This is long but I really need some advice
I moved to Miami, FL a few months ago to complete the final year of my doctoral graduate program. About two months ago I signed a 1-yr apartment lease with a former classmate to rent a Miami, FL apartment from a commercial landlord. All utilities are in her name. I also have a 1-year-old child living with me. My husband works in a city 4 hours away and my roommate agreed to the arrangement that he would visit approximately 2 weekends out of every month. The LL was also aware of this arrangement and advised me that my husband would not need to be on the lease. I have none of this in writing. Although we have no plans of doing so, she also voluntarily stated that she didn't mind if he moved in once he was able to secure employment locally.
It's really not rational to me but she seems to be extremely pissed off that one night up until about 2 am, I decided to wash several loads of laundry and prepare several meals in advance. Apparently I was making a lot of noise -- not so much that my baby was able to fall and remain asleep. I actually thought that she was awake the whole time because she usually stays up late and sleeps in and her room light was on, but she later related she had been trying to sleep. Instead of stepping out of her room to let me know that in real-time, to my surprise she sent me a text message the following day mentioning that such tasks should not be done after 10 pm. I was at work so I responded with a few admittedly lengthy texts explaining myself, saying that it wouldn't happen again, and sarcastically requesting for her to let me know what other "rules" I need to be aware of. Later, she mentioned that she was offended by how lengthy the texts were and said that if she were American I wouldn't have responded the way that I did . There was a prior incident that I thought we moved on from where in a private conversation with my husband, I spoke about how messy she is and she overheard and was very hurt. Otherwise, I am usually in bed before she gets home each night, I am a neat freak so I'm the "cleaner" and the "organizer" (something else I found out later that ticked her off), and there's usually not much noise coming from me unless my son decides to throw a tantrum. I also used to drive her to run errands since she doesn't have a vehicle.
She’s decided that we should go our separate ways and "dissolve" the lease because "it's not working out" and that I'm immature and disrespectful . I contacted the LL and there is no provision for breaking the lease. I told her that I’m not going to waste any time or energy on trying to do anything because I’m not interested in uprooting my son again and restarting the moving process. My family's next move is supposed to be into our first purchased home.
I’m not sure how far she can take this and what could end up happening. Today I came home to a notice on the front door from the LL stating that I am in violation of the lease's occupancy clause which states that "... the apartment shall be used for residential purposes only and shall be occupied only by the persons named on the lease. Resident agrees not to permit any person not listed on the lease to occupy the apartment more than seven (7) days and nights during the full term of the lease." They are giving me 7 days to remedy the situation, but I don't know if they are referring to my husband, the baby, or both. This obviously came from her. Will contact them in the morning.
I really can't wrap my brain around why this is happening and why she is doing this. After we signed the lease, she did make a big fuss with the LL and threatened them (all the way up to their corporate office) about the condition of the unit. I'm a very picky person and it was FINE to me; the leasing office staff and I conversed about how nutty she is. Made me wish I could go back and un-sign the lease but since I had, there was nothing to do but move forward. Now that I think about it, she never fully unpacked her things from the very beginning, even when things were good between us. She still has boxes and random items out in the living and dining rooms, rendering those spaces unusable (part of what I ranted about when she got offended the first time). She's also never taken out the trash (I was always the one to do it) but since our rift, although I've started keeping a separate trash can, she allows her trash to pile up in bags in the kitchen and now has even been keeping her trash (empty 1-time use food containers for example) in the refrigerator or out on the counter.
What in the hell is going on here? Should I bite the bullet and let the apartment go? Should I fight to stay? Should I contact an attorney?
Not sure if this adds anything but my roommate is a foreign physician (has to get admitted into and complete a US medical residency program to practice) and currently trying to obtain a visa (not sure which type but she’s not working and not attending school at this time).
Help!
Submitted January 17, 2015 at 08:14AM by ybabicen http://ift.tt/1Aqpg1x renting
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