AITA for giving a woman two weeks to leave her apartment when she’s done nothing wrong?

Shirley Stafford Hours
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Imagine hauling your life’s belongings to a new city, ready to settle into the apartment you’ve been paying for, only to find a stranger sprawled in your bed. For a 19-year-old college student, this wasn’t just a roommate mix-up—it was a full-on betrayal. The city buzzed outside, but inside her apartment, the vibe was pure chaos, with her roommate playing gatekeeper to her own space. It’s a story that hits home for anyone who’s ever fought for what’s rightfully theirs.

This Reddit drama unfolds in a bustling urban apartment, where a young woman’s generosity gets trampled by her roommate’s audacity. Paying $1,000 a month for a room she couldn’t use, she’s now stuck in a hotel, issuing ultimatums to reclaim her space. Readers are drawn in, wondering: is she too harsh, or is she just standing up for herself?

‘AITA for giving a woman two weeks to leave her apartment when she’s done nothing wrong?’

I’ll try to keep this brief, also I’m on my phone so I apologize for the awkward format. Seven months ago me (19f) and my friend(20f) found a nice apartment in a pretty largely populated city. We are going to the same college. Because of recent events I had to stay with my parents the first few months of our rent but friend (let’s call her Laurel) was able to stay in apartment.

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I still paid my part of the rent I just couldn’t move up immediately. One month in Laurel texted me and said she has someone who needs a place to stay for a couple days is it ok if she uses my room for the time being.

I’m a little uncomfortable with this because that would mean they’d be sleeping in my bed and I’m strange about that but I still said yes as long as she was gone by the 20th of this month so that I could move in.  I didn’t hear back but continued to pay my share so I assumed I would have a place when I moved up.

Big surprise, I show up at the door with my things last week and there are two people living there still. One in my bedroom. I pulled Laurel aside and asked her what was going on, she said friend still hadn’t found a place to stay so she was going to need a few more weeks.

Well I gave her six months I thought that would’ve been enough but I agreed that she could stay as long as she slept on the couch. I would like to have my bedroom back that I’m paying for.  Laurel told me that’s no way to treat company and I was being rude. I shot back and said normally company doesn’t stay in your house for most of the year.

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She said that because her friend was contributing 200 bucks a month she could sleep where she wanted. Well I’m paying 1000 dollars a month and my name is on the lease so I’m pretty sure that means I can have my room back.

Also, if laurels friend was paying 200 bucks a month that means that not only was I covering half rent- Laurel was receiving more money for letting someone use MY room. So I left, I’m staying in a hotel and I told Laurel and her friend that one of them needed to leave within two weeks, I didn’t care which.

If they aren’t gone I promised to get one of them forcibly removed from the building.  I knew I sounded like a b**ch but I was exhausted and I just wanted to sleep in my own bed so my patience was thin.

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Anyway I just got a text an hour ago that Laurel finally told her friend to leave and she sobbing and super upset and saying that it’s not enough time and she’s going to end up sleeping in a hotel (ironic, right?!) and that I hope I’m happy with myself. AITA for giving this woman such a short period of time when as far as I can tell she hasn’t done anything wrong?

EDIT: Laurel just texted me that she doesn’t intend on making her friend leave as it’s unfair. I don’t know what to do. Maybe I should back out of the lease and apartment search alone. Anyway I appreciate your suggestions you’re all very helpful.

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EDIT 2: Thank you all for the awesome advice. My parents aren’t super helpful with this kind of thing and I just didn’t know what to do. I texted Laurel that about an hour ago and I’ll just copy it here:

I’ve decided to find a new place. I will have a discussion with the landlord about it and get myself off the lease, that way you and your friend can have the apartment like you wanted. This also means you won’t be getting another cent from me. Best of luck.

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She called me a few minutes ago and said I can’t do this and that she can’t afford rent all on her own, I said she wouldn’t be on her own she’d have her friend to help her pay. She told me her friend can’t pay that much towards it. I just said she should’ve thought about that before she kicked me out of my own place. I felt this was a good time to add that I’ll be swinging by and collecting my furniture.

Somehow she thought it was my problem that her friend wouldn’t have bed to sleep in and wanted me to leave it there??? Not happening. I’m emailing my leasing company and my landlord, I already corresponded with the landlord before Laurel called me and he was very understanding and willing to work with me on what I wanted to do.

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The reason I’m backing out is as many of you pointed out Laurel is going to be a nightmare to live with after this, and I definitely agree. It’s worth finding another apartment if I don’t have to talk to her again.. Anyway thanks again for the help and I’m open to any more suggestions.

Roommate drama can turn a cozy apartment into a battleground, and this student’s saga is a masterclass in boundary violations. Paying $1,000 a month for a room she couldn’t use, only to find her roommate Laurel profiting off an overstaying guest, is a slap in the face. Laurel’s defense—calling the student rude for wanting her own bed—drips with entitlement. The student’s two-week notice was generous, considering she’s on the lease and footing the bill.

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This situation screams of roommate exploitation, a common issue in shared living. Laurel’s $200 side hustle, pocketing money from the guest without sharing, adds insult to injury. According to Apartment Guide, subletting without consent often violates lease agreements, giving the student legal leverage. A 2023 survey found 42% of renters faced roommate conflicts over unauthorized guests (per Rent.com).

Dr. Irene Levine, a psychologist specializing in relationships, notes, “Clear boundaries are essential in shared living to prevent resentment” . Here, Laurel’s overstep eroded trust, and the student’s hotel stay shows her restraint. Her decision to exit the lease is smart—living with Laurel post-conflict would be a nightmare. She should document communications and consult the landlord to protect her rights.

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Here’s the feedback from the Reddit community:

The Reddit crowd dove in like it’s a dorm-room soap opera, serving up support with a side of sass. They slammed Laurel’s shady moves and cheered the student’s backbone. Here’s the unfiltered tea from the community:

mckinnos − NTA. It’s your name on the lease. I feel bad about the situation, but she did have 6 months to find another place. Real crappy to guilt you about this.

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AmaltheaPrime − NTA. You need to look in to rental laws around your area and see if there is anything you can legally do. If they aren't going to allow you to use the bedroom, look in to what happens if you pull from the lease early or what you can do as your roommate is subletting which is usually not allowed.

NomadicusRex − NTA - you're getting totally taken advantage of.

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myaudiobliss − NTA. Hard. You said in the title that she's done nothing wrong. That was inaccurate. You gave a very specific time that person #3 was supposed to be gone by, and that was breached. But instead of keeping you up to date on the friend, Laurel quietly allowed her to stay and is pocketing the 200 a month that rightly should've AT LEAST been split between you two.

You were right to be upset when you showed up to someone still living in your house. But here too, Laurel doesn't seem to know where to draw the line. 'That's not how you speak to house guests' is her reaction? You're a saint for not tossing both of them there.

SayHiToYourDog4Me − Nta. Why can’t this person stay in your roommates room? Why does she have to stay in your room? Further, either this new person very much over estimated their liberties or were told by your roommate that it wouldn’t be a problem. Either way you’ve been very accommodating but enough is enough. Also you could just leave and find your own place to stay.

redder83 − You paid this girls rent for 6 months and don't know her. Don't get her 2 weeks give her one day. If she is not out tomorrow call the police tell the landlord. You have options. Don't be a doormat.. NTA

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[Reddit User] − 19f? Good time to learn how to not let people take advantage of you. What you're currently allowing is kinda insane. Some steps:. 1. Tell roomie to get her friend out.. 2. Tell friend to get out. 3. Tell them you give zero fucks if ~~you think they're~~ they think you're rude, and reiterate they need to gtfo your room..

4. Reiterate you don't care about their whining.. 5. Tell them no she can't have six months.. 6. Threaten to call cops.. 7. Call cops.. 8. Inform landlord. 9. (And this is the big one). Stand up for yourself!

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It is a sad fact of life that if you act like a doormat, you will often be treated as such. But right now, you're paying for an apartment that you gave to your roomie's friend, while said friend is paying roomie for the privilege.

LeMot-Juste − NTA. I would NOT give her two weeks though. 24 hours, tops, for these girls to figure out something. They've had months with you paying their rent, at least partially. No ma'am. One of them needs to go now and I would be ready to call the landlord to tell him that an unvetted person is living in the apartment.. You have been too kind to these people already.

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Beets_ByDwightShrute − NTA. You shouldn’t have gone to a hotel though, you should have kicked her out on the spot.

jyssrocks − Nta. Go back to the home you pay rent for, talk directly to the guest and say 'like I said, you can call on the couch, but I'm taking back my room. I can help you pack or not, but I am staying in this room until you're out of it.' Then do it.

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By leaving, your giving into them. You pay rent, your on the lease, you shouldn't let them keep you from your own room, especially as you graciously allowed her to use your room while you were gone.

Go back right now and stand your ground. Don't let them walk all over you. Then ask your roommate for at least half of the $200 per month the guest has been paying, as she deliberately overcharged you.

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These Redditors are all-in for the student, but are they too quick to vilify Laurel, or is this a clear-cut case of betrayal? Either way, this apartment drama has everyone talking.

This student’s fight for her apartment is a lesson in standing firm against overstepping roommates. By walking away from the lease and reclaiming her furniture, she’s not just taking back her space—she’s reclaiming her dignity. Laurel’s manipulation and the guest’s sob story don’t outweigh her rights. It’s a reminder that generosity shouldn’t mean being a doormat. Have you ever had a roommate push your boundaries like this? What would you do in her shoes? Drop your thoughts below!

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