# Stuck with an unstable/menacing roommate for 6 weeks, what should I do to protect myself? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 14, 2016, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuck-with-an-unstable-menacing-roommate-for-6-weeks-what-should-i-do-to-protect-myself/757367 "2016-06-14T18:40:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuck-with-an-unstable-menacing-roommate-for-6-weeks-what-should-i-do-to-protect-myself/757367/101 "2016-07-12T02:00:35Z")
I want to hear more about the nice-guy landlord moving in…😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuck-with-an-unstable-menacing-roommate-for-6-weeks-what-should-i-do-to-protect-myself/757367/102 "2016-07-12T14:14:33Z")
> [@andrea\_green](#): > > … > So things really came to a boil when nice-guy landlord was in town for a few days and suggested the three of us go out for lunch. Unsurprisingly, the crazy-roommate was unable to contain herself/be-civilized for even a few hours in public and she became quite hostile during the meal (mostly directed at nice-guy landlord). > …I even saw the certified letter sent to her today containing a ‘notice to vacate’. Well hopefully she WILL vacate. I don’t know how the law works regarding that sort of thing but she may be able to insist on 30 days notice or whatever even if that overlaps the end of her lease - e.g. if she got the notice on the 10th and the lease is up on the 31st she might be able to stay until the 10th of the next month. If so, and if she has a law degree she will know this, she might choose to stay until then just to be a bitch. How on earth could she not managed to hold herself together for a public lunch?? What exactly did she do? I’m thinking if her behavior is that far gone she’ll wind up on the street at some point. Your landlord should make sure the locks are changed once she’s out; if she’s that unstable I wouldn’t put it past her to come back and cause problems. ---
**Author:** ![SigMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@SigMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SigMan)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuck-with-an-unstable-menacing-roommate-for-6-weeks-what-should-i-do-to-protect-myself/757367/103 "2016-07-12T14:39:46Z")
If the OP feel threatened or were threatened I don’t think the 30 day notice are going to apply. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuck-with-an-unstable-menacing-roommate-for-6-weeks-what-should-i-do-to-protect-myself/757367/104 "2016-07-12T14:49:15Z")
Coming Soon to CBS in 2017! “Survivor: Brownstone Walk-Up” ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuck-with-an-unstable-menacing-roommate-for-6-weeks-what-should-i-do-to-protect-myself/757367/105 "2016-07-12T14:59:01Z")
The state of California is notorious for tenant rights laws that can make it **EXTREMELY** difficult to evict someone. As in it can take years, lease or no. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuck-with-an-unstable-menacing-roommate-for-6-weeks-what-should-i-do-to-protect-myself/757367/106 "2016-07-12T22:08:47Z")
I’m glad you’re OK. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuck-with-an-unstable-menacing-roommate-for-6-weeks-what-should-i-do-to-protect-myself/757367/107 "2016-07-12T22:51:01Z")
> [@Gary\_T](#): > > The state of California is notorious for tenant rights laws that can make it **EXTREMELY** difficult to evict someone. As in it can take years, lease or no. Yes and no. If there’s a month-to-month lease, and the landlord provides written notice to vacate (per all local codes and ordinances), one might eventually have to get the Sheriff’s Dept involved, but the law will support you. In weeks, not years. Just make sure you are following the rules. SF, where I think the OP is located, can be trickier. IME, Landlords run into trouble if they step outside the rules. Try to evict on a year long lease or try to force a tenant out by not maintaining the home in livable conditions, for example. (I owned rental property in the Bay Area for several years.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuck-with-an-unstable-menacing-roommate-for-6-weeks-what-should-i-do-to-protect-myself/757367.md?page=5)