House full of roommates can't keep it clean
You should certainly try to call a "house meeting" to address these issues. One logical solution would be for all of you to chip in to hire a cleaner (or "Hazmat" specialist) to come every other week and clean the common areas of the house. However, my instinct is that the individuals who care the least will continue to care the least, and therefore will refuse to either help or pay.
With nine people all renting cheaply and separately on individual leases, and without friendship ties between you (which would create some emotional leverage), your only advantage is the freedom to choose to move when your own lease runs out.
Dear Amy: My husband and I (along with our 4 year old), live next to a childless couple in their 40s. They moved in after the husband inherited the house about two years ago.
Last summer, we were awakened at 3 a.m. by the husband from next door. He was sobbing and yelling to himself on their front porch. Apparently, the neighbor was very drunk, and his wife locked him out of the house.
My husband tried to help -- he managed to get him into their garage.
This has happened at least 20 more times in the last six months: Husband comes home late, is locked out and then yells or cries for hours. Eventually, he passes out or the wife relents and lets him in.
I left them a note asking them to please be more considerate. A neighbor got slapped by the husband when he tried to move him inside. Another neighbor has called the police several times.
Now, they avoid us at all costs. The police have said that there is no assault or abuse happening, and that the issue is domestic, and the most they can do is write them a citation for disturbing the peace.
I understand that there is probably a serious addiction problem here, and I sympathize with them, but their issues should not be our issues! Especially at 3 a.m.!
Do you have any recommendations for a strategy to get them to take it inside?
...continued
