Roommate backs out of signing house lease after discovering her bedroom comes with the washing machine inside: ‘That's not a bedroom, it's a laundry room’

Author image for Bar Mor Hazut
Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
May 1, 2026 8:30 AM EDT

Do you remember how excited you were as a little kid at the concept of living with your best friend? Just the two of you, sharing a cool apartment, having the time of your life…

Now, do you remember when you found out that sharing a living space with someone else is far from the awesome experience you thought it would be?

I was 18 when I first moved into a shared apartment with roommates. I had no money and had to pay for my college education and living expenses, so I shared a 3-bedroom apartment with 7 other people, and it was… how do I say it nicely… a nightmare. The tiny apartment was always dirty, and none of the roommates ever cared enough to clean it. No food was ever left in the fridge for longer than a few hours, even if you clearly marked it as yours and repeatedly asked the others not to eat stuff they did not buy. I also had to lock my belongings in my closet because people kept taking things without asking, and every time I tried to confront someone about it, I was ignored and accused of being a difficult roommate.

All in all, it was a learning experience, and proof to myself that I should do whatever I can to move out as fast as possible and start living by myself.

When I read the story of the roommate below, I couldn't help but be reminded of my time as a roommate, and feel for the person who had to deal with terrible people before she even signed a lease with them.

This roommate was going to live with three other girls in a house, and they told her she would be getting the bedroom downstairs, which, according to them, had its own bathroom. The roommate was excited at first, until she discovered that the bathroom is actually in the common area, and that her room also comes with the washer and dryer. This meant that whenever someone wanted to do the laundry, they had to fully walk into her bedroom to do it.

When she realized the deal she was actually getting, the roommate quickly backed out and found herself a 1-bedroom she could live in alone instead. You can probably guess what I think of this new arrangement, but keep reading to decide for yourselves.

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  • A group of roommates sittng ia an apartment
    via Getty Images

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

  • AITA for backing out the morning we were supposed to commit to a house after seeing my room setup?

    context, I was going to be living with 3 other girls in a house. They took the 3 upstairs, leaving me with the downstairs one. They proposed it as having it's own bathroom, but with later
    via MuchBathroom4278
  • discussions with the landlord, I realized the bathroom was not even attached, it was just in the common area of the house. In addition, the washer & dryer are IN my room, meaning to do
    via MuchBathroom4278
  • laundry, people would have to FULLY walk into my room. Even if I put up a divider, it will take up the majority of the room.
    via MuchBathroom4278
  • *ALSO-- would be paying same amount of rent as them. I first proposed that since I have a bunny who I let free roam, I do not want my door being opened all the time. Also, the constant
    via MuchBathroom4278
  • laundry smells might affect her as bunnies have sensitive noses. I asked if switching was possible, but got 3 no's.
    via MuchBathroom4278
  • I decided I cannot live there, so I bailed out on the housing situation BEFORE anyone can sign lease, as I did not want them to sign then get stuck with the house after I bailed out. However,
    via MuchBathroom4278
  • I do feel bad. They spent time searching for houses and well as touring them. The landlord needed the final answer the morning I bailed out, but to be honest, I didn't get a revealing picture of the bedroom until the night before. I feel as if I messed up their plans.
    via MuchBathroom4278
  • I will be living in a 1BR next year instead. But not sure if I made the right choice as I put them out and bailed last minute. Feel like a j k for literally doing this the morning we were supposed to be given the lease.
    via MuchBathroom4278
  • A washer and a dryer in an empty room
    via Alex Tyson

    A washer and a dryer in an empty room.

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

  • catskilkid NTA Instead of feeling like a j, remember that these potential future housemates had NO issue choosing their rooms and assigning you the WORST ROOM, with the lowest level of privacy, NO bathroom
    via catskilkid
  • as promised and a washer/dryer talking up more then 1/2 of the room AND NOT offering you a price concession. You made the right move to get out before the next level of issues. They were trying to use you to subsidize THEIR rental. Congrats on making the realization in a TIMELY manner and good luck with the 1 BR.
    via MuchBathroom4278
  • ehhhhhhwatevs NTA, they knew they were sc ng you over and didn't care. That's their fault, not yours, and it sounds like it was done on purpose, tbh, bc you're the type of person who would feel bad. Not only should you not feel bad about it, you should not be friends with people who would treat you like that. You made a good choice, they would have been terrible roommates.
    via ehhhhhhwatevs
  • MiserableDot9541 They tried to take advantage of you. They did not succeed. Good for you! (There is zero chance a washer/dryer were placed in a bedroom. They need water connection, which is NOT something put in bedrooms. They were trying to make you live in a utility room...)
    via MiserableDot9541
  • And also - you did not back down a day before you were supposed to sign. You backed down the day you saw that they wanted to make you live in a utility room...
    via MiserableDot9541
  • Snoo90169 NTA - A room with laundry in it should not actually be someone's bedroom. They can still get the house- just without you- maybe that's a bonus room or office for someone who works from home. It should have never been proposed as someone's bedroom.
    via Snoo90169
  • RoyallyOakie NTA....They sneakily tried to leave you with the worst room. They can find another victim or eat up the extra costs.
    via RoyallyOakie
  • PartyCustard3125 Exactly. It wasn't a bedroom it was a laundry room. I rented a house when I first left my kid's dad. The laundry room was kind of big. The washer and dryer were on one side and the other side was just empty space. I'm imagining OP's room looking like this.
    via PartyCustard3125
  • I'm imagining the other girls looking in there, seeing the space in the laundry room and saying OP can sleep here NTA and stop feeling bad. They didn't feel bad when they stuck you in the laundry room where you would have no privacy.
    via PartyCustard3125
  • MuchBathroom4278 OP Yes, this is exactly what the setup was!
    via MuchBathroom4278

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laundry friendship landlord living room house lease tenant friends washing machine rent renting bedroom roommates apartment
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