[Scotttheking]

About 1.5 months ago I moved across the country for school. Apartments are expensive, so it's much more cost effective to split a 2 bedroom. I put my name on the school's roommate list, and I was contacted by a parent. She told me her son in Israel for the year, and gave me some info. He sounded like a decent enough person, and of course, I wanted to sign a lease for an apartment. I talked on the phone to the kid, and went over my important things. He seemed fine, so I got an apartment, and I signed a lease for my room, his parents signed a lease for his.
His parents wanted him to share his room because of cost. It was agreed that I would have a say in the person as well, since it's my apartment, too.

Fast forward to now.
Two weeks ago I was working on cleaning, and asked him to do something. He chose the toilet. To this date, he has not done it. He leaves dishes piling in the sink. He rarely goes to class, smokes, drinks, and I get the idea he does some drugs sometimes. He doesn't appear to understand the concept of respect. I cannot get him to be responsible, and other than me moving out (sadly I can't right now) I'm having trouble coming up with a response.
He didn't want to have assigned chores, saying we should do stuff as it needed to be done. That obviously didn't work, so I made a list on a white board of what needs to be done, then said to choose 1/3 of them. The third roommate chose some stuff, I chose some stuff, and this guy never did. From what I can hear outside, the board was just erased by some girl he has over, which means I'm going to find crude and vulgar things on it.
There's plenty of other things wrong (loud at night, etc), but it's a long list.

What suggestions do you all have? I plan to move out by next semester, but for now, what can I do? I own almost every "common" item, including everything in the kitchen.

--Scott

[Superchicken]

Be more careful in the future

If some guy's mom and dad seem really nice, there is a high chance of the kid being a prig. Most kids who have their parents doing everything like their leases and stuff like that have had had their parents doing everything else for them all their lives.

That said changing people is really hard. That said, If you and your other roomie can't stand him that much, talk to your apt people and see if the mess if left that way would be against anything you all committed to or something, and then boot him out if it does.

Either that or just live with it. And next time be smarter. I don't know what to suggest. Fortunately in dorm my first room mate who was absolutely awful chose to move out instead of me, because I wasn't really what he wanted, (IE someone to think he wasn't a stuck up little prig who's parents have done everything for him his entire like, and someone to hang off of every attempt at philosophy that spewed from his mouth.)

[Timo]

Find a sublet, break the lease and leave.

[storer]

Originally posted by Superchicken:
Be more careful in the future

If some guy's mom and dad seem really nice, there is a high chance of the kid being a prig. Most kids who have their parents doing everything like their leases and stuff like that have had had their parents doing everything else for them all their lives.

True. I know this one guy; absolute arsehole, but his parents are lovely.

[drive-thru]

Does the third roommate feel the same way you do?

You should try talking to him and telling him your problem with the way he acts. Don't make it a personal attack on him, just let him know that he needs to start pulling his weight and respecting his roommates. Maybe use some examples but don't throw everything you don't agree with at him at once. If he's not mature enough to deal with the conversation then that's his problem. Unfortunately it's obviously becoming a problem for you, and if he feels like you're gangin up and attacking him he'll probably try to make it more your problem.

Do something about it, ignoring it won't solve anything. It's possible that he doesn't realise how much it bothers you. From experience, however, I'd say it's more likely he doesn't care.

Give him a chance to change (once you've spoken about it) and if he doesn't then talk to your school's Accomodation Dept or your apartment officer person. There's sometimes people looking to share an apartment and if you can kick him out it will be best for everyone involved. If you're moving out at the end of the semester then it's probably not worth it, but are you moving out anyway or are you moving out because of him?

That said...

[MacNStein]

I had a similar problem with a roommate in college. Except this guy was worse, would borrow my things without asking, eat my food, wouldn't clean, seldom bathed, and was very abusive. This went on for about 6 months. Then, to top it all off, one of his skanky girlfriends stole $100 out of my wallet (picked the lock and snuck into my room while I slept).

So, I had a couple friends come over, and while he slept we; snuck into his room, threw a blanket over him, beat the crap out of him, drug him outside and hosed him down (to the cheers of everyone in the apt. complex), and scrubbed him down with dog shampoo and long handled brushes. Afterward, I sat him down and laid down the law, he immediately corrected his behavior.

Sometimes, you just have to put your foot down.

[Xeo]

Originally posted by MacNStein:
So, I had a couple friends come over, and while he slept we; snuck into his room, threw a blanket over him, beat the crap out of him, drug him outside and hosed him down (to the cheers of everyone in the apt. complex), and scrubbed him down with dog shampoo and long handled brushes. Afterward, I sat him down and laid down the law, he immediately corrected his behavior.

Sometimes, you just have to put your foot down.

Beat the crap outta him? In what way? Taking him outside and scrubbing him sounds funny but physically beating him does not.

[MacNStein]

Originally posted by Xeo:
Beat the crap outta him? In what way? Taking him outside and scrubbing him sounds funny but physically beating him does not.

We didn't do any massive damage, mostly just man-handled him, gave him a few bumps and bruises. The only thing that got seriously hurt was his pride.

[mdc]

Originally posted by MacNStein:
I had a similar problem with a roommate in college. Except this guy was worse, would borrow my things without asking, eat my food, wouldn't clean, seldom bathed, and was very abusive. This went on for about 6 months. Then, to top it all off, one of his skanky girlfriends stole $100 out of my wallet (picked the lock and snuck into my room while I slept).

So, I had a couple friends come over, and while he slept we; snuck into his room, threw a blanket over him, beat the crap out of him, drug him outside and hosed him down (to the cheers of everyone in the apt. complex), and scrubbed him down with dog shampoo and long handled brushes. Afterward, I sat him down and laid down the law, he immediately corrected his behavior.

Sometimes, you just have to put your foot down.

i should hope that he corrected his behavior after that

[george68]

This happened to me. Basically I moved all my **** into my bedroom, kept that clean, and let the rest of the apartment turn into a shithole. I'm not cleaning up after somebody else, especially if it's a dude. Blech.

Next time get a girl roommate. They're not ALWAYS clean, but they usually smell good.

- Ca$h

[drive-thru]

I still say talk to him first, even better if you get your other roommate to join you.
After that you can go with the public beatings/isolation/female replacement.


Oh yeah, welcome back Ca$h.

[brapper]

White boards are a poor choice. I know 'cause I've used one and had the same thing happen to me. The difference is that the guy that was a problem was actually a friend. Really nice guy but a huge slob.
The only way to get him to do anything is to 'lose my temper.' I put that in quotes 'cause I'm not really overly angry, I just fain it so that he gets that I'm really serious.
And then he does an incredible job of cleaning up for a couple days before he falls back into his groove and it begins again.
The thing is some people are used to be looked after and don't even consider that they're responisble. It's not that they're bad people, it's just like a poorly trained dog that doesn't know better. Be firm and confront him and maybe he'll get his a s s in gear.

failing that, do the blanket beating thing...

[deej5871]

Not about a roommate but has to do with messiness..

One of my teachers is a landlord and one of his tenants is very messy (yes that is really the guy's room). And my teacher can't kick him out or anything because he hasn't done anything technically wrong.

[SSharon]

first of all holy crap, look at that pic. Second, try talking if not move your stuff to your space and keep it clean. If you want to get away from him that badly you can hang out by me in Commons 4, just PM or IM me. (my room is clean AND I smell nice)

[xenu]

Create a web site in his honour, detailing your experience, and include pictures.
Then let everyone know about it, except him.

[Mr.White]

Originally posted by Scotttheking:
What suggestions do you all have? I plan to move out by next semester, but for now, what can I do? I own almost every "common" item, including everything in the kitchen.

--Scott

Tell on him to his parents, that always works.

[Truepop]

move the common items in to your bedroom and charge to use them.

[DeathToWindows]

that was a human habitation?

Hmm... ideas for dealing with an arsehole roommate... if it's a university-owned appt, talk to your office of housing... maybe you're lease has a clause about maintaining the dwelling in habitable condition... Boot His Ass

Or just feed him to a wombat. Your choice.

[amsalpemkcus]

depends on how badly you want him out.

Gross him out! Beat him in his own game!

the questin is wheteher you are up to it.

pretend you are going gay.

ask him out on a date.

anyway that should be enough for now.

[MilkmanDan]

Originally posted by amsalpemkcus:

pretend you are going gay.

ask him out on a date.

The gay thing works wonders. Man, you beat me to this punch.

[TubaMuffins]

do your own dishes, clean your own mess and put all of his dirty dishes and crap in his bed. my housemates and i (4 guys) frequently let the dishes pile up. I got sick of cleaning other people's crap, so now i clean my dishes as soon as I'm done with them. But I also reccommend you just wait it out and try to have fun with him, everyone needs a bad roommate story.

[moonmonkey]

Originally posted by deej5871:
Not about a roommate but has to do with messiness..

One of my teachers is a landlord and one of his tenants is very messy (yes that is really the guy's room). And my teacher can't kick him out or anything because he hasn't done anything technically wrong.

That is not good.

I assume he tells you he likes being single.

[Scotttheking]

He finally cleaned some of the bathroom.
He had his girlfriend over for the weekend. She decided to cook something for him. This is the result:

(Click the image for a large version)
And I want to cook dinner.

[fireside]

Originally posted by Scotttheking:
He had his girlfriend over for the weekend. She decided to cook something for him.

she hot?

[brapper]

Originally posted by Scotttheking:
He finally cleaned some of the bathroom.
He had his girlfriend over for the weekend. She decided to cook something for him. This is the result:

(Click the image for a large version)
And I want to cook dinner.

....that's not so bad. i should snap some of my place and you'll love your roomate for keeping it that clean.

[ender2002]

Originally posted by Scotttheking:
He finally cleaned some of the bathroom.
He had his girlfriend over for the weekend. She decided to cook something for him. This is the result:

(Click the image for a large version)
And I want to cook dinner.

thats not that bad. maybe you are the one with the problem.

[effgee]

take pictures of his pig sty - send them to his parents.

(edit: I'd skip sending that kitchen pic above - I wouldn't necessarily want to cook in there, either - but I've seen lots worse.)

[Lancer409]

you guys shoulda see me and my brother's room before we cleaned it up. let's just say sixteen trash bags of crap were tossed out .. but it was actually more as some things we didnt put into trash bags. we also tossed out a huge wooden desk, and i'm only half way done. i'm going to get a new dresser type thingy and toss out my old one and all the other junk i've wanted to get rid of ... it sux since i have all these text books that cost a fugload and i have yet to get off my ass to sell them.

[Scotttheking]

Originally posted by effgee:
take pictures of his pig sty - send them to his parents.

(edit: I'd skip sending that kitchen pic above - I wouldn't necessarily want to cook in there, either - but I've seen lots worse.)

The kitchen isn't that bad, it's been far worse. I'm annoyed because it's messy enough to prevent me from cooking. It's a small kitchen, so there's no room to work around a mess. It's also better in that pic then it was, because I've already done a load of dishes. His GF cleaned up his room and did his laundry for him, so, no pics of that for a while. Amusingly, she declared that this place was nasty, then proceeded to leave about half that mess in the kitchen.
I'm just a bit pissed off now.

[drive-thru]

Originally posted by Scotttheking:
He finally cleaned some of the bathroom.
He had his girlfriend over for the weekend. She decided to cook something for him. This is the result:
(snip)
(Click the image for a large version)
And I want to cook dinner.

mmm....muffins

I've seen worse in dorm kitchens, but when renting an apartment with other people he should have more respect than that. You could just heap it up into one place and wipe the surface down & make your dinner.
Washing up is the last thing you want to be doing after your girlfriend has just cooked dinner.

[phoenixboy70]

Originally posted by Scotttheking:

BWAAHAHAAA!!

that's how the kitchen in most of my college appartments looked, when it was CLEAN!