YOU THINK YOUR ROOMMATES BAD-YOU HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHINGWritten by dan the roommate man
My worst roommate (and I've had some bad ones) was on my semester at Tel-Aviv University. It started on group flight there, with this obnoxious surfer looking guy who was seated next to me (I was on an aisle, he was in middle). On ten hour flight, he had me put something in or take something out of overhead for him at least fifteen or twenty times. He just wouldn't leave me alone, and was constantly begging me to change seats with him, and grab a pen, and put this card in his bag... When we got to dorms and had our orientation meeting, it turned out that I was in same apartment as him, though thank god not same room (each apt was 2 double rooms with a common kitchen and bath).This guy was unreal. He was a bleach-blond surfer, rowed crew, was well over 6' and very muscular (I'm 5'7" and thin), and just a total jerk. He constantly ate food belonging to rest of us, claiming that he had no money, nevermind $100 packages full of crap he'd send back to his girlfriend in CA. After two weeks or so of his constantly disrespecting other three of us, things got a bit tense. The first turning point was when he used an entire pack of my roommate's razors to shave part of his head, and from then on he seemed to be in ever-lessening contact with reality. About a month into his stay, he decided to adopt a stray dog that he found near beach while surfing. This, of course, couldn't happen, because you can't have dogs in dorms, and rest of us weren't too keen on having a stray dog around. Jason, psycho, completely lost it when he was told he couldn't keep dog ("if he goes, I go, because he's only one who understands me"). He got right in my face and threatened to kill me if I turned him in (remember our size and strength disparities...), since I was only one who was home when he came charging in with this poor mutt. Later that day, after security guards and program people told him dog had to go, he took off, and wasn't heard from for a couple of days.
| | BREAKING A LEASEWritten by Dan the roommate man
I would like to break my lease because I would like to move in with a friend so I can save money to return to school in fall. I still have about 6 months left on my lease. What can I do?Thanks, eddie Dear Eddie, The first thing to do is read your lease carefully. Some leases have what is called a “lease breaking clause” which will tell you exactly what to do as well as how much it will cost you. There is usually a fee associated with it. But there are also those leases which do not give you an out. You must remember that a lease is a legally binding contract to which you are obligated. Now for good news - if you should break lease and move out, your landlord is obligated to mitigate any damages. That means he must attempt to re-rent your apartment. To do so he may also charge you with any marketing expenses associated with releasing of your apartment along with any other fees. If for some reason market conditions prevent him from finding a qualified renter to move in right away, you will be held responsible for rent until an appropriate tenant is found to take your place.
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