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My living situation...

SkrimsSkrims Registered User regular
edited July 2014 in Help / Advice Forum
This is kind of long, my apologies.


I’m active duty and I’m currently splitting rent with a shipmate, his wife, and a civilian in a split-level home. I only recently made E-5 and started receiving my housing allowance, and I only have a year left in the service.

I wanted to split rent to save as much as I could on my way out, money for furniture, random school expenses, emergencies, etc.

My living situation has gotten increasingly more complicated and dramatic. My shipmate and his wife entered an open relationship, she does not have a job. I gave them the benefit of the doubt, because aside from some occasional spats their relationship seemed stable. He didn’t seem to mind that she wasn’t working and his housing allowance covered their rent. He appointed her as “household manager” and asked her to manage bills and keep the house clean since she wasn’t working. When I had signed the lease, she was attending classes and had been working her way towards becoming a medical transcriptionist. She stopped going to classes while we were at sea.

She basically smoked pot all day and left the house a mess, she spoke endlessly about "fostering a community" and incessantly complained about how dirty the house was despite the fact that she was the one making the vast majority of the mess. It was the responsibility of THE COMMUNITY to clean the house. Basically, those of us that were working 12-18 hours a day were expected to do just as much cooking and cleaning as the unemployed wife and her equally jobless friends/partners who spent most of their idle time sleeping, smoking pot, or spewing buzzwords about harmony, energy, and balance.

I couldn’t really afford a move at the time, so I thought I’d just endure the remainder of my lease and move once I had secured a nice safety cushion of funds.

Well, their drama has accelerated ten-fold and I may have to move soon, but my lease doesn’t expire until December. Her husband is filing for separation. She won’t be receiving his housing allowance anymore and now she’s desperately trying to get some money. Yesterday she accused me of owing her a thousand dollars in utilities, which is complete and utter bullshit. I’ve paid every month, with the exception of one month when I was at sea and she told me I didn’t have to pay, and last month because she still hasn’t given me a statement despite several emails and inquiries in person.


She then accused me of not contributing to THE COMMUNITY because I hadn’t been cleaning the house or buying furniture. I clean up after myself and I stopped buying furniture because her friends/other partners destroy everything they touch. It was evidently my responsibility to clean up after everyone else. I told her to get a fucking job, she got angry and said something along the lines of “being just like everyone else.” Her new boyfriend kept pushing himself between us and started yelling at me. I left the house and stayed the night elsewhere.

I don’t know how to go about this, the lease is in her name and my portion of the rent is sub-leased. I'm on orders away from the ship for the remainder of the week so I can’t pull up my copy of the sub-lease right now. My job is stressful and I've only just started to get some savings going. I'm also a year away from being a civilian, I have my entire future to worry about and an adult who is perfectly capable of working is lashing out at all of us because her gravy train is coming to a halt.

Skrims on
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Posts

  • mcdermottmcdermott Registered User regular
    Crazy roommates be crazy. Look over your lease when you can, or find out if legal can look it over, and see if you have an out. Or what the penalties are for bailing. Then, as long as it's doable, bail.

    As for money supposedly owed, let he see you in court.

    An E-5 housing allowance should be sufficient to lease a studio or one bedroom apartment in most markets, even on a six month lease. This will cut into your savings, which sucks, but roommate drama (especially with drugs involved) can fuck you even harder. Time to be on your own, or at least find a new, less crazy roommate.

    If you have no legal out and cannot afford lease break penalties (assuming they're enforceable), start documenting every dime you give her. Also consider a storage unit and keep all but essentials elsewhere.

    This is precisely why I don't bother with roommates anymore, even though I'd be more comfortably financially if I did (and I have spare bedrooms).

  • mcdermottmcdermott Registered User regular
    edited July 2014
    Also, having been off active for a good long time, I have no idea how military drug policy and prescription/recreational use I marijuana interplay now...not as far as your own use, I know that's still banned. But you need to consider whether her use and possession in your home leaves you exposed...this is precisely the kind of consequence I'm talking about. Last thing you need is for her use/possession to lead to a lost clearance or OTH discharge. Consider that, if drama ramps up, this is something she could even intentionally try to cause.

    Having less savings at ETS sucks. Losing your education benefits would suck more. Especially if you somehow wind up with a drug charge, meaning you lose civilian financial aid too.

    On that note, though, if any of the use on the property is less than 100% legitimate (assuming any is to begin with) that may be another path to justifying a broken lease on your part.

    But all of that is stuff you should try to get legal advice on. The legal office can only go so far, but maybe able to at least offer some general advice. But seriously, 100%, look to extricate yourself from this situation.

    mcdermott on
  • The EnderThe Ender Registered User regular
    Find a way to gtfo. 100% agree with McDermott.


    Even if the only way out is to pay some penalty, I'd pay it and move. Aside from the ridiculous drama, If THE COMMUNITY turns your home into a hot box slum, you could fail a pee test & get into whatever trouble is involved there.

    Also, it's only a matter of time before THE COMMUNITY just starts stealing / wrecking your stuff while you're out of the house.

    With Love and Courage
  • mcdermottmcdermott Registered User regular
    edited July 2014
    Yeah, that's why I recommend that if you do stay, which should be an absolute last resort, you secure all the belongings you can live without off-site.

    But seriously, last resort. Hardly even an option, really.

    Edit: as an E-5, I'm assuming you're fairly young, which is why I feel it necessary to impress upon you how serious the situation you're in could be. It's not altogether likely, but if you were doing a risk matrix the seriousness of potential consequences (again, lost veterans benefits or even civilian financial aid) would still bump that to a "moderate" or even "high" risk. It's the kind of thing that you assume won't happen to you, and statistically you're right, but some people win the lottery every day, and some others get fucked for life, each unlikely.

    mcdermott on
  • SkrimsSkrims Registered User regular
    The Ender wrote: »
    Also, it's only a matter of time before THE COMMUNITY just starts stealing / wrecking your stuff while you're out of the house.

    They had someone sleeping in my bed while I was at sea, they never asked my permission. I take Adderall once every morning, and she has tried buying it from me multiple times. I keep it locked away so no one has stolen it but at this point I wouldn't put it past them.

    Thing is, I'm willing to have an objective conversation about this but they just start shouting, or they extrapolate some bizarre shit out of a very direct statement.

    I let some friends stay over for a week and I had informed her months in advance, at no point was payment mentioned. She just asked that they contribute to the grocery budget if they ate anything. They ate out the entire time, and after they left she told me they owed her 200 dollars a piece. The end of that conversation essentially went like this;

    Her: So you just let people live in our space without contributing the community?

    Me: I was just trying to be nice, I didn't want them to pay for a hotel room.

    Her: No, you just like being the cool guy with all the hookups and you wanted to impress your friends. This isn't your mommy's house, okay?

    Shit like this just prevents any reasonable discourse, her boyfriend is just as bad.

  • spaboollyspaboolly Registered User regular
    mcdermott wrote: »
    It's the kind of thing that you assume won't happen to you, and statistically you're right, but some people win the lottery every day, and some others get fucked for life, each unlikely.
    My policy is to always assume that my luck will be bad, and plan accordingly. Difficult? Yeah. Paranoid? Maybe a little. But never underestimate the value of having that peace of mind. Especially when, as you pointed out, this guy has so much to potentially lose.

    ForumTriforce2.jpg
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  • mcdermottmcdermott Registered User regular
    I checked, looks line financial aid restrictions are only for drug charges while on financial aid. So forget I mentioned that.

    But you need to find out your exposure on the military side, seriously, because the last thing you need is to wind up getting caught up because you're living in a drug den.

    I mean personally I'm a strong advocate for legal recreational marijuana and sensible drug policy. Last I heard the Navy wasn't though, and you need to live in that reality right now. Pop smoke before you get fucked.

  • SkrimsSkrims Registered User regular
    Well, we live in Washington so it's highly unlikely anyone will get in trouble for possession. I am irritated about being around it though and I'm looking at apartments and storage.

  • The EnderThe Ender Registered User regular
    Her: So you just let people live in our space without contributing the community?

    Me: I was just trying to be nice, I didn't want them to pay for a hotel room.

    Her: No, you just like being the cool guy with all the hookups and you wanted to impress your friends. This isn't your mommy's house, okay?

    lolwut


    Yeah, move as soon as you possibly can.

    With Love and Courage
  • mcdermottmcdermott Registered User regular
    Skrims wrote: »
    Well, we live in Washington so it's highly unlikely anyone will get in trouble for possession. I am irritated about being around it though and I'm looking at apartments and storage.

    Pretty sure -you- still could (on the military side), but yeah WA makes that less likely. And it may still give you an argument for breaking the lease.

    Good luck, man.

    And seriously, fuck roommates.

  • spool32spool32 Contrary Library Registered User regular
    edited July 2014
    get

    out

    no more talking or negotiation

    just get out. Pay whatever is obligated legally and not a dime more, get your shit, crash with a friend, and get out. Use their drug use as a legal reason if you need to, tell the landlord you can't be a party to their criminal behavior and you need out.

    spool32 on
  • mcdermottmcdermott Registered User regular
    Well, the weed specifically may not be illegal now, WA and all. But as military, perhaps still a legal excuse. The main takeaway is solid though, GTFO.

    And frankly, err on the side of paying less and letting then collect if they have legal recourse. You don't owe them shit.

  • BloodycowBloodycow Registered User regular
    As long as the house your in is not on a military base or reservation then you can't get in trouble for someone else having pot and smoking it.
    There is also zero chance you could ever hot box eneough to come up hot on a piss test. That is a big wives tale that privates use when they pop hot.
    I'm guessing your up in Bremerton? If you were closer to JBLM I would offer you a place to crash until you could get the fuck out of there. I really despise people's spouses that act like her. I see it all the damn time. They are completely independent people, they get married to a service member and realize everything is just being handed to them and they have no more responsibility and they just turn into giant lazy turds. That's why you see all these military wives who weigh 200+ pounds with 20 damn kids.
    Get out man, have someone make you some fake pcs orders, do what you got to do.

    " I am a warrior, so that my son may be a merchant, so that his son may be a poet.”
    ― John Quincy Adams
  • YoshuaYoshua Registered User regular
    JAG is an option. They can go over your agreements and see if there is an out for you. Granted that will have to wait till you're able to access your paperwork again.

  • zepherinzepherin Russian warship, go fuck yourself Registered User regular
    Take pictures of her illegal drug paraphernalia. If she is causing a situation that is illegal, that is generally grounds to nullify the lease.

  • naporeonnaporeon Seattle, WARegistered User regular
    edited July 2014
    zepherin wrote: »
    Take pictures of her illegal drug paraphernalia. If she is causing a situation that is illegal, that is generally grounds to nullify the lease.

    As the OP is in Washington and the drug in question is weed, it's only really a legal issue if the apartment is on a military base, which it doesn't sound like it is.

    And @Skrims‌, difficult as it may be, @spool32‌'s advice is probably the best: get out, pay what you have to pay, and do what you can to inform the landlord for your reasons. Do this as quickly as you possibly can.

    naporeon on
  • QuidQuid Definitely not a banana Registered User regular
    edited July 2014
    Shipmate

    Get the fuck out. You are at risk sharing the household with someone breaking federal law. And while it's unlikely to occur, all it takes is one wrong person to find out and next thing you know you're up against the wall with a bunch of khakis looking to make an example.

    Pay whatever you owe and get out. If you're concerned about cash Fleet and Family and the Navy Marine Corps Society exists for this exact reason. Explain your situation to them and they will help you get the hell out. I've sent my Sailors there before and know they work. Once you are out of there if they keep hounding you for money but don't provide proof, contact JAG. They deal with this bullshit all the time.

    I know it sucks that you probably won't have the money you were expecting but you've got job experience that counts for college credit and the GI Bill to help wherever you rent next. Everyone suffers financial setbacks in life and with this one you're still ahead of the vast majority of people.

    Quid on
  • zepherinzepherin Russian warship, go fuck yourself Registered User regular
    naporeon wrote: »
    zepherin wrote: »
    Take pictures of her illegal drug paraphernalia. If she is causing a situation that is illegal, that is generally grounds to nullify the lease.

    As the OP is in Washington and the drug in question is weed, it's only really a legal issue if the apartment is on a military base, which it doesn't sound like it is.

    And @Skrims‌, difficult as it may be, @spool32‌'s advice is probably the best: get out, pay what you have to pay, and do what you can to inform the landlord for your reasons. Do this as quickly as you possibly can.
    It is still illegal on a federal level, as such is a federal crime, however he is a member of the military covered under UCMJ, and while it may legal for others to be in the room, he is being held to do something illegal via military law, contracts that tell someone to do something illegal are null.
    ...consult a lawyer. I would just roll out and tell them to pound sand. Also why isn't the OP living on base?

  • QuidQuid Definitely not a banana Registered User regular
    It's not uncommon for a command to punish a service member if people are breaking the law and they don't intervene or contact the authorities. It would literally depend on the opinion of his CO as to whether or not he be punished if it was discovered. A more common example is with underage drinking in the military. Personnel present who are of age or aren't drinking are sometimes also punished for not stopping it. Sometimes they're just lectured. It's generally up to the command.

    As for living off base, Navy personnel usually move out of the barracks at E-5 in my experience. Often sooner depending on the bachelor housing situation.

  • mcdermottmcdermott Registered User regular
    Quid wrote: »
    It's not uncommon for a command to punish a service member if people are breaking the law and they don't intervene or contact the authorities. It would literally depend on the opinion of his CO as to whether or not he be punished if it was discovered. A more common example is with underage drinking in the military. Personnel present who are of age or aren't drinking are sometimes also punished for not stopping it. Sometimes they're just lectured. It's generally up to the command.

    As for living off base, Navy personnel usually move out of the barracks at E-5 in my experience. Often sooner depending on the bachelor housing situation.

    When I was Army it was E-6 generally (for single soldiers), but yeah that'll depend entirely on if the base is short on housing or not (or has a surplus).

    And yeah, when you get into UCMJ it's a whole different story...that it's legal in Washington may be entirely irrelevant. Especially when you remember your good friend, Article 134, aka the General Article. Could you get popped for UCMJ action under 134 for being in a house where drugs that are illegal under federal law are commonly possessed and consumed? Could that UCMJ action be cause for separation? Could that UCMJ action (and the particulars of it) impact current or future security clearances?

    Great questions all, and I suspect nobody posting in this thread is necessarily in a position to definitively answer them. Especially since part of that will likely come down to his particular command, and whoever is reviewing his particular security clearance. But I think GTFO, ASAP is pretty much the most solid advice available here.

  • SkrimsSkrims Registered User regular
    It looks like the drama has subsided, the husband isn't bailing immediately so she has a few months to get her shit together.

    I pad my last month of rent and they know I'm leaving. I've already walked through several apartments.

    Pretty excited about having my own space, living in a dump drove me fucking nuts.

  • mcdermottmcdermott Registered User regular
    It's gonna feel so great having your own space. Good to hear things are working out.

  • Inquisitor77Inquisitor77 2 x Penny Arcade Fight Club Champion A fixed point in space and timeRegistered User regular
    You put it in writing to the landlord that you're leaving, right? And they are going to take your name off the lease? Just saying, "Hey I'm gonna take off now kthxbai" is not adequate in most jurisdictions. If the landlord doesn't know and you are still on the lease, then they can totally suck you back into their spiral of immature bullshit (and cost you tons of $$$ besides).

    It's not enough to just get out (although that's important). Make sure you are not going to be held legally responsible for paying their rent.

  • V1mV1m Registered User regular
    100% agreed.

    Get it down on paper or it didn't happen.

    Don't be the kind of idiot I am and require multiple experiences to accept this simple fact.

  • zepherinzepherin Russian warship, go fuck yourself Registered User regular
    You put it in writing to the landlord that you're leaving, right? And they are going to take your name off the lease? Just saying, "Hey I'm gonna take off now kthxbai" is not adequate in most jurisdictions. If the landlord doesn't know and you are still on the lease, then they can totally suck you back into their spiral of immature bullshit (and cost you tons of $$$ besides).

    It's not enough to just get out (although that's important). Make sure you are not going to be held legally responsible for paying their rent.
    I agree with what you are saying, hence the agree button, but I do believe he is subletting, and isn't on the original lease from the landlord.

  • Inquisitor77Inquisitor77 2 x Penny Arcade Fight Club Champion A fixed point in space and timeRegistered User regular
    zepherin wrote: »
    You put it in writing to the landlord that you're leaving, right? And they are going to take your name off the lease? Just saying, "Hey I'm gonna take off now kthxbai" is not adequate in most jurisdictions. If the landlord doesn't know and you are still on the lease, then they can totally suck you back into their spiral of immature bullshit (and cost you tons of $$$ besides).

    It's not enough to just get out (although that's important). Make sure you are not going to be held legally responsible for paying their rent.
    I agree with what you are saying, hence the agree button, but I do believe he is subletting, and isn't on the original lease from the landlord.

    Yeah, it's a bit ambiguous. OP says "sub-lease" and mentions having a copy of something. "Sub-lease" is not the same thing as "sublet", and the subletting rules can vary depending upon where you live (in some places, subletting is illegal without express content, in others you are essentially treated an unnamed member of the original lease, while in others the terms of the sublet determine your rights & responsibilities).

    OP, just make sure you are legally in the clear, here. If you need to notify someone, notify them in writing. If you don't, then enjoy getting the hell out of Dodge!

  • QuidQuid Definitely not a banana Registered User regular
    Glad to hear it OP. Like others said just make sure they can't get any more money from you via whatever paperwork you have with them.

  • SkrimsSkrims Registered User regular
    edited August 2014
    Well, things might not be so great. I gave her a letter stating my intent to break lease in the middle of the month after I had already discussed paying my last month in rent several days ago. She blew me off and implied that I was pressuring her to sign it RIGHT NOW simply by giving it to her. Then she said that she didn't care about my problems and kept reverting to psychoanalyzing me and attacking my lack of contribution to THE COMMUNITY because apparently rent and utilities don't count.

    She brought up my friends again and accused them of abusing her space because they didn't want to cough up 200 dollars a piece despite the fact that payment was never discussed prior to their arrival. I told her she shouldn't expect payment from people out of the blue like that, I told her things like this need to be stated in writing, then she went on a rant about being BUREAUCRATIC and that I'm not prepared for the real world. She won't sign it until she does "research" and she implied that even though I won't be living here that she will make me pay until December if need be.

    Jesus christ, I don't know how to talk to this person. Everything becomes a personal attack that has nothing to do with what I'm actually trying to discuss. I guess it's time to talk to a JAG officer.

    Edit: I was just physically threatened by her boyfriend again. He ran up to me, smacked both of his hands together, got within inches of my face and told me I had to leave, even though he doesn't pay rent and isn't on the lease. She insisted that I shouldn't feel threatened because he didn't touch me, that "having a small bubble" doesn't prove that I'm being harassed. Fuck this.

    I called my chief, he's going to see if I can stay in a spare room next to one of the RO's.

    Skrims on
  • QuidQuid Definitely not a banana Registered User regular
    Calling your chief was the right move. Cut all contact at this point and talk to JAG. If you can't get a place to yourself see if someone will let you couch surf. Either way gtfo. Their behavior is probably only going to get worse which puts you at risk.

  • ThegreatcowThegreatcow Lord of All Bacons Washington State - It's Wet up here innit? Registered User regular
    Kamiro wrote: »
    Secure your more expensive/sentimental belongings (TV, computer, pictures, valuables, etc) ASAP. Seems like things could escalate and they sound unstable enough that they might do something dumb like sell/smash your stuff.

    2nd'ing this. I have been in situations where my roommates had decided that my personal property was a nice little bargaining chip and it never turned out pleasantly. If you have a trustworth friend with a spare garage or some nearby storage facility, I would move your valuable items asap and consider putting some kind of lock on your room if you can.

  • V1mV1m Registered User regular
    Kamiro wrote: »
    Secure your more expensive/sentimental belongings (TV, computer, pictures, valuables, etc) ASAP. Seems like things could escalate and they sound unstable enough that they might do something dumb like sell/smash your stuff.

    Yeah definitely get your stuff out immediately

    Oh and call the landlord and get your side of the story acorss first before he starts hearing about how you are literally Satan himself.

  • GonmunGonmun He keeps kickin' me in the dickRegistered User regular
    V1m wrote: »
    Kamiro wrote: »
    Secure your more expensive/sentimental belongings (TV, computer, pictures, valuables, etc) ASAP. Seems like things could escalate and they sound unstable enough that they might do something dumb like sell/smash your stuff.

    Yeah definitely get your stuff out immediately

    Oh and call the landlord and get your side of the story acorss first before he starts hearing about how you are literally Satan himself.

    I was going to suggest contacting the landlord as well just to see what options there were with regards to the lease but there might also be the fact that she has a "community" living there that he might not be aware of, nor receiving money for that he might otherwise have asked for. I know some landlords charge rent based on occupancy, not to mention the legal ramifications of having people actually living there not on the lease could be something of concern for him as well.

    desc wrote: »
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  • tuxkamentuxkamen really took this picture. Registered User regular
    Gonmun wrote: »
    V1m wrote: »
    Kamiro wrote: »
    Secure your more expensive/sentimental belongings (TV, computer, pictures, valuables, etc) ASAP. Seems like things could escalate and they sound unstable enough that they might do something dumb like sell/smash your stuff.

    Yeah definitely get your stuff out immediately

    Oh and call the landlord and get your side of the story acorss first before he starts hearing about how you are literally Satan himself.

    I was going to suggest contacting the landlord as well just to see what options there were with regards to the lease but there might also be the fact that she has a "community" living there that he might not be aware of, nor receiving money for that he might otherwise have asked for. I know some landlords charge rent based on occupancy, not to mention the legal ramifications of having people actually living there not on the lease could be something of concern for him as well.

    Absolutely true. As a landlord, if I find out that people have moved in subsequent to the lease signing they had better add themselves to the lease agreement--especially if you were on the original one and are leaving.


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  • SkrimsSkrims Registered User regular
    I have an appointment with legal tomorrow, hopefully I'll get a firm answer on what my rights are.

    Everything I read basically said "you have to pay the lease until another tenant is found." and she sure as shit isn't capable of doing that considering how long it takes her to tell me what utilities I owe.

    Also, her husband apparently isn't paying rent now despite the fact that they aren't legally seperated yet. He literally moved out the other day and left me and the other guy who lives here (not the boyfriend) with his fucking mess. He has to suppport her until matters are settled and he is being very nonchalant about the whole affair so it looks like I'll have to get the chain of command involved.

    I'm not sure how much good legal will do because the husband and wife are seperatly seeking advice at the local offices and when I phoned in the representatives said my case could be a conflict of interest.

    I also found out that she drove my car over the weekend while I was camping, she's not on my insurance policy. I'm now keeping my keys on my person at all times and I'm avoiding the house as much as humanly possible, my shipmates offered to help me move out this week.

    I hate that this is happening. I have to troubleshoot my gear and deal with this bullshit. She tries to make it sound like I'm being cruel for telling her to get a job. She keeps making it personal.

  • Gabriel_PittGabriel_Pitt (effective against Russian warships) Registered User regular
    Run this by legal advice first (and ask the representative what you're supposed to do to get help if the husband and wife make helping you a conflict of interest, because while that's going on, your living situation is completely untenable):if it's unclear whether you still need to pay rent until finding a room mate, and with the fact the current occupants are going to make getting anyone else to sign on difficult, if not impossible, stop paying the rent. Instead, put that money into a savings account each month and let it sit until you know one way or another if you're on the hook for anything further. That way, if it's not your responsibility, you get it all back. If you are, then A: you have the money right there ready to pay out, and B: if it somehow becomes important, it gives rock solid proof that you weren't stiffing anyone, but were making a good faith effort to sort things out first.

  • mtsmts Dr. Robot King Registered User regular
    if you are on the lease then yes legally you are obligated to pay until the lease is up
    if you are not on the lease then why are you still there

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  • VeeveeVeevee WisconsinRegistered User regular
    tuxkamen wrote: »
    Gonmun wrote: »
    V1m wrote: »
    Kamiro wrote: »
    Secure your more expensive/sentimental belongings (TV, computer, pictures, valuables, etc) ASAP. Seems like things could escalate and they sound unstable enough that they might do something dumb like sell/smash your stuff.

    Yeah definitely get your stuff out immediately

    Oh and call the landlord and get your side of the story acorss first before he starts hearing about how you are literally Satan himself.

    I was going to suggest contacting the landlord as well just to see what options there were with regards to the lease but there might also be the fact that she has a "community" living there that he might not be aware of, nor receiving money for that he might otherwise have asked for. I know some landlords charge rent based on occupancy, not to mention the legal ramifications of having people actually living there not on the lease could be something of concern for him as well.

    Absolutely true. As a landlord, if I find out that people have moved in subsequent to the lease signing they had better add themselves to the lease agreement--especially if you were on the original one and are leaving.

    Which could mean she didn't have the legal right to create a sub-lease in the first place invalidating anything the OP and COMMUNITY-girl signed about paying rent. Bonus points would be awarded if the landlord also starts an eviction process against her for breaking the terms of the lease.

    Until it's determined that everything is on the up-and-up, and until it's determined exactly what you owe (For instance, in my state a renter only has to pay up to 3 months of rent max or until a new renter moves in prior to the 3 month mark after breaking lease), I would hold off giving this women any more money. Put everything you would give her for rent and bills she claims you owe aside and not touch any of it so you can give her everything in one shot, but not until you and her have a signed, itemized agreement stating what you owe. Also, if you haven't been yet, make sure all payments are with traceable checks and you get a written receipt of any payments made. It'd really suck to pay her in cash then have her turn around and sue you for non-payment, which you'd have to pay if you can't prove you paid it.

  • HollerHoller Registered User regular
    Skrims wrote: »
    She tries to make it sound like I'm being cruel for telling her to get a job. She keeps making it personal.
    I'm sympathetic to everything about this situation, but would just like to point out: if you are telling her to get a job, you're also making it personal. Stop doing that. Make a point of calmly redirecting every interaction back to the business at hand, no matter what she says. Or better yet, move immediately and inform her that you will not communicate with her through any method except email, so that you have documentation of everything.

    At this point, I agree with everyone else here: move as soon as humanly possible, even if it's to a storage unit and friend's couch. Email your intent to terminate the sublease to her and CC the landlord, noting in that email that you already gave it to her in person on [date], and have paid prorated rent for a full 30 days from the moment you hit send on the email. Talk to a lawyer ASAP, and don't communicate with this person in any form but email, waiting a day before responding to anything she says to make sure you don't say anything that will exacerbate the situation.

    That's what I'd try to do, anyway. Good luck.

  • BloodycowBloodycow Registered User regular
    I have plenty of space in my garage and a 5x8 enclosed trailer if you need some help moving shit out of your place. You're not far away and I would love to laugh in this ladies face as I help you move your shit out of there.

    " I am a warrior, so that my son may be a merchant, so that his son may be a poet.”
    ― John Quincy Adams
  • BloodycowBloodycow Registered User regular
    Also, if you have a copy of your lease, there may be a clause in there regarding harassment. Should say something to the effect of if you are being harassed you have the right to break your lease.

    " I am a warrior, so that my son may be a merchant, so that his son may be a poet.”
    ― John Quincy Adams
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