I (27M) split a small studio space with another freelancer (28M, "Cole"). Its just a workspace, we each have our own desk area and we keep our own gear there but we share the main room and split rent 50/50.
Up until now its been pretty chill. If he needs an extension cord or a light stand and I’m there he’ll ask. Same the other way around, no big deal.
A few weeks ago I got to the studio on a Saturday morning and immediately felt like something was off. My desk drawers were slightly open and my camera bag was sitting by the door unzipped. I check the bag and one of my lenses is missing, the one I use all the time.
I start freaking out and call Cole, he didnt answer so I text him asking if he’s seen it. An hour later he replies like its nothing "oh yeah, I grabbed it for a quick shoot last night. I’ll bring it back later."
I asked what he meant by "grabbed it". He said a client booked him last minute and he didnt have the right lens so he took mine from the studio. He said he was going to tell me but it was late and he forgot. He also said since we share the studio, he assumed it was fine.
I told him thats not fine. Sharing rent doesn’t mean sharing expensive personal gear and taking it off-site for paid work without asking is a huge line for me. He apologized but he also acted like I was overreacting and said he would’ve replaced it if anything happened.
When he brought it back the lens cap was gone and there’s a tiny scratch on the outer ring. The lens still works but now its my problem. He swears the scratch was probably already there and says the cap is "somewhere" and I’m making it bigger than it is.
After that I didnt feel comfortable leaving my stuff there. I moved my camera gear, mics and a couple lights out of the studio and I keep them at home now. I also bought a locking cabinet for anything I do leave there. And I told him straight up "dont touch my gear unless I’m physically there and say yes"
Now Cole is mad. He says I’m turning the studio into a hostile environment and treating him like a thief over one mistake. He keeps saying "this is why people cant share spaces" and that if I’m going to be so strict then we shoudnt even split a studio.
I feel like I’m just protecting the stuff I paid for and use to make money but I also know I changed the vibe completely.
AITA for locking everything down and moving my gear out?
NTA – Cole is the one out of line… he didn’t even return in the same condition.
You’re NTA
>He says I’m turning the studio into a hostile environment and treating him like a thief over one mistake.
Taking something from someone else without permission is theft. The person committing the theft is a thief.
A *mistake* would have been accidentally grabbing something (pick any random item you both have and store near each other’s, like a charger) that he mistook for his. Not rooting through your personal space and taking something he knew was yours.
makes me wonder how often Cole may have borrowed sometihng and OP hadn’t noticed.
NTA tell him he can replace the lens he scratched
Cole is correct. Because of what HE did, That’s why no one can share a space with HIM without locking things up! I hate sharing spaces because of possible idiots and thieves like Cole!
“This is why people can’t share spaces”. Yes, you’re right, because “people” take the p*ss and take stuff without asking and then return it damaged. He caused this situation not you.
Cole turned it into a hostile environment when he stole your stuff, damaged and lost parts of it, chose not to replace and apologize. Time to find a new space- locks can be broken or picked.
Cole is the reason you can’t share spaces. He’s gaslighting you.
NTA. If you both rent directly from the owner, inform them in writing of what Cole did and the fact that you’ve had to remove a lot of your equipment for safety purposes.
If you two have a shared lease, you are likely stuck for the duration unless you want to take legal action.
If either of you are subletting from the other one, this is really grounds to break the lease. Look for alternative arrangements.
He is untrustworthy and I won’t trust him not to do something deliberate now that he’s butt hurt.
How many times has he used your stuff and you didn’t notice? He’s pretty mad for it to have been a one off thing
So he needed the lens because a client booked him last minute. What if you were also booked and needed it? You would either be out the money or you would not have been able to do as good a job as you normally do. Either way, your reputation would take a hit. NTA. Do whatever you have to in order to protect your equipment and your income.
NTA
To the comment: “this is why people cant share spaces” I would have replied yeah, when people borrow your expensive gear without asking and then damage it, it’s a problem.
Your locking thegear away is only a problem for him. He probably borrowed a lot of your stuff without knowing and is unhappy to be cut off.
Coles mad you’ve locked up your stuff?
Yeah, that definitely wasn’t the first time he’s “borrowed” your equipment OP. NTA
You’re treating him like a thief because he is one Nta