Saturday

Dreams of Moving Out of a Shared Residence? Be Prepared for What Might Be Ahead

So you just can't stand living with someone any longer?  Hopefully your name isn't on the lease, but if it is, you just might have to remain at the dwelling until the lease is up or live elsewhere.  Whatever you might choose, be sure you give the landlord a sixty-day notice.  Let he or she know you have no plans of remaining in the unit and do not want to renew your lease with the individual.

If you should avoid handling your desire to leave in a professional manner, you run the risk of ruining your credit if you should bail out without notice.  You will also make matters worse for you if you skip out without letting your roommate(s) know and leave a partner or others with your portion of the rent.

You can make your dream of moving a reality if there has been domestic violence.  File a restraining order or protection from abuse with your local police department.  Share a copy of the notice with your landlord and let him or her know you have been advised to leave the residence.  Explain to them you don't want to draw anymore negative attention to the community as a result and if he or she could begin looking for other potential renters.  The landlord might work with you depending on how bad your situation and whether or not you were a good resident.  The landlord might work with your roommate since you no longer want to be on the lease.  Whatever you do, don't return because the next time it won't be so easy to be let out of the lease.



Plan to save money if you really want to move and if you can obtain additional income streams to help with the rent, utilities, and more.  For your new place, you will need a security deposit, first and possibly second month's rent depending on your credit score and other factors.  You might still need a co-signer if your credit is poor, you don't have sufficient credit history or other challenges.  Check your credit before you go apartment shopping and obtain a copy if need be.  Most property companies will perform their own background and credit checks and also private landlords, but it can be helpful to have your information readily available along with a check or money order to hold the place.

Now if you plan on taking items out of the shared residence that you didn't pay for or can't prove that you own, don't be surprised if your roommate(s) might sue you in the future long after you have left.  Other things to consider:

1)  Your friendship might come to a swift end because you are no longer helping.
2)  Someone who you think you know well might be triggered emotionally due to your absence and may stalk you or obsess about you living with him or her again.
3)  Your credit might be negatively impacted by a scorned roommate if he or she has been using your credit cards or has access to your banking information.
4)  People in support of your roommate might treat you rudely depending on what he or she has said to them about you.
5)  If you don't safeguard or obtain everything you care about much before you announce your move, you might not see those things ever again.  So be discreet and remove all important things out beforehand.
6)  You may have to involve law enforcement if a partner/roommate is acting threatening or has become violent with you.
7)  You might find yourself moving sooner rather than later based on how difficult your partner/friend is behaving.

So think about who might help you get a new place if you can't do it on your own and don't even consider your scorned roommate unless you want similar problems in the future.  If you are having a tough time with a partner or others living in the dwelling, whatever you do don't leave your future location you plan to move within view.  Erase internet history and put away rental catalogs.  You don't need your old problems following you to your new residence.

Stay positive during this tough time and continue to online and offline apartment window shop until you are ready to make the move.  Think of the amenities you will enjoy in the future, what you might buy to decorate your new place, and other things that make you happy.  Envision yourself in your new residence without those you no longer want to live with and take a deep sigh knowing that peace won't be long now!

Nicholl McGuire is the author of What Else Can I Do on the Internet?

No comments:

Post a Comment

Things You Might Find Useful on this Blog

apartment shopping apartment decorating moving apartment organizing lease contract about this blog apartment problems maintenance property management apartment hunting how to rent an apartment landlords pest control roommates apartment searching eviction notice leasing consultants security deposit tenant screening Internet apartment shopping apartment move in apartment move out apartment noise blog owner first apartment how to organize apartment mold rent increases renting section 8 30 day notice apartment checklist apartment inspection apartment leasing apartment management apartment rental guides apartment rules apartment tour appearance bad landlords bankruptcy buying rentals curb side appeal disgruntled residents electricity fair housing furnace heat moving to New York City neighbors new apartment renters real estate relocation tips rental application renters senior adults senior housing shopping for the apartment shower toilet windows English phrases for apartment problem English phrases to rent apartment FEMA HUD Tokyo air conditioning amenities american disabilities act annoying visitors annual inspection apartment abroad apartment budget apartment furnishings apartment investing apartment marketing apartment mobile apps apartment pool apartment renovation apartment rent assistance apartment reviews apartment tips apartment townhome tours apartment waiting lists apartment workout apartments for rent approval process bad credit bad property management signs bad rental properties bed bugs bug proofing cable can't afford rent canada carbon monoxide cargo container cargo container apartments carpet stains children city apartment rentals clogged kitchen sink clogged shower drain community managers community party rooms couples court credit reports death discrimination domestic violence duct cleaning fall move in date gangstalking garbage disposal gas heater ghost stories gifts good residents guest cards guests haunted hoarding homelessness hot water heaters how to avoid rental scams how to find an apartment how to sell your stuff humor leaky roof living alone lofts move in date move in inspection move in specials move out date move out inspection move out parent's house moving to Houston moving with children natural disasters new neighbors no hot water in shower no job no rent cap odors on paying rent packing partial rent pets pipes problems paying rent public transportation qualifying quiet hours refrigerator rent to own rental fees rental housing help rental insurance renting a home renting apartments overseas resident retention second hand smoke serviced apartments snow plowing and salting snow shoveling still living with parents stress free apartment move studio apartments suite upgrades tardy rent tenant laws tenant rights websites terrace level apartments thermostat trends types of dwellings unemployment unpacking utilities walk through wall paper water water damage water pressure what not to rent work order request