping you off charging you 200 for storage even not considering the whole utilities thing; you need to get yourself off that lease pronto.
They’ll regret it - that 200 you’re paying them is saving EACH of them 66 bucks a month, which I think is more than the added utility bill.
Ditto what the others have said: move your stuff out. It would be great to say something like, “I can’t believe the landlord is charging more for utilities. What a rip-off. To help you guys out, I’ll have my parents/movers get my stuff out of the closet and into a storage space ASAP. With me off the lease, you’ll be saving $60 a month in utilities, and I’ll be saving $75 a month by renting a storage space – that seems like a real win-win situation for all of us!”
Have they rented out the place to the 4th person yet or are you still contributing to that? I can’t quite tell from your OP because it seems as if there isn’t a 4th person but you’re talking about paying 200 a month which only happens when they get that 4th person.
So one of these scenarios is taking place:
a) They haven’t found someone (and why would they? You’re paying rent indefinitely and they get to live 3 to the apartment rather than 4). In that case, sucks to be them that the rent increased or utilities increased. They shouldn’t be looking a gift horse in the mouth. Tell them to shut up and be happy with the situation where you’ve subsidized their costs.
b) They HAVE found someone to rent. The reason utilities increased is because there really is a 4th person living there. In that case, they need to deal with the 4th person as he’s the one who should worry about this rent increase and he’s the one who should be responsible for the utilities, not you. Tell them to shut up and be happy with the situation where you’ve subsidized their costs
Or perhaps they haven’t found a 4th person and you’ve already reduced your payments down to $200 per month for effectively a storage closet. In that case, go with the breaking the lease option and, should you so desire (and dependent upon your level of trust with the other 3), have a gentleman’s agreement of $200 per month for storage, period.
Oh, and tell them to shut up and be happy with the situation where you’ve subsidized their costs.
Don’t bother sending all of that e-mail, though. Don’t explain, don’t justify. Just say “I think it would be better, on the whole, if I were just to remove my name from the lease and move my things into a storage unit.” Like Ravenman suggests.
I agree with pretty much all the other posts. You are being more than fair and the others are being twits at best and jackasses at worst. Even IF you could keep your stuff there I’d be worried that my stuff wasn’t safe with twits and or jackasses, particularly if you stand your ground and it pisses em off because they are too stupid to see you are doing them a favor more than they are for you.
If you do decide to bail and “move out” so to speak, I’d do it post haste so they don’t have much of a chance to fuck with your stuff.
As Mr. Shine said, it’s Rationale
Also, it seems to me that you either added or left out a negative in the sentence
“I don’t think I’d want to keep you happy.”
But, tiny proofreading corrections aside, I think your e-mail is fine. A lot depends on how much you trust them – if they knew you were moving your stuff out and getting off the lease, would they mess with your stuff out of revenge or just don’t give a crap-ism? If so, then the no notice move is probably the best idea. If they’re friends, then laying out the options probably makes sense, since moving stuff is a hassle and just taking you off the lease is really the win-win situation all around (you don’t have to move the stuff; they end up with more money than if you moved it).
To be perfectly honest, unless these are life-or-death friends, I’d send someone over to get my stuff out of the house BEFORE I responded. I might be a tad paranoid, though.
I agree, they are being ridiculous and if there is any way to get out of the situation, I’d do it. I wish I had a truck- I’d help you do the moving!
Frankly, they should have found a 4th roommate within a month. DC is a tight rental market, and it’s absurd for a room to be open for more than a few weeks.
