Possible Roommate Search: Legalities

[Quirk]

I've been thinking about looking for a roommate because I'm not home half the time and it might be a good way to save some money. I've never had a roommate before (except school), so I'm not completely sure how I would feel about having a stranger in my apartment. I sort of want to be able to interview people to test the waters, but be able to reject them if I don't feel comfortable with them. Is there a website where I can find out about legalities of what I can ask and can't ask, and if I have to have a concrete reason to reject someone, etc? Thanks.

 

[Get Smart]

I've had so many roommates during a 10 year period it's crazy. I used to put out ads at the local community college and then interview the ones interested.

For the most part it's always worked out well enough. A couple were awkward, liek the one guy making PCP in his room and we were raided by the DEA, but in hindsight that was pretty funny.

I've always been weirded out by strangers coming to my house for the initial interview. You never know, I've heard of guys getting robbed showing their house to a "roommate" since yer letting them in yer house and they can see what kind of cool stuff you have. So i've always made it a point to show my house with a loaded gun tucked in my trouser and I walk behind the person, esp going up the stairs.

thank goodness I dont have to do all that anymore. but good luck. be firm with your choice because you gotta live with them so if something bothers you don't just accept them into yer place. I think when it comes to finding a roommate it's perfectly in your place to discriminate as you see fit.

 

[GQgeek]

Originally Posted by Get Smart

I've had so many roommates during a 10 year period it's crazy. I used to put out ads at the local community college and then interview the ones interested.

For the most part it's always worked out well enough. A couple were awkward, liek the one guy making PCP in his room and we were raided by the DEA, but in hindsight that was pretty funny.

I've always been weirded out by strangers coming to my house for the initial interview. You never know, I've heard of guys getting robbed showing their house to a "roommate" since yer letting them in yer house and they can see what kind of cool stuff you have. So i've always made it a point to show my house with a loaded gun tucked in my trouser and I walk behind the person, esp going up the stairs.

thank goodness I dont have to do all that anymore. but good luck. be firm with your choice because you gotta live with them so if something bothers you don't just accept them into yer place. I think when it comes to finding a roommate it's perfectly in your place to discriminate as you see fit.

OT...GetSmart,
I only just now caught the reference in your nickname. I stumbled upon the original Get Carter last Friday night at the video store. Didn't even know the Stallone one was a remake of a Michael Caine movie. I must say that I would have preferred a Hollywood ending.

As for roommates, I got sick of them about 3 years ago. The last one was a total disaster. It would be nice to be able to save some money, but I absolutely abhor the idea of being sociable in the morning (or when i get home from work for that matter) Plus, you never can tell whether or not they'll be slobs that will leave their dishes in the sink for weeks at a time.

Personally, it's not worth the added stress. My feeling is that unless you're a really easy going guy, if you've been years without one, you'll probably not like having one. By now you're used to having the freedom and the privacy to do whatever you want in your own place. Finding a roommate is a lot like finding a good girlfriend. You'll go through a lot of them along the way to finding a good one, but girlfriends are a hell of a lot easier to get rid of.

For what it's worth, good luck.

 

[VMan]

I'd definitely go with friends or friends-of-friends before a stranger - someone I know at least somewhat. Is this an option for you?

 

[lawyerdad]

Originally Posted by GQgeek

OT...

I only just now caught the reference in your nickname. I stumbled upon the original Get Carter last Friday night at the video store. Didn't even know the Stallone one was a remake of a Michael Caine movie. I must say that I would have preferred a Hollywood ending.
Ok, now you're making me feel old. I had assumed it was a Don Adams reference, not a Sylvester Stallone reference . . .

 

[VMan]

Originally Posted by lawyerdad

Ok, now you're making me feel old. I had assumed it was a Don Adams reference, not a Sylvester Stallone reference . . .

Thats what I had assumed, that it was based on the television series of the same name.

 

[Bradford]

Here's a site with some tips...

Mike's Apartment

Definitely not work safe

 

[Spencer Young]

If there are roommate finding services in your area, you may want to look into them. Hopefully they can find candidates who fit your living style as well as be legit, upstanding citizens.

 

[GQgeek]

Originally Posted by lawyerdad

Ok, now you're making me feel old. I had assumed it was a Don Adams reference, not a Sylvester Stallone reference . . .

That was my initial thought as well until I saw the original Get Carter and recognized his avatar as a still from the movie. Who knows...

 

[Get Smart]

Originally Posted by GQgeek

That was my initial thought as well until I saw the original Get Carter and recognized his avatar as a still from the movie. Who knows...

I had my handle "Get Smart" since the beginning, an homage to the mod phrase for being well sussed (altho I am a big fan of the tv show too)....added the Get Carter avatar recently just cuz it's a great image and a cool movie. just so happens they sound similar

 

[briancl]

I was in a sticky situation last year and had about 10 days to find a place and move in. I used a bunch of services, and I ended up finding my current residence through roommates.com. I've since become good friends with my roommates and everyone on my block.

I looked at a number of places and talked to people online and in person, and I think one key difference was that the landlord (who is also a roommate) made a pretty big effort to find out who I was. Everyone else I talked to just wanted a rent check and no trouble. This guy really wanted a good neighbor/friend/renter.

 

[NoVaguy]

Originally Posted by Bradford

Here's a site with some tips...

Definitely not work safe

dick

 

[Stax]

You can ask interviewees whatever you want when you are simply considering a roommate to live in the same unit that you live in. The legalities only come into play when you are in a landlord/tenant situation and, in many states, those rules only kick in when the landlord is renting four or more units (or some other minimum number of units) and the landlord lives in the building. You can even discriminate in ways that a landlord cannot, not that you would. DISCLAIMER: I am not landlord/tenant lawyer. I only play one on SF.

 

[Quirk]

Ok, thanks for the tips. Unfortunately there are no friends or friends of friends who need a place. I'll check out roommates.com.

 

[Quirk]

Originally Posted by NoVaguy

dick

yikes. that's the least of it.