19 Roommate Horror Stories That Will Make You Want To Live Alone Forever

Having a roommate is something that most of us need to do at least once.

Often, these roommates turn into our best friends. Sometimes, it becomes a nightmare scenario.

In these times of insanity, you have to stop and wonder if your roommate is actually for real, or if you’re on some updated version of Punk’d.

The worst part about having a bad roommate? Since most situations include the two of you sharing the same square of space, you may not want to ruffle feathers.

So many people suffer in silence, waiting for those brief moments where their roommates go to class. That is, if they choose to go to class.

My own nightmare roommate story happened when my roommate decided she didn’t like our college, but did nothing to change it. She just never went to class, nor did she even open the books she bought at the start of the semester.

I tried to be friendly, but it just wasn’t enough. As a pro, having her constantly in the room helped me explore the campus more than I would have otherwise. Turns out, it was the perfect fit for me.

The internet has a ton of amazing bad roommate stories.

Here are some of the absolute worst.

1. The Bad Smell

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Warning — this story might make you feel a little sick.

The best part of the story is that the Redditor had some compassion for him. With what they found, this guy had some serious problems that needed to be addressed and treated. But it’s a good reminder that if you’re in a similar situation, and something smells a little unhygienic, you may want to investigate before it gets out of hand. (If you dare.)

2. The Missing Truck

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This is why lending someone a vehicle can be a very bad idea.

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Sure, this Redditor wanted to do the right thing and help out. But the truth of the matter is, the truck was more or less stolen after the task — if that story was even legit — was completed. If you’re borrowing a roommate’s vehicle, at least show a little respect towards it.

3. The Bad Dog Owner

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When you’re on your own, it’s just so tempting to go out and get a dog.

But, dogs require a ton of responsibility. And if you have roommates, who didn’t necessarily agree to the dog, you need to remember that this isn’t on them. An untrained dog can make a house unlivable. If you go out and buy a new pup, you’re silently agreeing to take on the challenge, even if it’s hard or time-consuming. Not just for your living situation, but the dog’s health as well.

4. The Toilet Paper Hoarder

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Certain things should definitely be split when it comes to roommate costs.

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Toilet paper isn’t one of them. It’s pretty cheap, and if you have a method where you each buy a value pack each month, that should be enough in terms of fairness. Denying someone the use of toilet paper is just cruel. Going in there and seeing it’s been hoarded is just plain inconvenient.

5. The Cat Roommate

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On the topic of bizarre people, meet the girl who’d turn into a cat when things got tough.

Was she practicing her acting? Was she trying to be quirky? It’s tough to tell. But here’s a good life lesson out there for anyone who needs to hear it — working on your communication is the best thing you can do with any relationship. If you try to shut someone out with cat noises, you’re not helping.

6. Playing With Fireworks

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This sounds horrifying.

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It’s one thing to enjoy fireworks. But it’s another to lock party guests in a room with you while you light them up. This bad roommate was putting people’s safety at stake for no reason. The fact that he blamed his messiness on the cat would have been almost endearing if these other stories didn’t happen.

7. The Tanned Trainwreck

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College includes a lot of partying, but it also includes studying and going to class.

Someone didn’t give this girl the memo. At least the story has a happy ending. The Redditor who had to live with her got to live in a single dorm, and the girl who had the nerve to nearly destroy her laptop hopefully realized that going too extreme in your freshman year is a bad idea.

8. The Sloppy Drinkers

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We’ve all had college stories before. But, usually not four times a week.

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Hopefully, these girls have since transferred out of the “drink until you puke” mindset. It’s not a good look for anyone. Plus, problematic college drinking can lead to serious problems with alcoholism later in life. If you have a kind roommate who always takes care of you during these nights out, make sure you show them how much you appreciate them.

9. The Dorm Fish

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It’s tempting to get a dorm pet, but a fish is a bad one. Especially if your arrangement doesn’t have individual bathrooms.

Fish tend to stink a little bit. And even though they don’t require a ton of maintenance, they still require maintenance. Not only did the fish have to swim in a filthy tank all year, but the room must have smelled horrible throughout the year. Nobody’s winning in this situation.

10. The Roommate With Bad Periods

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Getting your period is the worst. Dealing with other people’s periods is even more terrible.

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If it’s your BFF, that’s one thing. But a crazy roommate is something else. Every woman has control over how they manage their cycles and their period, and there’s no one right way of doing things. But keeping stained clothes out in spaces where everyone can see them is problematic. Hopefully, this girl has seen a doctor by now. Gynecological health is very important.

11. The Chainsaw

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He had a diagnosed medical condition, but it didn’t mean he was taking care of himself.

If you know someone who’s struggling with mental health, it’s important to get them the help they need. This guy could have caused real damage, and he might not have even realized the severity of his actions. Also, if someone buying a chainsaw looks suspicious, it doesn’t hurt to tell the authorities. Just in case.

12. The Thief

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Deposits are one of the toughest things when you’re living with a bunch of people.

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Especially if you live in an apartment where new people filter in and out. Sometimes, you might not get the money back — and that’s something you have to come to terms with. But this is next level terrible, as this departing roommate tricked the landlady and made off with way more than they should have.

13. The Roommate Who Forgot Trash Cans Exist

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There’s no excuse for this one.

Not only does this leave a gross mess, but it’s unsanitary. And even worse, more common practice than you may want to believe. Ladies, nobody needs to see what’s happening inside of your body. Buy a mini trash can for every bathroom, and make sure you dispose of these items as quickly as possible.

14. The Guy Who Disappeared

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Nobody wants to face the fact that they might be living with a criminal.

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It seems like this guy lived pretty simply, probably to make a clean getaway when the time was right. There are so many questions this Redditor likely had that he’ll never get the answers to. It’s a good reminder that you’ll really want to screen the person who answers that Craigslist ad.

15. The Gun Nut

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No matter how you feel about guns, hopefully everyone’s on the same page that safety training is an absolute must.

It’s no secret that guns can easily end your life, and playing with one is one of the stupidest moves you can make. As a roommate, you never want anyone else to feel unsafe. Fingers crossed this guy learned his lesson and moved onto a brand new hobby that’s a lot safer.

16. The Roommate Who Left His Memory Behind

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This is a human, not a cat who had plenty of accidents.

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If you leave a lingering odor that even a cleaning crew can’t get rid of, you might want to think about your lifestyle choices. Often, it’s not just about showering daily. A smell can also occur based on what you eat. The problem is, it’s a sensitive topic and you might not know you stink until someone’s upfront with you.

17. The Poet

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This roommate communicated, but in a pretty horrific way.

Usually, the best way to get points across is to be short and honest. But this roommate might have had feelings for this Redditor that might muddle those lines. No matter what, at least it was only a temporary situation and the OP got out of there safe. The question is, was the letter kept as a keepsake? Or, future evidence?

18. Two Sketchy Situations

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These incidents are worth breaking a lease for.

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Videotaping sex with someone without their consent is a crime. And so is selling meth. So, if the cops happened to do a raid, both roommates would probably be taken away, and unable to pay their share of the rent. Plus, the Redditor who posted this would probably be interrogated pretty hard based on both crimes happening under his shared roof.

19. Food Smells

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Just like you shouldn’t eat tuna at work, you should be very careful about what you microwave in college.

Food leaves a lingering odor that you may be unaware of, especially if you’re particularly fond of the food. If you think you might accidentally be the offender in a food crime like this, you can honestly ask a friend or someone who lives in your dorm who you trust. Just promise not to get mad at their response.