DD's roommates brought cat home - WWYD?

[busy mom]

My daughters college roommates brought a cat home and intend to keep it, even though my daughter has protested. The lease states "no pets" and we are afraid she will loose her $600 security deposit. If she tells the landlord about it, her roommates will make her life miserable, so she is stuck in a difficult situation. I don't want to create any more stress for my poor daughter as her roommates are not the best living companions, we are just trying to bide our time until the semester is over and she can move out.

What would you do in this situation???

 

[pumpkinmomma]

Is there any way she can get out of the lease or find alternate housing? That totally stinks that her roommates would do that. Roommate issues stink.

Depending on how long she has to deal with it, I would try to find a way to move out if its more than a couple of months.

 

[cornflake]

Is she like, wildly allergic or something or just doesn't want a cat?

If it's the former, that's one thing.

If it's the latter, if she tells the landlord, not only will they make her life miserable, but a cat that just got a home will be homeless. If she's leaving relatively soon, if it's not a medical issue, I'd say just deal with it. It's not right of them but not fair to the cat either, it didn't ask for that.

Also, not for nothing, but a lot of leases say no pets but exempt a cat. Some don't and will say it's a violation but some don't.

 

[busy mom]

There is no medical reason for not wanting the cat, she is just concerned about loosing the $600 security deposit. Even if they verbally agree that she will be not be responsible if the landlord finds out, I would not trust these girls to hold up their end of the agreement.

 

[livndisney]

Is she like, wildly allergic or something or just doesn't want a cat?

If it's the former, that's one thing.

If it's the latter, if she tells the landlord, not only will they make her life miserable, but a cat that just got a home will be homeless. If she's leaving relatively soon, if it's not a medical issue, I'd say just deal with it. It's not right of them but not fair to the cat either, it didn't ask for that.

Also, not for nothing, but a lot of leases say no pets but exempt a cat. Some don't and will say it's a violation but some don't.

In my experience no pets means no pets. Violation of lease terms could result in fines and up to eviction. Fines, damages and/or eviction on my credit or a homeless cat-seems like a no brainer to me.

Op, I'm sorry your dd has been put in this position. I would suggest she review her lease to see what the rules are in her complex.

 

[crisi]

I'd tell her roommate to pony up the $600 for the security deposit. If the landlord gives the security deposit back, everyone is in the clear and roomie gets cat + her $600....but right now its her money at risk for her roommates cat. If not, the roommate will have to move out with the cat.

 

[mickeymaker2003]

If the roommates insist on keeping the cat, I would write up something saying that your daughter did not want the cat and is not responsible for it and if they lose the security deposit because of the cat, the roommates who wanted the cat must reimburse your daughter for her share of the lost deposit.

Otherwise, I'd tell the roommates they need to find somewhere else to keep the cat until she is able to move out unless they can get the landlord to waive the "no pets" exclusion in writing.

 

[ShelsGoingToDisney]

There is no medical reason for not wanting the cat, she is just concerned about loosing the $600 security deposit. Even if they verbally agree that she will be not be responsible if the landlord finds out, I would not trust these girls to hold up their end of the agreement.

Why not have them put it in writing then to make it official?

 

[rentayenta]

Make an anonymous call to the landlord. Then the roommates can pay the $600 or find the cat a home. Someone else is bound to see the cat.

 

[MomToOne]

Who signed the lease? Just your DD? All of the roommates?

Whoever's name is on the lease is the one who will be held responsible when the violation is discovered, and is going to be the one that gets to pay for it. If your DD signed the lease by herself, then she needs to tell the roommate that either the cat goes, or the roommate goes - and mean it. If all of them signed the lease, then your DD should tell the landlord about the cat to make it clear she is not a party in this. While I like the "anonymous tip" idea, I don't think that will protect her with the landlord - she will still be held partially responsible for any damage going this route (and even telling him she could face partial responsibility but I'm hoping the landlord will let it slide if she's open with him/her). She needs to be the one to tell the landlord, but could request that the landlord tell the roommates it was a nameless neighbor that ratted them out to perserve the peace. I'm hoping you have a reasonable landlord....

And while a PP made it sound like a noble thing for the roommate to take in a homeless cat, the real answer is to find a home for the cat with a RESPONSIBLE owner. Someone who is willing to violate the basic terms of their rental is NOT responsible.

 

[cornflake]

Make an anonymous call to the landlord. Then the roommates can pay the $600 or find the cat a home. Someone else is bound to see the cat.

How would someone else necessarily see the cat?

 

[nchulka]

I would let your daughter handle it herself, she is an adult. It's not like she is in serious trouble, the worst that happens is either she's out 600 bucks or has to deal with angry roommates. Life is full of difficult circumstances and situations where you have to make tough decisions, she needs to learn to handle them herself. If she ask your advice give it, but it's her problem to deal with. Maybe this will be an expensive hard learned lesson about choosing roommates wisely.

 

[HelenePA]

How would someone else necessarily see the cat?

Mine love to sit on the window sills.

 

[Mkebound]

If you daughter signed the lease she is an adult and should be left to deal with this on her own. Experience it something we all get and need.

 

[Stephanie218]

Mine love to sit on the window sills.

Yup. We didn't want to pay pet rent at our first apartment complex right out of college, and found out the hard way that our cats love to sit on the window sills as well! We moved to a place without pet rent a few months later when our lease was up.

I'm so glad that I don't have to deal with college roommates anymore....oh the drama that occurred back then. I agree an anonymous phone call may be best. Even if the roommate suspects something, she can't prove it if the landlord just "drops by" (though I'm not sure if their lease would require him giving them a certain amount of notice that he'd be coming).

 

[torinsmom]

Someone in the leasing office will see the cat in the window or maintenance will report it when they come in for regular maintenance or to spray the apt. A neighbor could also see it and mention it to the landlord. If they plan to keep it, she will need to have something signed and notarized saying they will pay her the security deposit if she loses it. Did she pay the whole $600 or did they share it?

 

[MrsPete]

I would let your daughter handle it herself, she is an adult. It's not like she is in serious trouble, the worst that happens is either she's out 600 bucks or has to deal with angry roommates. Life is full of difficult circumstances and situations where you have to make tough decisions, she needs to learn to handle them herself. If she ask your advice give it, but it's her problem to deal with. Maybe this will be an expensive hard learned lesson about choosing roommates wisely.

I agree. Except that, being a college student, her roommates may've been assigned to her. She may not've chosen them. Regardless, she's going to have to work through situations like this all her life -- it's time for her to figure it out.

If it were my head on this particular chopping block, and if I wasn't getting along too well with the roomies anyway . . . I'd throw 'em under the bus and report the cat. Being a college student, she has probably 10 weeks of school left, and then she can say goodbye to these girls. I'd be prepared to disappear to friends' apartments or the library quite a bit in those weeks, and I'd be actively searching for a better living situation for next year.

 

[MrsPete]

Someone in the leasing office will see the cat in the window or maintenance will report it when they come in for regular maintenance or to spray the apt. A neighbor could also see it and mention it to the landlord. If they plan to keep it, she will need to have something signed and notarized saying they will pay her the security deposit if she loses it. Did she pay the whole $600 or did they share it?

$600 sounds like an awful lot for one person. If she did pay the whole thing herself, that's an entirely different life lesson. Every roommate should have a financial stake in taking care of the property.

 

[crisi]

I agree. Except that, being a college student, her roommates may've been assigned to her. She may not've chosen them. Regardless, she's going to have to work through situations like this all her life -- it's time for her to figure it out.

If it were my head on this particular chopping block, and if I wasn't getting along too well with the roomies anyway . . . I'd throw 'em under the bus and report the cat. Being a college student, she has probably 10 weeks of school left, and then she can say goodbye to these girls. I'd be prepared to disappear to friends' apartments or the library quite a bit in those weeks, and I'd be actively searching for a better living situation for next year.

And box up the stuff you care about and send it home.

 

[punkin]

I'm confused about the "she's an adult" and "she has to figure it out" comments. Did you never in your adult life ask for opinions and suggestions on how to handle matters, particularly from your parents? I sure did. She is a YOUNG adult with little experience and she needs advice. I would suggest getting her roommates' agreement to pay her $600 in writing. Then she doesn't have to tell the landlord on them, because, even if she does tell, there's no guarantee the landlord won't keep the deposit anyway (within the terms of the lease). Then she's out the money and her roommates hate her.