'I also specifically picked a pet-free preference': 29-year-old grad student opted for a no-pet apartment, but ends up with a cat for a roommate and a lease full of drama

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    'The cat isn't on the lease or moved in yet'
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    Hi! I (27F) am an incoming grad student who found a sublease through a "primary" leaseholder at a shared student apartment. The lease was for a no-pet unit, and when I applied, I also specifically picked a pet-free preference.
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    I don't have a pet allergy and I really love animals, I just have a discernment for how parents care for their pets, especially in student housing (it can get bad). *** (backstory, skip if you want)* ***
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    I've had a roommate in the past who babysat a dog. The first time I ok'd it, the dog literally shot projectile diarrhea from inside his own crate from anxiety while she's at work. I'd come home from class, clean him, let him run in grass fields for his bathroom, and feed him. After it happened multiple times I was done.
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  • 05
    Afterwards I had (new) roommates who were attentive, communicative, and available for their pets, and I've even volunteered to babysit. But now that I'm juggling grad school, it's hard to live in that kind of uncertainty. So I stick with no-pet apartments.
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    (continued) Fast forward, I get paired with a potential roommate. She seemed nice, and we started texting. Then casually, she states she's bringing a cat and asked if I have allergies.
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    I didn't respond, because I was confused since in my lease said no pets, and in my prior leaseholder's agreement was no pets too. So I thought I'll ask to transfer myself to a different unit before we get too familiar with each other.
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    CHEE LEASE AGREEMENT STATE OF COUNTY OF 1. PARTIES: (Seller) agrees to sell and convey to (Purchaser), and Purchaser agrees y from Seller the Property described below. (a) Land: Address: 2. PROPERTY: [insert full address] or more specifically described as: or all other fixtures and improvements llowing permanently installed and awnings, wall-to-wall carpeting, m and equipment, heating and g fixtures, chandeliers, water bery, landscaping, outdoor scribed real property. (c) units, stove, fireplace
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    But when I checked with the leasing office, they were confused and told me there was no pet listed for our unit and no pet application submitted. They actually advised me to pause my move-in while they figured out what was going on.
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    Wanting to be transparent, I let her know that I had asked about a transfer and that it had came up that her cat wasn't on the lease. I wanted to ensure she knows I didn't say snitch or do anything malicious, and just giving her a heads up before they reached out.
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    She responded that she had "mentioned" to them about the cat and that they were fine with it. Then she added I "wouldn't be able to change anything unless it was medically necessary".
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    To point, I never mentioned trying to "change" anything, I was trying to explore a transfer when I found out. And technically, I'm not changing anything, the cat isn't on the lease or moved in yet. She then proceeded to ask if I could take over a different lease and whether my decision was allergy based or preference based.
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    I didn't respond as I felt the question wasn't fair, relevant, and passive aggressive. What if I asked her whether she was planning to sneak her cat in for ESA reasons or preference (rude). So I'm currently communicating only through the leasing office.
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    My partner thinks I'm mean and warn it's going to cause tension in our apartment once we move in. "She's just a girl who wants to live with her cat." And I get that. I really do. But I'm also just a girl who's trying to live and grind where she signed up for. AITA?
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    Hail-to-the-Sheep NTA. You don't need to justify not wanting to live with a pet, and she should have been upfront with the housing office and avoided this situation altogether.
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  • 17
    HushabyeNow NTA - No pets means no pets. I love animals. I have five dogs and two cats (not all by choice, my in-laws passed and left us with three of the dogs). I can't imagine inflicting them on someone else who didn't choose it. I feel like it's a telling character reference.
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    RoseFyreFyre NTA. You picked pet-free housing. It doesn't matter why. Pets aren't allowed in pet-free housing. Ergo she's the a hole here.
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    ArbitraryHigh NTA she caused this problem for herself by not putting the cat on the lease, as she wouldn't have been matched with you if she did.
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  • 20
    ResearcherLopsid... An incredibly similar thing happened to me, basically the exact same story except I was SEVERELY allergic to cats. You are NTA. Protect your peace and get out of that apartment assignment.
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    I love animals, but a year (or more) of being in an environment that isn't conducive for your preferences is not worth it! Also, your boyfriend should have your back! Good luck, and set those boundaries queen!
  • 22
    Pixichixi NTA. I love my cats so much. But I wouldn't be sneaking them into specifically pet free shared housing for this exact reason (solo housing, well lets not talk about that). If she does need the support, then she needs to get a prescription and do it properly, or just go through the clearly available "pet" option.
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  • 23
    tiredsquishmallow NTA. I never want to live with pets again, and I get a lot of flack for it. I don't think most pet owners recognize how they may be mistreating their animals, and I don't like being around it. You made the right call.

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