'We don’t have a signed agreement since we’re friends': Inconsiderate roommate lets her family of 4 stay in homeowners house for 3 weeks, refuses to pay utilities like he asked

Author image for Emmy Pratt
Emmy Pratt • Writer and Editor
Jan 30, 2025 8:00 PM EST

I have lived with friends for 3.5 years of my life. As far as I'm concerned, it's a great way of living with roommates and far superior to shacking up with a bunch of randos. When you live with people you know and love, you feel responsible for ensuring their living space is a happy, healthy, and calm place to live. I don't want my best friends to be stressed about the dishes piling up in the sink. Therefore, I will wash the big ones, put the small ones in the dishwasher, and run the said dishwasher. 

Although I trust and love my friends turned roommates, I still make sure we're doing everything above board. I would never live with someone who hasn't signed a lease, but pinkie promises to pay the rent. Even if they fully intend to pay it, it's way too big of a risk to take. 

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  • 01
    Cheezburger Image 10461335552
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • Unfortunately, the homeowner in this story was not as bright as your average roommate or your below-average landlord. He decided to let his friend and girlfriend stay in his house without a proper lease just because they're friends. Now, he's facing the consequences of potentially having squatters he can't get rid of. 

  • 02

    My roommate had her family stay with us for 2 weeks in my home without asking me

    My friend and his girlfriend live with me. We don't have a signed agreement since we're friends. She just got surgery and told me her family is coming to visit. All 4 of them. For 2 weeks. I got very upset, but nothing I can do now. I set the rules of them paying the utilities for the month and no noise past 9. They don't always comply. I got very angry that they
    via u/adventchildren73
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    Cheezburger Image 10461338880
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 04
    are staying an extra week from what I was told. I own the home. You can tell in my tone of voice I'm very angry due to the lack of boundary respect and consideration. I was called a idiot and selfish when confronting my roommates. Now I'm having a hard time getting them to pay the utilities and their family is still here. I have felt like a
    via u/adventchildren73
  • 05
    stranger and so uncomfortable in MY OWN HOME for weeks. I was even told to not smoke because there's kids living in the house.
    via u/adventchildren73
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    Cheezburger Image 10461336832
    via Nastia Petruk

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 07
    Caspian4136 Time to tell them they have overstayed their welcome and they have to leave. Pull your friend aside and tell him that they have to go. That you didn't agree to so many people staying for so long and that it's your house. If he hems and haws, tell him you're prepared to get authorities involved.
    via u/Caspian4136
  • 08
    Look into the laws in your area, as you didn't have them sign a lease, it could spell trouble for you if you want them to move out because of this. I'd look into what leases are common for your area and have them sign one. Most leases have a clause about guests.
    via u/Caspian4136
  • 09
    FirefighterSmooth264 • 21h ago NTA. No signed lease means they're taking advantage of your friendship. Having 4 extra people stay for weeks without your permission in YOUR house is extremely disrespectful. Then calling you names and making demands about what you can do in your own home?
    via u/FirefighterSmooth264
  • 10
    Time to formally evict them. They've shown zero respect for you as both a friend and homeowner. Get professional legal advice about eviction since there's no lease. Don't let them guilt you about the kids or surgery. They created this situation with their entitled behavior.
    via u/FirefighterSmooth264
  • 11
    Opposite Jeweler_953 Eviction for the"friend" and family.
    via u/Opposite Jeweler_953
  • 12
    Beth21286 Tell 'friend' if the family aren't gone in 24 hours OP will call the police to remove the family and begin evicting friend and GF because they have abused his hospitality repeatedly.
    via u/Beth21286
  • 13
    AnonymousFruit69 Hand them the eviction notice in person to them in front of all their family
    via u/AnonymousFruit69
  • 14
    Sunbeamsoffglass Nope, no lease no eviction needed. Call the police and tell them there are strangers n your house that won't leave.
    via u/Sunbeamsoffglass
  • 15
    Khiwanean At least some places, contributing toward mortgage/rent/utilities means a de facto tenant/landlord relationship and means an eviction will be required to comply with the law. OP, get legal advice before you proceed!
    via u/Khiwanean
  • 16
    Sheeshka49 Wrong. In some states, occupancy for a certain period of time gives residency rights, regardless of whether or not there is a lease. OP needs to know the law in their state. Three weeks may be getting very close to giving them rights. They need to get out ASAP.
    via u/Sheeshka49
  • 17
    banker2890 In NC after 14 days even a guest becomes a tenant. Tried to help someone and ended up taking nearly three months to get them out. Tread lightly as any step someone takes that is illegal hurts your case.
    via u/banker2890
  • 18
    MissKitty919 My first thought was "squatters". OP said roommate said there are kids "living" in the house, not just visiting, or staying there. Guests don't LIVE in the house they're visiting. Good luck, OP, in getting these moochers out of your home.
    via u/MissKitty919
  • 19
    CheesyPotatoSack As a single person with a 4 bedroom house I had this happpen with a friend had come visit for a week from another state. She was going through a breakup I said her come visit then she stayed longer and had this other girl she knew show up for a visit then they tried staying. Took me almost a month to get them out and on top of it the one girl claimed she them became homeless during the stay forwarded her mail without letting me know and tried to say because her mail came there I
    via u/CheesyPotatoSack
  • 20
    I don't play fair either I found her last address paid the $3 UPS to have her mail sent back to old address waiting for them to go to the beach. Threw their stuff on the curb and changed the locks. Called the cops myself on them. Didn't speak to that girl since. She kept calling and messaging she didn't have money for plane ticket back home. Idk what happened to her didn't even bother to check after what she did
    via u/CheesyPotatoSack
  • 21
    drawohhteb I would also make a photographic inventory of your high dollar items with serial codes in case they get "mixed up in the move"
    via u/drawohhteb
  • 22
    gpost86 Honestly renting a storage unit for a short period of time and putting your stuff in it until this is done is not the worst idea.
    via u/gpost86
  • 23
    Matilda_Mac This is important to do whether your friend's family stays or goes. You need to establish a month-to- month rental with a notification clause to require them to leave when you decide you are through with the tenant. You can also include restrictions on guests. Without this, in some states, there could be a very complicated legal process to get them to leave.
    via u/Matilda_Mac
  • 24
    Groovy YaYa You let them stay too long. You have squatters. In many jurisdictions, her family may be considered legal residents now. Consult a real estate attorney, stat, on how to legally evict them all. Let your friend know that unless the family is gone in 3 days, you will be evicting him and the girlfriend as well. If you are in the USA, with no written agreement, the typical standard is 30 days notice - it may be slightly different as you reside in the home as well.
    via u/GroovyYaYa
  • 25
    Is w d legal in your area? If not - stop. If not legal around kids - stop until you consult said attorney. Consult said attorney about the legalities of you shutting off the non- essentials. You can't for instance, cut off the water and power to oust them. But cable? Internet? Maybe. Same with the wd smoking. Ask the attorney if that is advisable (probably not, as they've indicated that minor children are bothered by it and there is such a thing as a contact high). If they are eating your food -
    via u/GroovyYaYa
  • 26
    Don't do anything without consulting the attorney on what your rights and responsibilities are. Don't just listen to Reddit that says "kick them out" Eviction is first and then perhaps small claims court for damages. They would still owe you for the time they lived in the home even after notice. In the long run, it might be worth going to your friend and saying I'll give you $500 and waive the utilities if you get out in 3 days.
    via u/GroovyYaYa
  • 27
    redelectro7 We don't have a signed agreement since we're friends. This is the dumbest sh you can do.
    via u/redelectro7
  • 28
    bored-panda55 Friends are the worst roommates
    via u/bored-panda55

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