I need an outside perspective because my roommate and all her friends think I am the villain here.
I (26F) have been sharing a 2-bed apartment in Uptown Dallas with my roommate (27F) for 14 months. We split rent 50/50 on a $2,400/month unit. Lease is in both names.
Three weeks ago, she came home with a dog. Not a small dog. A husky. In a 900 square foot apartment in Dallas.
She did not ask me. She did not mention she was thinking about getting a dog. She just showed up with it.
The problems started immediately:
- The dog howls when she leaves for work. I work from home 3 days a week. Three days a week of howling.
- Dog hair EVERYWHERE. On the couch, on my clothes, in the kitchen. I am mildly allergic. My eyes itch constantly.
- She expects me to let the dog out during the day when she is at work because I am "home anyway."
- The apartment now has a pet deposit requirement. She told the leasing office we BOTH agreed to the dog. I got charged $250 for a pet deposit on an animal I did not agree to.
I told her this week that I am looking for a new place and will be moving out as soon as I find one, likely within 2 weeks. Our lease allows 30-day notice for roommate changes with landlord approval.
She exploded. Said I was "abandoning her" and being "dramatic over a dog." She said giving 2 weeks notice is not enough time for her to find a replacement roommate and she cannot afford $2,400 alone. She also said the dog "already bonded with both of us" and I am being heartless.
Her friends are texting me saying I am overreacting. My friends are split.
For context: our lease says no pets without both tenants' written consent and landlord approval. She got neither from me.
Am I wrong for moving out on short notice?
Not wrong. A husky in a 900 sqft Uptown apartment is borderline animal cruelty anyway. Those dogs need space and daily exercise. This was a bad decision on every level.