18-year-old college student gets denied right to an overnight visitor by entitled landlady in her off-campus apartment: 'She doesn't think I've gained that privilege'

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Oct 29, 2025 2:00 PM EDT

Finding affordable housing as a student can be nearly impossible, depending on plenty of factors. That being said, no one should have to settle for a live-in landlady who is this demanding.

This entitled woman refused to allow the 18-year-old college student who authored this story the right to have an overnight visitor. What is this, the 1800s? The student wasn't even necessarily inviting a romantic partner home. It could have been a friend or a visiting family member. Regardless, her landlady was insistent that if the author wanted to remain in the apartment, she was not allowed to bring anyone home.

Mind you, none of this was expressly written out in the lease, so it's not like the student would be violating any previously agreed-upon rule. Still, when you're a college student living in your first apartment, you don't want to upset anyone. So, of course, it was difficult for the student to say no to their landlady and stand up for herself.

It's worth noting that there were other aspects of this author's living experience that opened up some discourse regarding how expensive her utilities were and who was the cause. Keep scrolling below for the full anecdote and for the conflicting reactions in the comments!

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  • 01
    A person hands apartment keys to another individual in an office enviromment.
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • The discourse in question was largely related to a comment made by the author, who insisted that her landlady's constant TV viewing was a greater cause for the expensive utility bill than the author's need to keep the AC going all night. Obviously, this was a naive statement, considering the fact that anyone who has spent years living in apartments knows that there is no real comparison between the two activities. 

    Still, her inaccurate perception of this speaks more to it being her first apartment than anything else. The visitor rule was still an egregious one, enforced by a landlady who should learn to mind her own business!

  • 02

    "My live-in landlady refuses to let me have an overnight guest because she doesn’t think I’ve 'gained that privilege'."

    Yes, I know live-in landlords are terrible but I'm a college student in an extremely expensive area with a co-signer father who's extremely picky about where I live so I don't have another option.
    via squishmallow2399
  • 03
    With regards to the title, this is all because she doesn't think my room is neat good enough for her. Insane. I'm trying to find a place where the landlord won't
    via squishmallow2399
  • 04
    harass me about my room. I ensure I know their expectations so I don't move into a bad situation.
    via squishmallow2399
  • 05
    Unfortunately, I'm having to look into places that don't allow overnight guests if I don't want to live with children, people who vape inside, pets (allergies), or a place where all my roommates are men (I'm female).
    via squishmallow2399
  • 06
    But one thing that I am ensuring is that the rules apply to everyone. If I can't have an overnight guests, then neither can the landlord or anyone else who's living in the house.
    via squishmallow2399
  • 07
    Also I am proud of myself for standing up to my landlady! She illegally tried to get money from me due to the increased electric bill (Mind you, she watches tv all day every day. I just like to use
    via squishmallow2399
  • 08
    the AC and heater while I sleep to accommodate temperature changes and my body) even though it says in the lease that utilities are included.
    via squishmallow2399
  • 09
    I reminded her of the California law: She cannot charge me for this due to what the lease says and if she wants to change the lease (month to month), she needs to give me 30 days written notice.
    via squishmallow2399
  • 10
    I'm fucking sick of landlords abusing their power! I hate that my dad is so fucking picky about where I live and that studios and 1 bedrooms are completely
    via squishmallow2399
  • 11
    unaffordable in my area. AND THAT THE ONLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN MY AREA IS SENIOR HOUSING!!!
    via squishmallow2399
  • 12
    Like what the fuck?? Didn't old people grow up during the era where you could afford a home in your 20s???
    via squishmallow2399
  • 13
    There needs to be more affordable housing based on salary or student status (AND NO SHARED ROOMS JFC).
    via squishmallow2399
  • 14
    Edit: She also doesn't want me watching tv with a guest in the common area. I don't think she likes me watching tv in the common area at all. But I have a right to do so and I will.
    via squishmallow2399
  • 15
    A new tenant signs a contract with a set of apartment keys nearby.
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 16
    AquafreshBandit ⚫ Your landlady sounds fun. Although since you're living in her home, she probably does have more say over who is allowed than if it was your own private apartment.
    via squishmallow2399
  • 17
    LCD TVs don't use that much electricity. Most of your electric bill is large appliances and HVAC (mostly the AC part, if you have gas heat).
    via squishmallow2399
  • 18
    paspa1801 Unless the "TV" is ten cinema projectors chained together, your AC usage overnight will be the main reason the utilities have raised
    via squishmallow2399
  • 19
    Grendel0075. I think I had looked at one place years ago that pulled the 'no overnight guests' I didn't sign anything and kept looking. Landlords don't need that level of control over my life.
    via squishmallow2399
  • 20
    Dry-Childhood-33... Move. She is crazy.
    via squishmallow2399
  • 21
    A new tenant signs a contract with a set of apartment keys nearby.
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

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landlord students college student problems entitled people karma bad landlord college student entitled people apartment
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