Roommate issues....
Sometimes I forget the blessings of being an old, married fart. My oldest daughter is away for the second year at the University of Alabama/Tuscaloosa. Last spring when school was ending, she came to her mother and I with the desire to rent an apartment with her dormitory roommate. They had gotten on alright the first year and the prospect of playing house (grown-up style) had them giddy. Since Hannah is paying for her own living expenses, we counseled her on budgets, fiscal responsibility, all the other parental beatings that go along with this topic and agreed to co-sign the lease, along with Tonia's parents (so we thought). Hannah was slightly offended when she heard Tonia's mom questioning Tonia about whether Hannah would be able to make the rent payments, but continued with the plans. Truth be told, Hannah (my daughter) is way smarter in her financial decisions than either of her parents have been, but that is another post!
Anyway, things go along well until mid-March when Hannah calls to let us know that her roommate's parents have not made the rent payment for March (a late notice arrived in the mail). When Hannah questioned her roommate, the response was that there had been a mix-up, it was paid and her father was handling it. Hannah was upset and worried about this appearing on her credit report. This created much tension between the two of them.
Finally a check arrived in the leasing office just as the roommate and her family were departing on a cruise for spring break.
I had already told my wife this smelled bad. I thought the parents had decided they were finished paying rent (the lease goes through July) and were planning to just abandon the place to Hannah after final exams the first week of May. I assumed they had calculated how long the process would take for the landlord to remove them from the apartment (eviction) and they were safe until that fateful day.
The check bounced (returned for insufficient funds) and Hannah was notified the first week of April.
Hannah's mother spoke with the leasing office and learned that the entire balance of the lease (all rent through the lease term) was the responsibility of ALL parties that signed the lease. If one signator defaulted or failed to make payment, it was the others that would have to make it up. Ouch. Oh yeah, we also learned that the "back-up" person for her roommate is her elderly grandfather who lives in Brooklyn, NY. The apartment managment let us know that when they contacted him regarding the account status, he was unaware of anything about it and denied involvement.
Anyway, they WERE served an eviction notice, Hannah moved out to live with friends and continues to pay her half of the rent for the apartment. The parents brought the account current and Tonia's father threatened Hannah that she needed to continue to make one-half of the utility payments as well. Not likely, but then we treat Hannah as an adult. She will make those decisions, although she does speak to us frequently on such issues. She's a great young woman and I am very proud of her. I can't see where she acquired the wisdom she demonstrates - I don't think it came from me!
It is a tough lesson to learn (that some people would think more about the TV show they will watch tonight than screwing someone else out of $1500.oo), but a good one to get early in life I guess.
Me? I'm still very thankful for a quiet life of desperation....
Anyway, things go along well until mid-March when Hannah calls to let us know that her roommate's parents have not made the rent payment for March (a late notice arrived in the mail). When Hannah questioned her roommate, the response was that there had been a mix-up, it was paid and her father was handling it. Hannah was upset and worried about this appearing on her credit report. This created much tension between the two of them.
Finally a check arrived in the leasing office just as the roommate and her family were departing on a cruise for spring break.
I had already told my wife this smelled bad. I thought the parents had decided they were finished paying rent (the lease goes through July) and were planning to just abandon the place to Hannah after final exams the first week of May. I assumed they had calculated how long the process would take for the landlord to remove them from the apartment (eviction) and they were safe until that fateful day.
The check bounced (returned for insufficient funds) and Hannah was notified the first week of April.
Hannah's mother spoke with the leasing office and learned that the entire balance of the lease (all rent through the lease term) was the responsibility of ALL parties that signed the lease. If one signator defaulted or failed to make payment, it was the others that would have to make it up. Ouch. Oh yeah, we also learned that the "back-up" person for her roommate is her elderly grandfather who lives in Brooklyn, NY. The apartment managment let us know that when they contacted him regarding the account status, he was unaware of anything about it and denied involvement.
Anyway, they WERE served an eviction notice, Hannah moved out to live with friends and continues to pay her half of the rent for the apartment. The parents brought the account current and Tonia's father threatened Hannah that she needed to continue to make one-half of the utility payments as well. Not likely, but then we treat Hannah as an adult. She will make those decisions, although she does speak to us frequently on such issues. She's a great young woman and I am very proud of her. I can't see where she acquired the wisdom she demonstrates - I don't think it came from me!
It is a tough lesson to learn (that some people would think more about the TV show they will watch tonight than screwing someone else out of $1500.oo), but a good one to get early in life I guess.
Me? I'm still very thankful for a quiet life of desperation....
posted by Kurt at 10:53 AM
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