About Sylvia Bergthold Expertise I can answer questions dealing with roommate situations including compatability, leases, placing roommate wanted ads, what you have to offer to a roommate, sharing of utilities and other services, interviewing techniques and questions, some legal aspects of housesharing, clearance information, etc.
Experience I have had roommates in my home for over 32 years and am the author of:
"SORRY, THE BOA HAS GOTTA GO!" A Roommate Survival Guide
Publications The Los Angeles Times, The HB-FV Independent, The Arizona Tribune, Lansing Michigan Rental Guide, Roommate Locator Newsletter, The Plain Dealer,, Las Vegas Sun, Apartment Lifestyles Magazine, Instyle Magazine, The Whiz.com, Cosmopolitan, Under 25, The Portsmouth Herald
Question I have a roommate that I have been having problems with for more than 2 months. She is graduating on the 17th of December but she has been told she must be out by the 14th because that is all she has paid up to. She refuses to leave until she graduates. I have informed her that she has to move out several times within the last month. She has been aware of this. My other roommate knows what is going on and she understands that she cant stay there she also knows that she has been informed. What can I do because she has been verbally informed, can I call the police or are there any other options. There are witnesses to the fact that she has been informed several times. what can I do?
Answer Hi Alex
You don't say WHY she has to be out by the 14th, aside from the fact that she has paid rent until the 14th. Why can't you charge her a daily rate until after she graduates? Take her monthly rental rate and divide it by 30 to get the daily rent. And have her pay the rate until the 18th.
Do you have someone else moving in on the 15th? If you do, that was very poor planning on your part. You never rent out rooms until they are empty.... just for this very reason. Sometimes there are circumstances beyond anyones control as to why things don't go according to plan.
And did you give her a WRITTEN 30 day notice to leave? Rent is paid monthly. If you wanted her to leave or she wanted to leave, it is still required to give a WRITTEN 30 day notice to vacate.
And no, you cannot call the police to have her removed. This is NOT a criminal matter, it is a civil matter. And you cannot change out the locks either. She could sue you big time and win in court. It is against the law so don't even think about it. And you also cannot hold any of her belongings as collateral until she pays you.
You will sit down and tell her that if she is NOT out the day after she graduates, you will have to have her evicted through an eviction service. Her name will then go in the flake data base, she will have major problems finding housing and her credit rating will be toast. She does not want this to happen.
And Alex, if you continue to have roommates, please buy my Roommate Survival Guide and learn how to write up agreements, how to give notices, how to interview prospective roommates and a whole lot more stuff you need to know. Especially the Chapter of Legal Stuff. You need to understand having roommates is a business with all the paperwork that goes with having a business.
Good Luck
Sincerely
Sylvia Bergthold
www.aroommatesurvivalguide.com
