Roommates Ex and I Sign Lease Behind Their Back - AITA?

A 28-year-old man just tried to upgrade his living situation, and it blew up in the most roommate way possible. He and his roommate, Alex, had been coasting smoothly for almost two years, bills split evenly, vibes mostly good, no drama.

Then Alex’s messy-ex situation showed up. Sam, Alex’s ex-partner, reached out looking for a new place, and OP agreed to sign a joint lease with Sam without telling Alex first. After the ink was already dry, OP finally brought it up, and Alex reacted like he’d switched apartments while they were asleep.

Now Alex is considering moving out, leaving OP staring at a financial mess he says he didn’t see coming.

Original Post

So I'm (28M) and I've been living with my roommate Alex (27NB) for almost two years now. We get along well, split bills evenly, and generally enjoy being roommates.

Last month, Alex's ex-partner, Sam (26M), with whom they had a messy breakup, reached out to me. Sam was looking for a new place and he suggested we find an apartment together.

Sam's reasons made sense, and I agreed. Without informing Alex, I signed a joint lease with Sam for a new place.

After signing the lease, I broke the news to Alex. They were furious, feeling betrayed that I didn't consult them before making such a significant decision that directly affected our living situation.

Alex accused me of prioritizing Sam over our established living arrangement. They are now considering moving out, which would leave me in a financial bind.

I understand Alex's perspective, but I also felt pressure from Sam and didn't foresee the fallout. So AITA?

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It’s also like the roommate who backed out of the apartment search and got excluded after agreeing plans.

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The whole thing starts with Sam sliding into OP’s DMs, offering an apartment plan that felt “reasonable” until Alex found out it wasn’t negotiated with them at all.

After OP signed a joint lease with Sam behind Alex’s back, the betrayal hit hard, because Alex’s name and life were basically removed from the decision.

Alex isn’t just mad about the surprise, they’re also worried about what happens next, like losing their housing stability if OP ends up stuck paying more alone.

And just when OP thought the problem was solved by “breaking the news,” Alex’s threat to move out turns this from a disagreement into a real money crisis.

Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments section.

OP might end up learning the hard way that signing a lease with your roommate’s ex is not the same as fixing a problem.

Before you judge, read why someone refused a roommate’s unilateral lease addendum after tension exploded.