We’ve all had those moments of frustration with roommates, haven’t we? But what happens when the roommate is your friend, living in your basement out of necessity, and starts eating into your resources? A 23-year-old woman, we’ll call her ‘Basement Benefactor’, found herself in such a predicament with her friend Sophia and Sophia’s daughter. Let’s dive into this emotional rollercoaster that tests the boundaries of friendship, charity, and personal survival.
A Friend in Need
The Fridge Fiasco ️
The Final Straw
The Basement Bargain
Sophia’s Shock
The Justification
The Financial Fallout
The Tough Question ❓
The Unfortunate Update
The Final Decision
The Basement Dilemma: When Friendship Meets Finance
In a twist of events, our ‘Basement Benefactor’ and her fiancé decided to charge their friend Sophia and her daughter $500 a month for living in their basement. Despite Sophia’s protests, they believed it was a fair amount considering the amenities and the fact that they live in Boston. However, the decision wasn’t easy. The couple had to dip into their savings to cover Sophia’s living expenses, straining their own financial situation. When Sophia refused to pay, they made the tough decision to evict her. Now, let’s see what the internet thinks about this complicated situation…
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NTA, but throw her out if she doesn’t agree.
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You’re a great friend! Sophia needs to stop freeloading.
NTA: Cheap rent and freeloading roommates.
“$500 a month for two people? That’s a great deal!”
NTA: Expecting her to contribute? How dare you!
NTA girl charges friend 500 for basement, fair market rate 1k
Generous rate for room and board? Find a better deal
“NTA. Set clear boundaries and stick to them. You’re not obligated.”
Legal basement rental with fire code compliance, perfect for families!
Generous offer for friend living on your dime for a year
NTA. Consult an attorney to draw up a lease agreement ️
Shocking deal! NTA for not charging more
“NTA So can I talk to you the way a mom would talk to her daughter? The problem with furnishing someone with a ‘free’ place to stay is that it is not ‘free’ for you and your fiancé. The other problem is that when it’s ‘free’, the ‘guest’ often refuses to pay even when they can afford to do so, and just as often refuses to leave if asked nicely. Honestly, your generosity is astonishing. You’re a good friend, but perhaps you’re TOO good of a friend. You now have a perfectly rentable space that is filled with someone who absolutely refuses to see the value in what she is taking up, and there is no contract, either verbal or in writing, to let her know when her gravy train ends. For her, this is a free ride with no legal end to it. The value of what she gets is 100% coming out of the pocket of your fiancé and you. As I said…TOO generous. Your fiancé and you were raised to be good humans, but good humans often get used. You’re also learning why Sophia did not have anyone else to help her little family: she probably took shameless advantage of similar situations with other families. Does her daughter not have a father who is paying child support? Shouldn’t there be income from that person, or from public assistance? Heck, she even qualifies for free medical care. Money is there if she needs it to get out on her own. But I suspect it is much more convenient for her to let your fiancé and you pay for everything. And she is going to continue to do so until you finally get sick of it and kick her out. Yes, it’s coming. You probably suspected it the moment your friend balked at paying $500 for the privilege of using your basement space, because she inadvertently revealed that she expects you to continue footing her bills for as long as SHE decides you should do so. I wonder, what will happen if you tell her that your fiancé and you can no longer afford to support her, and if she cannot pay rent, she needs to find another place to go posthaste? My guess is that she will suddenly cease to become a friend, and more of a malevolent presence in the home you pay for. My daughter has a similarly soft heart for friends. At times over the past 5 years, she has ‘helped’ up to five people by letting them stay with her husband and her. The result? Those ‘friends’ would not pay for rent or food, would not clean up their own messes, would not reimburse for gas or wear/tear on her car, and several of them stole everything of value that they could find when she finally kicked them to the curb. They acted like spoiled teenagers who expected my daughter and her wife to pay for and do everything for them. One person stole her engagement ring, and that ring is gone for good. Another person stole jewelry that she had inherited, and several gaming systems and games that her husband had. Again, gone for good, and probably pawned for a tenth of its cash value. She would not have ever suspected her ‘friends’ would use her and steal from her, but yeah, it happened repeatedly. A person who is happy to live rent-free on your dime and ‘steal’ that space usually has no qualms about stealing other things if they want those things. Today, my daughter and her husband have a rule: if someone needs a place to stay, it’s not going to be their place. The last time someone asked, my daughter said, ‘Yeah, that’s a sad story, but we can’t afford to support ourselves and you, too. You’re going to need to find some other place to crash.’ She learned the hard way that house guests take a shockingly short time to become freeloaders who consistently feign outrage when they realize they have to pay for their own expenses. You are neither Sophia’s parent nor her keeper. I would highly recommend first having a difficult conversation with Sophia: telling her what public assistance is available to her, and giving her links to those agencies that can financially help her as she transitions to living on her own. I also highly recommend consulting with an attorney, then serving her with an eviction notice. In the meantime, put locks on doors of rooms you do not want Sophia to access, and make sure that if you have things of value, they stay in those locked rooms. The thefts usually start when the guests realize they are no longer welcome, and when they can no longer use you with your permission. Cheapen the quality of the foods you have at your home to reduce comfort, and perhaps invest in a mini fridge to keep in your bedroom so that if there are things you buy solely for your consumption, they will still be there when you come home. And finally, take your cell phone and take videos of your home and its contents, including the serial number of big-ticket items, and including the contents of the basement. When you finally get your ‘friend’ out of there, chances are good that she is going to take a few things with her. You’ll need that video, along with the serial numbers, for the police report. I sincerely hope that things don’t come to that point. However, Sophia’s refusal to pay rent does not bode well for your future with her, or for your friendship.”
Fair price for basement rent, but beware of landlord complications!
NTA – Fair price for space, utilities, groceries. $400-500 reasonable.
“Cheap by Boston standards” – Skeptical comment sparks local debate
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Fairness prevails! NTA for charging rent after free ride
“NTA. Some people just take advantage of your generosity. “
Time for her to find her own place!
A delusional person sparks a fiery debate. Who’s in the right?
Can you really save up for a house working at Starbucks?
NTA, but you need to work on boundaries with freeloaders.
Fairness prevails! Stand your ground and let her go!
Friendship fallout: Free ride ends, she’s mad. NTA
NTA: $500/month is a bargain! Get a lease and separate fridge
A surprising reaction to a messy situation
NTA, great deal after letting her live rent-free for a year
Stand your ground and protect yourself from a mooching roommate!
