Woman wants to use neighbor's balcony they pay $75/month extra for, calls them 'elitist' for refusing: 'You should share. Not everyone has your luck'

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Jun 25, 2025 10:00 AM EDT

Privacy is important, especially when you live in a big city. There is so much going on in the world that when you come home you just need a place to relax. You don't want anybody bothering you or anyone in your space when you get home. You want to be able to shut your doors and forget about everything and everyone else. It's essential for decompressing. This includes your outdoor space. 

To have outdoor space in a big city is a rare treat, so you probably relish it if you have it. You love sitting out with a book or a cold beverage, feeling somewhat at one with nature, even in the small way that you can. You love being out there by yourself or with a friend, and you value that space more than most. So it follows that you want to keep it to yourself. 

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  • 01
    Cheezburger Image 10520833536
    via Ladislav Stercell

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

  • Some other people don't quite understand that, though, and have a different relationship to privacy. They don't mind sharing anything and everything, especially when it's something that they don't have. But just because two people have different relationships to privacy doesn't mean that one of you has to give in. Like in this story where a nosy neighbor went too far. Read on for the details. 

  • 02

    Entitled neighbor wants me to "share" my apartment balcony because her unit doesn't have one

    I live in a small apartment complex, and I'm lucky to have a corner unit with a private balcony. One of the newer tenants moved into a unit across the hall with no outdoor space.
    via u/Beneficial-Use7421
  • 03
    Last week she knocked on my door and said, "Hey! I noticed your balcony has great sun in the afternoons. Would you mind if I used it sometimes for reading or just getting air?" It caught me off guard, but I said, "Honestly I'd prefer to keep it private. It's where I unwind."
    via u/Beneficial-Use7421
  • 04
    She made a face and replied, "But it's not like you're out there all day. You should share. Not everyone has your luck." I told her no again, and she got snippy: "Some people really don't know how to be part of a community."
    via u/Beneficial-Use7421
  • 05
    She later posted in the building group chat calling me "unfriendly" and "elitist." Ma'am, it's 75 square feet and I pay extra rent for it. You want sun? Go outside.
    via u/Beneficial-Use7421
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    Cheezburger Image 10520833792
    via Evan Lee

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

  • 07

    Commenters chimed in with their opinions.

    LibraryMouse4321 · 1h ago Make your own building group chat post. Ask if anyone else has been harassed by this neighbor asking if she can use their balcony. Tell all that when you denied her demand for you to share it, she got nasty. You can also report her behavior to your landlord. It's unacceptable.
    via u/LibraryMouse4321
  • 08
    Ruby Red 8787 • 1h ago Wait. Does she expect you to be home, answer the door when she knocks, be available for her on her schedule and then sit in your apartment while she reads on your balcony? That's just bizarre.
    via u/RubyRed8787
  • 09
    No_Arugula8915.54m ago Next would be wanting her own key and for OP to not be home. Op's presence in their own apartment would be just ride doncha know. Some people are beyond help.
    via u/No_Arugula8915
  • 10
    • youknowimright25 1h ago Tell her that that balcony cost you $$$ a month extra in rent. If she wants to pay that. And find a way up there not going through your apartment. That she can use it. Then you will get a really interesting p ed off look from her. Lol. It will be worth it.
    via u/youknowimright25
  • 11
    Mundane-Classic-3103 · 1h ago • NTA. Your balcony, your rules.
    via u/Mundane-Classic-3103
  • 12
    itsfi... 57m ago Edited 54m ago • • Ohh man I have a story like yours from a few years back! We used to live in a high rise downtown Chicago, not far from the lake and had a very nice corner unity with a balcony. They way the building was set up, each corner unit had full floor to ceiling windows and a balcony that was private use. We did also have a rooftop terrace, that was open to the residents daily.
    via u/itsfish20
  • 13
    I came home one day from work to find a newish neighbor, one without a baclony, asking why all the corner unit doors were locked and that she couldn't get to any of them...she had thought her lease entitled her to private units balconies and lost her sh when she got the front desk staff involved and was told no, she was wrong.
    via u/itsfish20
  • 14
    Melodic-Dark6545 1h ago • Well, she can have your luck if she pays extra. I think you have to let her know that
    via u/Melodic-Dark6545
  • 15
    spaceylaceygirl • 16m ago Point out you pay extra for your balcony, it's not just random luck. Tell her to stop being cheap if she wants. nicer things.
    via u/spaceylaceygirl
  • 16
    . forgetregret1day · 44m ago Sure, I'll give you a key to my place and you can just stroll in anytime and use space I pay for. Do you want refreshments left in the fridge? Special chair? Sunscreen? What is wrong with people? Do they even hear themselves talking?
    via u/forgetregret1day
  • 17
    Melodic-Tutor-2172 1h ago • Ha ha how did she think that was fair?
    via u/Melodic-Tutor-2172
  • 18
    jeffincredible2021 · 59m ago Does she expect to have a spare key as well and just walks in anytime she wants
    via u/jeffincredible2021
  • 19
    writekindofnonse... • 52m ago Why didn't she just rent an apartment with outdoor space? If something is important to you in a living space then you should make it a priority when shopping for a home.
    via u/writekindofnonsense
  • 20
    notsohappycamp... • 49m ago If you pay extra for the balcony--charge her fees. I bet she won't pay them and will call you greedy.
    via u/notsohappycamper33
  • 21
    hello_mandi · 47m ago Ask in the group chat if anyone else is willing to let her use their balcony... then she'll see no one would agree to this...
    via u/hello_mandi
  • 22
    StrictShelter971 46m ago Unless she want tohelp out with your rent then the balcony is definitely off limits for day use by neighbors.
    via u/StrictShelter971
  • 23
    Upset-Store5439 45m ago Is she expecting free access to your unit? Or is she going to get a ladder to climb up there?
    via u/Upset-Store5439
  • 24
    Angeret 44m ago I hope you remarked in that group chat that you're friendly to people who don't demand the use of something you pay extra for.
    via u/Angeret
  • 25
    NFT_fud 31m ago I am seeing all kinds of these "its part of the community" posts, like the post where someone went into an enclosed backyard and rolled out their BBQ because its "part of the community" or just walk in and use someones swimming pool because its "part of the community"
    via u/NFT_fud
  • 26
    Sounds to me like people are just more entitled and self- serving rather than some new found "community spirit". What next? just use my car? sleep with my spouse?
    via u/NFT_fud
  • 27
    NaturesVividPictu... • 19m ago Yeah if she wants an apartment with a balcony, then rent one with a balcony. Otherwise, go to a local park or go on the grounds of the apartment building and put out a chair, and sit in the sun there. Yeah, that's a bit crazy.
    via u/NaturesVividPictures

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neighbors city living outdoor space FAIL neighborhood city neighborhood-drama bad neighbors apartments reddit story entitled balcony reddit thread Bad Neighbor Reddit entitled people apartment
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