Hey, throwaway account.
Long story short i’m taking over someone’s (let’s call them Andy) tenancy in a shared flat with several housemates. Let‘s call the old occupant of my room Andy.
Andy didn’t let me know their house had a cat. I don’t like cats.
I moved all my things into the room yesterday though haven’t signed any paperwork yet as the letting agent has been slow af. Moving in before signing was a gesture of goodwill by Andy which I appreciate.
A few important bits of context before I ask for more advice.
1. My only experience of living with cats was when I lived with a retired alcoholic who was horrible to his cat and thus learnt (rightly) to lash out at humans. I got scratched and bit several times. I was young and so put up with trapping myself in my room to avoid the cat attacking me. The cat would defend the kitchen and so I couldn’t cook etc. I’m bit older now but suddenly feel very trapped again. The cat in this new flat could be the nicest in the world but it’d still bring those feelings back up for me, and I don’t wanna put up with that. If that makes me a wimp, I’m a wimp I guess!
2. I did view the property briefly a month ago. All rooms in the house were clean, and no sign of cat. Though hallway lights were off in the viewing…
Now that i’ve moved in, the house is soo dirty (not entirely related to cat). Kitchen is filthy, dishes are stacked to the top of the sink, all communal floor areas are dirty with cat hair everywhere. It’s reminiscent of college houses I lived in and had bad times in when I was younger, and it’s like im reliving a dark chapter
3. flatmates not especially friendly. made eye contact with 2 of them whilst moving my things in and they just ignored me? I’m not trying to make friends especially but come on man
4. All my things are still in boxes and I haven’t signed any paperwork like I said. I could move all my things into storage and crash at a friends for a few weeks whilst I find somewhere else.
Now I wanna ask you guys the following:
\- AITA for wanting to leave the tenancy and potentially making Andy pay another month of rent and go through finding another housemate?
\- Am I a wimp for not wanting to live in a house with a cat?
\- What would you do in my shoes? I’m so exhausted in life rn that I could give up the fight and just put up with a house I don’t like for a year, or get out whilst I can at a direct cost to Andy.
please help 🥺
You haven’t signed the paperwork, and they didn’t tell you a cat was present.
NTA.
Huge red flag that the cat wasn’t disclosed up front – what if you had allergies? NTA if you pull out, since you aren’t legally obligated to stay. But considering the goodwill gesture of letting you move in pre-paperwork, I think you should offer to pay the first month’s rent, or at least a portion of it, for moving out again and having Andy go through all that legwork again. He gave you a good turn, you should give one back.
NTA run for it.
NTA
you haven’t signed anything. Just leave.
they lied to you, don’t even unpack the first crate, you will hate living there.
NTA
not much to say here.
NAH, I doubt Andy deliberately decieved you about the cat but he ought to have mentioned it. I would essentially let him know you can’t live there because of the cat. Offer him one months rent so he’s not out of pocket, I assume you can crash here rather than with a friend, and then move out in a month/ when a new tenant moves in. Best case scenario it turns out not to be a bad switch and you can stay. Worst Case you have somewhere to stay for a month and take the pressure off him and you to find somewhere else.
NTA
You don’t owe strangers anything within reason. House is gross, don’t do it. Undisclosed cat, don’t do it. Put yourself first simple as.
NTA
NAH. Longer you stay, the more AH you get. As cats are common house pets, I don’t think he had to tell you about it if you didn’t ask about it.
NTA- the cat is the least of your concerns. If the house is already filthy since you viewed it that means they are slobs. Hell I’d take living with a cat over slobs any time. You’re actually lucky you didn’t sign a lease. You can move out with no issues.
NTA . If they complain, well, it was misrepresentation. No papers, no deal. Can you live with them in these conditions for a year? If not comfortable, walk.
NTA. Get straight back out. Put stuff in storage. Ask friends to crash and look at other places. You haven’t signed, so you dont owe them anything
NTA. Andy misrepresented the living conditions by showing you a clean apartment with no apparent animals. Now you can see the apartment is not clean and a cat lives there.
You were bamboozled by Andy. You have no obligation to live under those circumstances. I suggest you move out ASAP.
You may be exhausted right now, but that will get worse if you stay.
ESH
The cleanliness is the larger issue and a reasonable reason not to live somewhere.
When you move into an occupied place, especially when you have a fear of a common house pet like a cat, not inquiring about pets in the place you’re looking to move into is irresponsible on your part.
You got lucky that the agent was slow and Andy let you move in without paperwork so you can leave this situation, but you should look out for your own interests better in future.