October 8, 2025 at 3:15 pm

Renter Let Her Roommate Use Her Belongings Freely, But When Her Roommate Routinely Made A Mess With Them, She Cut Her Off

by Benjamin Cottrell

frustrated looking woman

Pexels/Reddit

Most roommates find a rhythm of give-and-take, making life easier for both of them.

But when one starts treating borrowed items carelessly, frustration is bound to boil over.

That’s exactly what happened when one renter’s kindness turned into her messy roommate’s free ride.

You’ll want to read on for this one.

AITA for telling my roommate she can’t use any of my stuff anymore?

Since I have been rooming with my roommate I have always been very open to letting her use my things, but this year it’s come with an issue.

She never cleans or puts my stuff back where she found it.

She gives several examples of this.

She asked to use my spray bottle for her hair and I said sure, just clean it off after she’s done.

She did not and left it on the floor where she did her hair. To her credit, I never actually clean off the spray bottle — I only cleaned it off when she asked.

Another example is my dish soap she used. A couple days after her, I was going to wash my dishes but I could not find it. I spent a good 10–15 minutes looking before I found it in one of her drawers.

There are other little things that have happened that I let go.

But then one huge mess sent her frustration over the edge.

I finally got irritated when she used my little panini press.

Yesterday I had little time after my class and before my meeting to make myself a quick lunch. When I got my sandwich ready, I opened the press thing and it was dirty.

Like really oily, with crumbs and melted cheese on it. I didn’t really have time to clean it off, so I just ate my sandwich cold on the way to my meeting.

So she finally put her foot down.

Later that night I told her she can’t use any of my stuff anymore because that was not the first time it’s happened with my press. I always clean up after her.

She told me she was sorry, but she can’t afford any of the stuff I get, that’s why she always uses it. I had no problem with her using it, but I feel like she’s disrespecting my stuff and it’s not fair to me.

Now she’s not sure how to proceed.

I feel like I should’ve just said she can’t use the press instead of everything, because we do share a lot of things. But I always clean her stuff before putting it back.

So should I tell her she can use everything but the press, or leave it how I told her?

AITA?

If her roommate wants to use her stuff, she’ll have to start by showing a little respect.

What did Reddit think?

This roommate has been crossing boundaries for a long time now.

Screenshot 2025 09 16 at 2.09.12 PM Renter Let Her Roommate Use Her Belongings Freely, But When Her Roommate Routinely Made A Mess With Them, She Cut Her Off

In no way is her roommate entitled to use her things whenever she pleases.

Screenshot 2025 09 16 at 2.10.00 PM Renter Let Her Roommate Use Her Belongings Freely, But When Her Roommate Routinely Made A Mess With Them, She Cut Her Off

This roommate’s excuses really don’t hold much weight.

Screenshot 2025 09 16 at 2.10.31 PM Renter Let Her Roommate Use Her Belongings Freely, But When Her Roommate Routinely Made A Mess With Them, She Cut Her Off

Just because her roommate can’t afford things doesn’t mean she’s entitled to steal anyone else’s belongings.

Screenshot 2025 09 16 at 2.11.41 PM Renter Let Her Roommate Use Her Belongings Freely, But When Her Roommate Routinely Made A Mess With Them, She Cut Her Off

She gave her roommate chance after chance, but she squandered every last one of them.

If her roommate couldn’t show some respect, then it’s time to cut her off.

If you liked that post, check out this story about a guy who was forced to sleep on the couch at his wife’s family’s house, so he went to a hotel instead.