Rent situation with new roommate

[DrumminBoy]

I recently moved into an apartment I found on craigslist and the total rent is $590/month. There are two bedrooms, so we would each be paying $295/month, respectively. When I was signing the sublease the guy said that he would pay $25 more a month because he has the master bedroom which is much larger and he has his own half bathroom. I wrote him a check today for $270 which would be my half of the rent minus the extra $25 he would be paying. He claims I should be paying $285.50, otherwise he would be paying $50 more than I pay a month; technically that is correct, but it would still only be $25 more than he would have to be paying anyway had he not offered to pay more than his half. We had a lengthy argument over it, and I just gave up and said ok because I don't want to get off on the wrong foot with a guy I'm going to be living with for a year over $12.50.

Cliffs:
Rent $590 split between 2, $295 each
Roommate said he would pay $25/month more for Master BR/Own Bathroom
I figured my rent as $270 ($295 minus his $25)
He thinks it should be $282.50 making the difference in our respective rent amounts $25

I really don't care about the $12.50, the rent is cheap as it is, I just want to know which way is right.

EDIT: I just remembered an e-mail where he discussed the matter. To quote him, "The total rent is $590, I?d be paying a larger [negotiable] half, since I have the master bedroom, perhaps $20-$30 more."

 

[everman]

1st grade math skillz ftw!

 

[Nohr]

You're right but since you originally planned on paying equal amounts you may as well take what you can get.

 

[Baked]

Originally posted by: everman
1st grade math skillz ftw!

LMAO, that's just sad.

 

[KLin]

Sounds like you got suckered into paying half for him having the master bedroom to me.

 

[Jeff7]

Roommate said he would pay $25/month more for Master BR/Own Bathroom

That is the ambiguous part. $25/month more. More than what? The midpoint? Or more than you pay? Two different ways of looking at it, both of which could be correct.

 

[DrumminBoy]

Originally posted by: Baked

Originally posted by: everman
1st grade math skillz ftw!

LMAO, that's just sad.

:roll: did either of you even read the post? It comes down to interpreting what he meant by "$25 more per month."

 

[Baked]

If he wants the master BR for some hot sex, he should pay you $25 a month, on top of the $295. If he says no, tell him to suck it.

 

[theeedude]

Originally posted by: DrumminBoy
I recently moved into an apartment I found on craigslist and the total rent is $590/month. There are two bedrooms, so we would each be paying $295/month, respectively. When I was signing the sublease the guy said that he would pay $25 more a month because he has the master bedroom which is much larger and he has his own half bathroom. I wrote him a check today for $270 which would be my half of the rent minus the extra $25 he would be paying. He claims I should be paying $285.50, otherwise he would be paying $50 more than I pay a month; technically that is correct, but it would still only be $25 more than he would have to be paying anyway had he not offered to pay more than his half. We had a lengthy argument over it, and I just gave up and said ok because I don't want to get off on the wrong foot with a guy I'm going to be living with for a year over $12.50.

Cliffs:
Rent $590 split between 2, $295 each
Roommate said he would pay $25/month more for Master BR/Own Bathroom
I figured my rent as $270 ($295 minus his $25)
He thinks it should be $282.50 making the difference in our respective rent amounts $25

I really don't care about the $12.50, the rent is cheap as it is, I just want to know which way is right.

The exact wording of your agreement is important. Did he agree to "pay $25 more" or did he agree to "pay $25 more than you?"
If he agreed to pay $25 more, after you discussed $295, that means he agreed to pay $25 more than the $295 he was going to pay initially.

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: senseamp

Originally posted by: DrumminBoy
I recently moved into an apartment I found on craigslist and the total rent is $590/month. There are two bedrooms, so we would each be paying $295/month, respectively. When I was signing the sublease the guy said that he would pay $25 more a month because he has the master bedroom which is much larger and he has his own half bathroom. I wrote him a check today for $270 which would be my half of the rent minus the extra $25 he would be paying. He claims I should be paying $285.50, otherwise he would be paying $50 more than I pay a month; technically that is correct, but it would still only be $25 more than he would have to be paying anyway had he not offered to pay more than his half. We had a lengthy argument over it, and I just gave up and said ok because I don't want to get off on the wrong foot with a guy I'm going to be living with for a year over $12.50.

Cliffs:
Rent $590 split between 2, $295 each
Roommate said he would pay $25/month more for Master BR/Own Bathroom
I figured my rent as $270 ($295 minus his $25)
He thinks it should be $282.50 making the difference in our respective rent amounts $25

I really don't care about the $12.50, the rent is cheap as it is, I just want to know which way is right.

The exact wording of your agreement is important. Did he agree to "pay $25 more" or did he agree to "pay $25 more than you?"
If he agreed to pay $25 more, after you discussed $295, that means he agreed to pay $25 more than the $295 he was going to pay initially.

If the master bedroom is that much larger, he should pay $25 more than he normally would have been paying...so $50 more than you.

 

[Orsorum]

Originally posted by: BD2003

Originally posted by: senseamp

Originally posted by: DrumminBoy
I recently moved into an apartment I found on craigslist and the total rent is $590/month. There are two bedrooms, so we would each be paying $295/month, respectively. When I was signing the sublease the guy said that he would pay $25 more a month because he has the master bedroom which is much larger and he has his own half bathroom. I wrote him a check today for $270 which would be my half of the rent minus the extra $25 he would be paying. He claims I should be paying $285.50, otherwise he would be paying $50 more than I pay a month; technically that is correct, but it would still only be $25 more than he would have to be paying anyway had he not offered to pay more than his half. We had a lengthy argument over it, and I just gave up and said ok because I don't want to get off on the wrong foot with a guy I'm going to be living with for a year over $12.50.

Cliffs:
Rent $590 split between 2, $295 each
Roommate said he would pay $25/month more for Master BR/Own Bathroom
I figured my rent as $270 ($295 minus his $25)
He thinks it should be $282.50 making the difference in our respective rent amounts $25

I really don't care about the $12.50, the rent is cheap as it is, I just want to know which way is right.

The exact wording of your agreement is important. Did he agree to "pay $25 more" or did he agree to "pay $25 more than you?"
If he agreed to pay $25 more, after you discussed $295, that means he agreed to pay $25 more than the $295 he was going to pay initially.

If the master bedroom is that much larger, he should pay $25 more than he normally would have been paying...so $50 more than you.

Agreed.

 

[DrumminBoy]

I just remembered an e-mail where he discussed the matter. To quote him, "The total rent is $590, I?d be paying a larger [negotiable] half, since I have the master bedroom, perhaps $20-$30 more." So basically I was right.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: DrumminBoy
I just remembered an e-mail where he discussed the matter. To quote him, "The total rent is $590, I?d be paying a larger [negotiable] half, since I have the master bedroom, perhaps $20-$30 more." So basically I was right.

nope he was. he is paying $20-30 more a month then you are.

 

[Orsorum]

Originally posted by: DrumminBoy
I just remembered an e-mail where he discussed the matter. To quote him, "The total rent is $590, I?d be paying a larger [negotiable] half, since I have the master bedroom, perhaps $20-$30 more." So basically I was right.

I agree, even though the wording could still be construed as ambiguous.

 

[theeedude]

I think the best way to settle this is one person draws up the agreement, then the second person chooses if he wants master bedroom.
So tell your roommate that if it's only $25 more than him, you want the master bedroom.

 

[Lash444]

As senseamp said...a great way to do it would be like this.

You boht blindly write down a number from 0 - total cost of the apartment with an increment of $5.

Whoever bids the highest, gets teh master bedroom for the lowest bid +5.

Ex. Your bid - $305
His Bid 320

He would therefore pay 310 of the rent. and youd pay the difference. If its worth $25 more to you, which im sure it is...then bid 1/2 the cost plus the $25.

 

[Iron Addict]

He is right

 

[Viperoni]

Originally posted by: Iron Addict
He is right

 

[0roo0roo]

he sounds right. unless he said 25 more than half he is right and u are wrong. 25 more than you is 25 more than u

 

[Injury]

Come complain when you are paying >$300 in rent. As a matter of fact, why don't you complain about your rent payments to people in California.

If $12.50/month is really going to break the bank on you, then you should probably just move back in with your parents.

 

[0roo0roo]

its not a bad deal anyways, the main bathroomb ecomes effectively yours anyways, so u are just missing out on a little bedroom space.

 

[DrumminBoy]

Originally posted by: Injury
Come complain when you are paying >$300 in rent. As a matter of fact, why don't you complain about your rent payments to people in California.

If $12.50/month is really going to break the bank on you, then you should probably just move back in with your parents.

From OP: "I really don't care about the $12.50, the rent is cheap as it is, I just want to know which way is right." And I just moved from Naples, FL where I was paying $575/mo. for rent. Naples is rated the second most overpriced housing market in the country behind Santa Barbara.

 

[Injury]

Originally posted by: DrumminBoy

Originally posted by: Injury
Come complain when you are paying >$300 in rent. As a matter of fact, why don't you complain about your rent payments to people in California.

If $12.50/month is really going to break the bank on you, then you should probably just move back in with your parents.

From OP: "I really don't care about the $12.50, the rent is cheap as it is, I just want to know which way is right." And I just moved from Naples, FL where I was paying $575/mo. for rent. Naples is rated the second most overpriced housing market in the country behind Santa Barbara.

If you don't care, then why did you care enough to post?

 

[SophalotJack]

590 - 25 (his extra 25) = new rent rate of 565.

565 / 2 = 282.50.

he scammed you.

 

[tyler811]

Do you know this fellow or just move in with Ted Bundy?