New housemate accused me of stealing from apartment

meechmunchies2

[font=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]Hi all,[/font]


[font=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]I recently moved away from Dublin to a new city in the US, alone, and just found what I thought would be my permanent apartment. One of the 2 other people who live there (he has lived there the longest so seems to enjoy acting as a landlord though he is also just renting) has had a strange issue with me from the get go. [/font]

[font=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]First, when I tried to transfer the first months rent to him, my PayPal wouldn't work (it had a limit on it) he got very accusatory and implied that it I didn't have any money. (even though I had given him a security deposit minutes earlier in cash) When I fixed the limit issue and transferred over the money (he wouldn't let me leave the house without doing this) he wouldn't give me the key, I had to ask, sic demand, it a few times. I said "nice to meet you" when I was leaving and he and the other housemate completely ignored me.[/font]

[font=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]I thought this was weird and was apprehensive but the next time I met them they were fine, pleasant even.[/font]

[font=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]Then today (I haven't moved in fully yet as i'm out of state working) I get a text asking had a been in the apartment, I said only once, I was then informed that something had gone missing from the apartment, of "considerable value" (he wouldn't say what) and they thought I had taken it.  [/font][font=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]A few minutes later I get a text to say that they found it with no apology or anything but a xo at the end of the message (which seemed a bit smarmy to me) [/font]

[font=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]Obviously I sent a bit of an pissy text informing him that I don't steal **** from people cause i'm not a scumbag. I get a reply "thanks for letting me know. Looking forward to having you move in (sarcastic winky tongue emoji)"[/font]

[font=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]I have no interest moving in there now but i've paid a security deposit (which I can only get back if I find another renter to take over) i've also got no other accomodation lined up and have paid the first months rent. I'm not sure if I should just grin and bare it as we have totally different working schedules or if I should pay for an Airbnb while I try to get a new renter. [/font]

[font=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]The apartment is great and beside my new job which is rare in the city i'm in. I guess I just want to hear what other people would do in my situation or what they think I should do, or if they can explain wtf this lads issue with me seems to be. [/font]


[font=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]TLDR: New housemate lost something in apartment, text me as he thought i'd stolen it, this is second weird accusation and i haven't even finished moving my stuff in yet. Housemate seems like a bully, unsure of next move[/font]

B.A._Baracus

Think smart.
You already paid the deposit and one months rent. You've already read the signals that living with these people is going to be a nightmare. So just look for another place over the next month. Don't unpack ... Just leave stuff in your suitcase. 30 days in nothing in your life.

Don't give back the key until you get your deposit back. But what do you mean by only get it back if you get another renter?

ironwalk

Too much drama and you're not even in yet.

Don't know how you're set for money, but I'd be making a plan to get out of that arrangement asap.

" if they can explain wtf this lads issue with me seems to be." From what you've described, absolutely not your problem. Very strange behaviour.
How long is your lease and how soon can you get out of it?

zapper55

Find something on airbnb and move out.

He doesn't just seem like a bully he is acting like one, all before you've met. Even if you stayed would you feel safe living with that sounds like quite an unstable person?

When your stuff is gone I'd then put in writing (email, text etc) that as a result of his behaviour you don't feel comfortable staying in the house and you want the deposit and rent advance paid back minus the time you had already moved in for. I'd also contact the landlord to give them your side of the story before he does.

Actually surely it's your landlord that should be holding the deposit? Is the guy subletting? Is that legal?

kylith

I’d contact the landlord directly and tell him that you don’t feel comfortable moving into an apartment where you have been accused of theft before you’ve even moved in, and that you will be moving out at the end of the month and expect your security deposit in full. Tell him that you will not be waiting for the next tenant before you get it back as with such an aggressive tenant it may be some time before he can find another tenant.

meechmunchies2

I gave the deposit to the person moving out and to get it back I have to get a deposit off the person moving in, its a sublet, im not sure if it's legal, I haven't met the landlord, the previous tenant brought me to introduce me but he wasn't there. The bully housemate interjected and said I should just give my rent to him instead.  There's no lease it's just month to month. I messaged the previous tenant and she said she noticed the way he was treating me and said it's very odd and she's not sure what I can do and gave me an email address for the landlord

MissShihTzu

I would e-mail the landlord then. Make sure you have receipts for any money given and do not hand over any cash!