Sharing a lease means sharing the responsibility and finding reasonable solutions.

The woman in this story could no longer afford to keep paying rent after losing her job. So she began looking for someone to replace her in the lease. But her roommate insisted that only someone she knows should move in. Now, she’s worried she’ll have to continue paying rent while waiting for the person to move in.

Living with roommates can sometimes be tough. In this story, one person’s urgent situation clashes with another person’s personal preference, which makes a stressful situation even more challenging. Read the full story below.

Roomate won’t let me leave

I’m trying to transfer my interest into another person’s name, but my roomate is making it difficult.

I need to get off the lease as my job role was made redundant weeks ago, and I cannot afford to pay rent anymore.

I made my roomate aware of this weeks ago.

I understand it is my responsibility to find a suitable new tenant to replace my part of the lease.

And I’ve had a lot of interest from good potential roommates.

This woman’s roommate only wanted her friend to move in.

The problem is my roomate only wants to have her friend move in, which is very understandable, I would want that to.

My roomate has told me that she will not approve anyone else to move in except for her friend and that I need to keep paying rent until her friend moves in.

I submitted a Form 13 – notice of intention to leave. I gave 2 weeks notice from today (as required) to my real estate.

I’ve messaged her friend to ask if she can move in 2 weeks. She lives with her parents. I have not yet received a response from her nor my roomate on a date.

She thinks her roommate is being difficult and doesn’t know what to do anymore.

I understand that it is my responsibility to hold up my part of the lease that I signed, but I feel that my roomate is being unreasonable.

She refused to meet with a potential roomate after asking me to change the inspection time so she could meet her.

She kind of did a 180 on me as, at first, her friend wasn’t even an option.

Is there anything I can do? I just can’t afford any more rent. I’m in QLD.

It sounds like a tough spot to be in. In my opinion, both roommates have valid concerns, but compromise has to work both ways. It’s understandable that OP’s roommate wants someone she already knows. But expecting OP to keep paying indefinitely while waiting for that person doesn’t seem like a practical solution.

Let’s read the comments of other Reddit users on this story.

Here’s an honest opinion.

This person advises talking to the landlord.

Here’s a similar thought.

If you enjoyed this story, check out this post about a person who is thinking of alerting the city to their neighbor’s campers being lived-in while parked on the street.

Another person chimes in.

Finally, here’s more helpful advice.

Good roommates solve problems together, not make them harder.