Am I in the wrong here with my roommate?

No, you are not wrong. Paying rent proportionally to the space used is the fairest way. I.E.:

Rent: $1,400
Total Space: 2,000 sqft
Your Room: 600sqft
Their Room: 800sqft
Shared Space: 2,000 - 600 - 800 = 600

Your Rent: (600 / 2000 + (600 / 2000) * .5) * 1400 = $630
Their Rent: (800 / 2000 + (600 / 2000) * .5) * 1400 = $770

$770 + 630 = $1,400


The equation accounts for each roommate's private bedroom space and half of the shared space.

It's late to negotiate this now but, yes you're getting the shaft. Learn from the experience and be a better negotiator in the future.

He either should pay more OR he should be willing to flip a coin for a 50/50 chance at the larger room.

I think it's a bit crappy that he wants a 50/50 rent split but wasn't willing to take a 50/50 chance at the larger room.

Then again, you've signed a lease and you've got to live with this guy so choose your battles carefully. Roommate relationships (especially when you live with friends) can go south really quickly. You DID agree to pay the $700 so to him it now sounds like you're trying to back out on what you agreed to.

don't make a big thing of it, he is the one who found the place(how hard did you have to look before he offered this)
it is only fair that he pay for more since he has more space, but is is really 'that' important

Your roommate should pay more, but it is a bit late now to negotiate that since you already agreed to split the rent 50/50.

In all fairness to you and your roommate. Ask the he give up the room for 6 months out of the year and you get it for 6 months out of the year. That is the fair thing to do. Or divide it by sq. ft. if you both are paying 1400 and that is split, You both have access to the entire apartment other than your bedrooms. If it is a 1000 sq ft apartment divided by 1400.00 per month. That is .72 per sq ft. so you take his bedroom sq ft. then yours and see what the difference is. he would then pay that amount of the rent each month. That is fair

You are in the wrong. You agreed on $700 each. You cannot decide later that you want to pay less and have him pay more. He got the place - he got first choice of rooms. Next time, if room size is an issue, bring the issue up BEFORE you agree on a rental split and BEFORE you move in. Once you agree and move in, it is too late. You have a valid contract.

You are definitely not in the wrong for thinking your roommate should pay more but you would definitely be wrong for insisting or expecting that he pay more just because he got the larger bedroom. When he was the first one to call the master bedroom and you said okay you should've said right then dude no way let's flip coins for it or agree that he pays a lil more $, but now since you have signed the lease might as well keep quiet about it until it's time to renew. ☺️

You are not wrong but that was something that should have been decided prior to signing the lease.

He should be paying more if he has the larger room. BUT it's too late to "stand your ground" after you agreed to the deal. Did you see the place before you signed up? It must have been obvious he was going to pick the larger room.
You could ask "And who says YOU should get first pick?".

You are not in the wrong, however, you already signed a lease agreement before looking into the details. I went through this with my best friend. We split the rent and utilities. She had a beautiful master bedroom with a walk in closet and master bath inside her room. She had the covered parking place. She then got several of the utilities shut off, including the wifi. I was right in the middle of online classes. Afterwards, she said I had to get new wifi in my name, and I STILL had to split the rent and utilities. Her 21 year old daughter and grandson moved in with us AFTER I moved in and signed the lease. The entire thing was a mess and a huge mistake. Please learn a valuable lesson from this. DON'T move in with friends. Your friendship will go downhill FAST. Always look into details, and last but not least, NEVER sign anything until you are sure of what you are getting into. The best of luck to you.

He knew he was going to get the bigger bedroom and didn't tell you, so to me that's enough reason to break the lease. You don't have a friend for a roommate.

It is absolutely reasonable to ask for more for larger room. Flip the game on him, say, if the total rent is $1400 a month for a 2 BR apartment. Let us setup the share based on the size of the room. Larger room should be $900, and smaller room for $500. If he is not willing to take large room, you should take the large room and pay $900 or $500 for smaller room. It is fair that he should pay less if he gets the small room.
At this point you are at his mercy, as before agreeing to anything like room pick, you should have checked the difference. Chalk this to life lessons, this is going to be just one year, and you found out if the friend is a friend or not.

What we did was switch rooms part way thru the lease. Suggest that. But you really should have thought of this before you paid the 700. You have not lost any legal rights but you have lost a huge leverage in argument.

You have done what all teenagers do - you rushed into signing a contract (the lease) with somebody else before finding out the legal implications

NEVER DO IT AGAIN before seeing a lawyer to find out the legal implications of signing a contract with others

As for the question
you are not "wrong" but you are not "right" either

you can stand your ground and demand as much has you like, HE dont have to agree or do anything

the 2 of you signed a lease to share a house and pay 1400/month - thats it
There is NOTHING in that lease that says who gets what bedroom, or how you share the rent
The ONLY thing the lease says is that "together" you must ensure the 1400$ is paid
between the 2 of YOU agreed to pay 700$ and HE agreed to pay 700
How much rent each of you should pay (bearing in mind the sizes of the bedrooms) SHOULD have been sorted and agreed BEFORE you signed the lease "fairness" has nothing to do with it
(all the arguments you will see are based on "fairness" being determined by the size of the rooms
But you COULD determine "fairness" of the rent on how much money each of you have
i.e If YOU are "richer" you could say its "fairer" that you should pay more rent than him
(e.g - suppose you were sharing with a millionaire and had same sized bedrooms - would you think it fair you both paid the same, or do you think he should pay more (cos he has more money))
that is- how you decide "fairness" all depends on what factors you think important)

HE took the big bedroom and pays the same as you
YOU can argue about it as much as you like - but the bottom line is- YOU are stuck with it unless you either move out, or stop paying ANY rent, or pay the rent YOU think you should be paying (i.e less - than 700) and leave him to pay the rest.
(there is nothing "illegal" about this - All that happens is that unless the 1400 is paid by SOMEBODY he will either sue (generally the one of you with most money) or evict the both of you

your roommate should pay more, but it is a bit late now to negotiate that since you already agreed to split the rent 50/50...

Just move out and he will have to pay $1400.

You are not in the wrong, I have 5 roommates and our rent is split by square footage each person has. However, you may have issues since you didn't address this before moving in.

I can't help u in this situation.! My sincerest apologies.!

I think your friend is taking advantage of you. But you agreed to it. I would continue suggesting he pay his fair share. I so hate roommates. It seems that one always takes advantage of the other.

This is not just about the bigger room apposed to the smaller one. It is also about the cost to heat and air condition one space opposed to the other. Of course it will cost more to heat and cool a bigger room.

Nonetheless, why not share the space every six months and switch rooms? That is the only fair and equitable solution.

he should pay more, it's not your responsibility thought is it, let him play the big boy, see where it ends him

No not wrong. You pay for a larger property so should pay for a larger room. When staying in hotels etc double rooms cost more for a reason.

It would get complicated though as if being equal and exact with finances then you need to work out if both using equal water/electricity etc. You may be using more than him so maybe he feels the room size is justified...

sorry, you signed the lease, and should have investigated. lesson learned. my guess is the roommate will come around and maybe even have a guest sleep in to surprise you

Idk

no

yeh m9 fix et

Really, the bottom line of the whole thing is that you will be much happier this school year if you make a conscious decision to be content with the smaller room and not let this eat away at you. The alternative is to become bitter, hold a grudge, become enemies, and have a terrible year of school...possibly having a negative effect on your grades and your stress level.

Focusing on who is right and who is wrong is a road that leads you to being unhappy. Don't go down that road.

Please forgive him, absorb his offence, and choose to be happy moving forward.

Your year will be better for it. And it will leave room for you to actually enjoy the time you have living with him. Creating better memories of your college years. These years are limited, fleeting, and precious. Don't waste them.

Who decided he got dibs. Unless the rooms were fairly chosen, he screwed you. Tell him if he won't pay more and insists on each person paying the same, then have a coin toss and who ever wins gets the master bedroom.

What do you mean

Yes you are in wrong.

YES, YOU ARE WRONG!
Not, that it's fair to not be paying equal. It's totally not fair.
But, if you don't protect yourself. that's your fault.

You made an agreement. Now it's your responsibility AND LEGAL OBLIGATION!
Had you said "no" originally, the guy could of said "ok, we'll work something out" or said "thanks, but I think I'll find someone else".

mmmmmmmmmmmm

No

should have just rock paper scissors and whoever wins choose first. why didnt you thin of this problem earlier?

That depends, if you had the master bedroom, would you be willing to pay more? Besides, it is common sense that the master bedroom is the largest (hence the name, MASTER bedroom). You already agreed on the rent together, you can't change the terms now that you are unhappy that you got a smaller room.

Nope.

Well, you will have less room to clean, but it is up to you to decide if you got the short stick in the deal.

oh bs you agreed to share rent...the rest is rock paper scissors

NOT at all.

I would be okay splitting the rent 50/50, only if the rooming situation was determined in a fair manner. Coin flip, or something like that

HE took the big bedroom and pays the same as you
YOU can argue about it as much as you like - but the bottom line is- YOU are stuck with it unless you either move out, or stop paying ANY rent, or pay the rent YOU think you should be paying (i.e less - than 700) and leave him to pay the rest.
(there is nothing "illegal" about this - All that happens is that unless the 1400 is paid by SOMEBODY he will either sue (generally the one of you with most money) or evict the both of you

Yes you are wrong.

This should have been agreed upon before moving in. You did not bring it up in advance so it is wrong to bring it up retroactively.

Lesson learned about what due diligence means.

he should pay more yes. but it is not his fault

yes

ask somewho do it

Not unreasonable but you should have discussed when it first happened. Not 2 weeks later.

Ah...roommates! He should pay more

Quit being petty!!! A few more sq feet in a bedroom where you sleep isn't a big deal.. You will have less to clean.

You're definitely not wrong. Your friend has a greedy heart. However, according to the so-called justice system we have, it's only because you signed the lease that you can't do much about it. You agreed to pay $700 each. He only got you to sign it for his benefits. How sad of a person he is.

Yes, you are in the wrong. Why didn't you discuss it with him earlier, you know, BEFORE SIGNING THE CONTRACT

your friend found the apartment and asked if you wanted to live with him, you agreed and you agreed to split it 50/50, you should have seen the rooms and discussed it first, I don't think he has to pay more for a bigger room, you are guys, you don't need that much room, you signed the lease, nothing you can legally do except ruin a friendship

If they have the bigger room, they should pay more.
I say stand your ground as you shouldn't be paying just as much as them when you have a smaller room

So I have a friend in college who asked me to live with him this upcoming year. I agreed and signed to lease, 700$ each. After signing the lease he announced he was taking the master bed room, but I didn't think much of it at the time. Now it's 2 weeks until school and I realized the master bedroom is twice the size of my room

I think you should stand your ground! This is unfair that he gets the bigger bedroom without even consulting you about it, bringing it up, or even trying to discuss it with you! You should sit down with him and tell him that it is unfair that he got to pick the best room and won't even pay a little more for the nicer room. Lets put it like this, If he were to go to a hotel they would make you pay less for your room since it's smaller and he would pay more since his is the master suit. You know?

Yes you are wrong. It would depend on what the original agreement was and you can't change that now. He likely interprets that as you trying to take advantage of him to pay less rent.

You need to realize there are several different ways of categorizing things. How they're categorized depends on how you choose to categorize them. You agreed to divide the rent equally among roommates, not based on the size or niceties of the room. You should have negotiated that upfront and if you couldn't come to an agreement then you need to move on and pursue different living arrangements.

Remember, you're going to be living with these people on a long-term basis. If you can't agree on something upfront that's already a surefire indicator that you wouldn't get along with your roommate.