How do I tell my roommate their significant other is over way too much without ruining the friendship?
My roommate's girlfriend is at our apartment literally 5-6 nights a week. She doesn't pay rent but uses our utilities, eats our food, takes long showers. I like her as a person but this wasn't the deal when we signed the lease. How do I bring this up without making things super awkward?
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Ugh, I've been through this exact situation. Here's how I handled it without destroying the friendship:
First, get your thoughts together:
- This is about the arrangement, not the person
- You have every right to bring this up
- The longer you wait, the harder it gets
- Limit overnight stays to 2-3 nights per week
- If more, she should contribute to utilities
- Shared groceries need to be replaced
- She shouldn't be there when roommate isn't home
- Stay calm
- Stick to facts, not emotions
- Reference your lease (many have guest policies)
- Remind them you want to preserve the friendship
How to approach it:
Pick a calm, private moment (not when she's there). Don't ambush them.
Say something like:
"Hey, I wanted to talk about something and I hope this doesn't come out wrong. I really like [girlfriend's name], but I've noticed she's been staying over most nights lately. When we signed the lease, I expected it would just be the two of us sharing the space and expenses. Can we talk about setting some boundaries?"
Suggest concrete solutions:
If they get defensive:
Most reasonable people understand once it's pointed out. They probably don't realize how much she's there. If they refuse to compromise, that tells you something about them.
Good luck - this conversation sucks but you'll feel so much better after.
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