Paying Rent Fairly

Oh no! she is living there and needs to pay rent to decrease the others rent. Not just you...That is way unfair. I wouldn't say she needs to pay the full amount for that roommate because she does still have her things in there, but a good portion. She should also be paying a share of the utilities. You are actually most likely in breach of lease agreement by having her live there, anything I believe more then a week is considered long term. You are not the only one sharing the apartment therefore you cannot be the only one that can take advantage of the money owed for her share.

If she was using the other half of the room, then yes, she should take over for that roommate. But, if she is sleeping on your floor, and not really taking over that part of the room (isn't allowed to), there should be a different portion. Either split the rent 3 ways, or something similiar? How are utilities handled? When I was in a house, our rent covered utilities and one of the girls' boyfriends moved in. I felt that he should have to pay something because he was at the house more than the rest of us were, and was paying nothing. I think that the roommate either is giving your sister run of her part of the room, or she has to pay something for the storage of her stuff.

Hi V.---I would say that if your sister was sleeping on the floor and not in your roommates bed, your sister would only be responsible for 1/4 of the rent. It is unfortunate that you were unable to talk to the roommate who was away, but it sounds as if you did not have any intention of defrauding the other roommates.

But, in the greater scheme of things, 1/3 of one month's rent might be the best solution if your roommate is going to make a big deal of it. Double check the terms of your lease. That may help you determine your next steps.

Good luck. D.

It seems that if your sister is just a temporary guest of YOURS there shouldnt be any added fees, but if she is there an entire month she should be responsible for 1 fourth of utitility useage and groceries. The roommate that is away still has to pay her third. If you rent an apartment and go away for a month of vacation you STILL have to pay your rent, duh. You may just want to look at last months expenses and have your sister pitch in an amount that seems reasonable to all. It does sound like you have an anal roommate tho that probably will end in a battle if not this time around in the future. Some people dont take kindly to strangers being in their home because of trust issues which is completely understandable and that may be why she seems disagreeable right now.

VyN, I just talked to my college age son about this situation and he gave me food for thought from his experiances so I will add it to my own thoughts which are marked by **. He said that he has seen in the Tongan culture that if they are family then one makes room, and hopefully not to many are moving in or you end up getting moved out. But that family is impportant and one mkes scrifices for them. If it is a different culture than you might not be seeing it with the eyes of someone that you live with that sees this as an invasion of privacy and expectations and consider it a betrayal of trust.
***** I would never let someone come and do what you have done becasue I think of it as an invasion of privacy it is her place as well since she is paying rent.
My daughter has roommtes, if someone stays more than 3 days COUNT THEM 3 days-- then they are expected to pay a portion of the rent and bills. Your line of thinking is unrealistic and unreasonable. If she is in a college program than she is old enough and wise enough to have thought out the entire process.
When I used to rent out rooms in my home if someone decided to share a room then we signed a new rental agreement and we had the new person pay a deposit, and 1/2 of the cost of the room and the extra pg&e, water and garbage that was added to the expenses.
I hope that you are lucky enough to keep this room mate and that they don't find someone less likely to take advantage of them. Good Luck

Sorry to say but your sister is there for 30 days and sleeping on the floor, and your roommate wants her to pay rent???? WHAT that is insane!!!! Your roommate sounds like a piece of work, your sister is sleeping on the floor for crying out loud I sure hope your roommate never needs to help a family member out. How selfish!!

What agreement did you make with your sister? Even though she is sleeping on the floor, she's still using water, electricity, etc. and needs to contribute to the expenses.

As far as paying the rent for the vacationing roomate, that's absolutely ridiculous. Your sister is NOT subleasing the room. She's not using the bed, she's not using the storage space, etc. Also, your roomate should have provided you with a way for you to contact her. And why should the vacationing roommate be the only one who gets a break in expenses because a 4th person is now in the apartment? Shouldn't you and your housemate also get a break? If your roommate were home, where would your sister be sleeping?

What does your housemate have to say about the situation?

I would say charge your sister like $5 a day for each day she's there.

How about a compromise. Your sister and roommate each pay half of the roommates rent for the month your sister is staying with you.

Personally I wouldn't ask your sister to pay any part of the rent, just provide for her own meals. She's a short term guest, in my book and she surely shouldn't pay the roommate's entire share since she's not sleeping in her bed.

Is there a lease agreement? Who owns the apartment? Who would receive the rent if your sister paid? It sounds to me as though the absent roommate wants to get out of paying her rent since she is not actually living there and is only having to pay in order to not lose her rental. In other words, your sister would be paying instead of the roommate for her share of the apartment. This would make sense if your sister was using the part of the room that was being rented by the roommate. I think that something could be worked out fairly if good communication happens between the three of you. Good luck.

N.

A house guest generally does not stay a month, especially in a shared housing situation. A few days...not a problem. A whole month, rent needs to be paid by you or your sis.

The rent should now be split 4 ways or three ways, unless you and your roommates had an original agreement (preferably written) on the issue of long term guests. Either way you or your sister owe more rent.

Blessings.....