[annany]

Hi, I have verbal agreement with my roommate. She has moved in two months ago to my apt and I found her from craigslist. She is OK but we are disagree about cleaning etc.Before she moving we were agree about cleaning and everything but she doesn't want to do anything now. During our argument she yield at me, shut the door etc. I don't want to leave her and said her that if you don't want to cleaning you can move out but her answer was if you want you can do that, I'm not going anywhere! Also, I rent the apt. from landlord.So, could you please help me what do I have to right now? Do I have to give her early notice? If she doesn't want to move, what can I do more? I really don't want to leave her. If you respond me I'll be glad. Thank you very much.

[Alty]

Is she on the lease? Is her rent up to date?

Cleaning is not something you can actually enforce, verbal agreement or not. Unless she's behind on her rent, or has damaged the property, I really don't see that you have any legal basis to evict her, but I'm not a legal expert. Then again, you posted this in the "Other home and garden" forum, so a legal opinion is not really expected.

If you're the only one on the lease, then you can't leave, unless you want to pay a penalty.

I have to ask, are you that rigid that you can't accept her ways? How messy is she? How important is cleaning to you, and if it's that important, why not keep the place up to your standards on your own, or hire a cleaning lady if it's that important?

[ScottGem]

I'm confused, You said twice "I really don't want to leave her". I suspect you are trying to say something else, but I'm not sure what. Why would you "leave". She is an unsatisfactory roommate, so you get rid of her.

You are her landlord unless she is signed onto your lease as a lessee. Since you said you had a verbal agreement, I suspect that's not the case and you have no formal lease. So that makes her a month to month tenant.

So write a notice telling her you are terminating her tenancy effective May 31. I'll even give you the wording:

To <insert her name>

Due to your not holding up your end of the household duties and other issues, this is notice that I am ending your tenancy as of May 31. Please vacate the premises at <insert your address> on or before that date. If you do not I will be forced to file for an eviction order.

Write this up, make a copy and give it to her today or tomorrow (If rent is due tomorrow, you might want to wait until she hands you the May rent, but not past tomorrow).

I suspect that you did not check her references before agreeing to let her move in. Next time, ask for and check references (especially her last address) before you agree to a roommate. And get everything in writing. No verbal agreements.