When moving out, there are many big choices you need to make. In addition to thinking about where you want to live and how much you want to spend, you also need to think about whether to go with a roommate or not. There are many good and bad things about having a roommate. For example, having a roommate helps you save money on rent and can keep you from being lonely around the house. Roommates are incredibly common in expensive areas, like New York City or Boston. However, having a roommate also means you don’t always have a say in what happens in your unit and some may not like other people using their things or always being around.
Well, let’s say you decided to go the route of having a roommate. It went well at first, but now you guys are getting on each other’s nerves and something needs to be done. However, this might be new territory for you, and you might not know what to do next. Well, if you are not a big fan of your roomie anymore, you have come to the right place. This article will take a look at a few different things you can do if you do not like your roommate.
How to Solve the “I Don’t Like My Roommate” Problem
There are some things you can do when you do not like your roommate. Depending on how sever the matter is, you may need to try several of these options.
1. Avoid Each Other
While this is not an advised strategy (as it never actually addresses the issues a hand), it is one that many people employ. If you do not like your roomie anymore, you can simply avoid them. This could be done by simply not spending a lot of time at home when your roomie is around or simply by staying in your own private area when they are. While this tactic is used by a ton of people, we advise that you try one of the others as simply ignoring an issue or your roommate will never solve or fix anything. This may work if you plan to move out in the next couple of months and plan to spend more time outside of your apartment.
2. Do Some Introspection
Before making any rash decisions or bringing up your concerns with the roommate or your landlord, it is a good idea to take a long hard look at why you really don’t like them. Is it things they are doing (or not doing), things they are saying or what? Are you simply assuming things about that you don’t know to be fact? These are all things that should cross your mind when thinking what it is about your roommate that leads you not to like them.
3. Speak With Them
Instead of ignoring them, it is a good idea to actually talk to them. Have a conversation with you and the roommate you don’t like, as it can be a great way to hash things out. A conversation can have a number of different results. Maybe it was all a misunderstanding, or maybe they have a reason for the behavior that you didn’t like. Voicing your opinions with them openly and honestly can often have some great results. However, speaking to them can also reaffirm your dislike for them and make it even clearer that you have to move out and get away from them.
4. Talk to Your Landlord
If you have spoken to your roommate and still don’t feel like you can live with them, it is time to speak to your landlord. Your landlord might be able to intervene or offer you tips on how to live with a roomie you are not very fond of. They will also be able to tell you the rules when it comes to moving away. Beware, there could potentially be very expensive penalties if you move out before your lease is done or try to get the roommate to move out. Each apartment and landlord is different, so it is a good idea to speak to yours and see what they say. If the penalties are large, do your best to stick it out until you can move out with less or no penalties.
5. Learn to Live With Them
If for some reason you cannot move away and have no other options at hand, you may need to look for redeeming qualities they might have. No matter how bad you think some people are, pretty much everyone has at least a few good qualities or features about them. If you try to look at the good parts of somebody, it can sometimes help you to begin to like them or at least appreciate who they are as a person. At the end of the day, you’ll need to find a way to coexist in the space peacefully.
6. Leave
If nothing is working in terms of talking it out with them or anything and your landlord isn’t willing to help at all, there is nothing wrong with just leaving the bad situation. Sure, you may incur some monetary penalties and your old roommate won’t be too happy, but your mental health and sanity should always come first, and there are plenty more apartments and roommates out there in the world. This should, of course, be your last resort, as you should be sure to exhaust all of the other options in this article before you take the big step and completely move out.
Moving in with a roommate is a major milestone. When things are going well, you can enjoy the benefits of saving rent, companionship, and more. However, it’s good to be prepared before moving in with a roommate and have a backup plan for when things don’t go well.
Editor’s Note: We updated this article to enhance readability.
