WIBTA if I took all my furniture in the kitchen with me when I move out?

Jonathan Hours
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Picture this: a cozy apartment kitchen, once a hub of shared meals and late-night chats, now a battleground of clashing personalities and unspoken grudges. A frazzled tenant, our story’s hero, stares at their beloved table and trusty toaster oven, surrounded by the chaos of roommates who party until dawn and leave takeout bags piled high. The air reeks of Febreze, a silent jab at their pet gecko’s fragile nerves, and the sink overflows with unwashed dishes—none of which are theirs.

Torn between frustration and the urge to flee, they hatch a plan: move out and take every last chair, microwave, and appliance they own, possibly without a word. The tension is palpable—readers, can you feel the weight of this decision? Will they be the villain for reclaiming what’s theirs, or a justified escapee from a roommate nightmare? Let’s dive into this messy saga and unpack the drama.

‘WIBTA if I took all my furniture in the kitchen with me when I move out?’

I'm planning on moving out of my current apartment like yesterday because of a laundry list of reasons with my roommates driving me up the wall. However the kitchen is the only common space we have to share and all the furniture in there is mine.

The table, chairs, appliances, ect. WIBTA if I took all of my furniture and stuff when I moved out without telling my roommates? They'll still have the fridge and the stove just no microwave, toaster oven, or table.. ​

Edit: Woweee this blew up a little thank you to everyone who gave feedback I really appreciate it you are all fantastic!. ​. Ok I posted this in the comments but adding it here so everyone can see: Well for one thing both of them keep waking me up in the middle of the night with their loud parties and one of them is super inconsiderate.

She will complain about dishes in the sink that she has left there saying its attracting flies and never pays the internet bill on time. The other girl keeps bringing in more stuff from her storage unit than our apartment can reasonably fit. She brought in her broken water bubbler over 8 months ago telling me she needs it repaired and she would call a person to come and service it.

She has her own trash can in the kitchen when there were already 2 there. She spends hours in the bathroom and is constantly high out of her mind or drunk. The other night she came home high on acid and was talking on and on when I kept trying to tell her I had to go to bed because I had work.  I ended up walking away while she kept trying to talk to me not getting the message I didn't want to talk anymore until I closed my door.

The 2 of them know I have a gecko in my room but keep spraying febreeze and stuff around the apartment when I have asked them multiple times not to because the smell goes in my room and stresses her out.  Also they never help take out the trash but one of them keeps leaving piles of her takeout bags and related trash in the kitchen

They also don't show my things kindness and slam the microwave/toaster oven door and use my dishes without asking or washing them when I have said before my dishes are off limits.. ​ They also know the furniture is mine I have stated it multiple times in various ways ranging from subtle to just full on stating the stuff belongs to me.

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Navigating roommate drama can feel like tiptoeing through a minefield, especially when personal property and clashing habits collide. Our Reddit user faces a classic dilemma: reclaim their kitchen gear and bolt, or risk confrontation with thoughtless housemates? On one side, they’re fed up with late-night noise, unwashed dishes, and a Febreze frenzy stressing out their gecko. On the other, roommates might feel blindsided, left with just a fridge and stove. A touch of petty revenge lingers—tempting, but is it wise?

This spat mirrors a broader issue: cohabitation clashes are common, with 40% of renters reporting roommate conflicts, per a 2023 Apartment List survey (source: apartmentlist.com). Miscommunication and unclear boundaries often spark these tiffs, turning shared spaces into stress zones.

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Dr. Susan Heitler, a clinical psychologist, notes in a Psychology Today article, “Clear communication is the cornerstone of any shared living arrangement; without it, resentment festers and trust erodes” (source: psychologytoday.com). Here, the user’s hints about ownership went ignored, and roommates’ disregard—slamming appliances, dodging trash duty—fueled the fire. Dr. Heitler’s insight suggests a breakdown in dialogue left both sides entrenched.

So, what’s the move? Experts advise a calm, clear heads-up: “Hey, I’m moving out and taking my kitchen stuff—let’s sort this.” It avoids drama, keeps things civil, and opens a door for roommates to step up (maybe even buy the gear!).

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Here’s what the community had to contribute:

Here are some hot takes from the Reddit crew—candid, cheeky, and ready to roast! The community weighed in, and the verdict leans heavily toward our frazzled tenant. Check out their unfiltered thoughts:

[Reddit User] − NTA. When you move out of a place, your belongings go with you. Period.

A_revanite − NTA.. Ofcourse you will have to bring your stuff with you when you leave.. Is there a specific reason why you won't give them a heads up before you leave?

Rtarara − NTA: Your stuff goes with you when you move. That's the nature of things.

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Tatertotsmagee − NTA. It’s your furniture. People take the things they own when they move out. That’s how life works.

VirtualEconomy − INFO Why would you not tell them?

HunterRoze − NTA - your stuff, you get to take it with you - end of discussion. What your roommates expect you to just give it to them?

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SarenRaeSavesUs − NTA. If you anticipate issues, just take what’s yours and be straight about it. If you’re feeling especially generous, let them know less than a week before that you’re taking your things and they can either buy them off you (at a price you set) or they can get their own. If you’re having a lot of issues though, I don’t blame you for just getting your s**t and getting out. It’s yours. They can get their own.

sneeky_seer − NTA and if you feel like telling them that you’re leaving and taking the stuff from the kitchen could cause issues, then do what makes the move easier for you.

Nebsy_Websy − NTA but you should give a warning that your taking all your stuff with you.

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Apoliticalbear − It is yours, so when you go, then your stuff goes with you. NTA. Not telling your roommates that you are leaving is an A**hole move

These are popular opinions on Reddit, but do they really reflect reality? Could a quick “heads-up” save the day, or is a stealthy exit the only way to survive this roommate circus?

And there you have it—a kitchen showdown where furniture, frustration, and a gecko’s well-being hang in the balance! Our Reddit user’s ready to pack up and roll out, but the debate lingers: is a silent exit fair, or should they give a courtesy nod to their messy mates? Expert wisdom leans toward communication, while Reddit cheers for claiming what’s yours. Life’s messy, and shared spaces can test even the chillest among us. What would you do if you found yourself in a similar situation? Drop your thoughts, experiences, or sage advice below—let’s dish on this drama together!

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