My step brother's wife's mom owns a duplex, and she's rents one side to me.
I have a roommate, who is a good friend that I've known for about 10 years. Dude's gone out of his way for me many times.
Our deal was that he'd get the 2nd bedroom and pay a flat rent of $375. It's the smaller bedroom. I got the master bedroom, and pretty much furnished most of the house. I also got the garage (one car).
He's got a nice custom truck (maybe worth $8k). Nothing too special, but it's a big deal for him. He was freaked out about having his truck sit in the sun through the summer, so offered to pay $450 a month if he got the garage.
I probably make at least double what he does. I think he gets about $11 an hour. So he's been struggling to pay rent on time. He usually gets paid up soon after its due, but I've been having to float his share for a few weeks at a time. Over the past 3 months, he's only paid $1150, so he technically still owes me $150. I asked him for it, and he basically said he's broke, he can't afford to pay it and pay me rent, and said he'll pull his truck out of the garage and go back to normal rent if I insist. He basically said the extra $75 a month was a ripoff for the garage, so no matter what he's not going to pay the full amount because he's going to starve otherwise. I'm contesting that I wouldn't have given up the garage (I have a brand new car that I'd like to park in there) if he wouldn't have offered the $75 a month for it, so if doesn't want to pay I have no choice but to feel like he basically tricked me.
He's saying he didn't do it intentionally but the bottomline is he can't afford to pay it.
Should I be firm and hold him to it? I know the $150 is a bigger deal to him than it is me, but I could still use that money. I already basically told him I'm going to have to think twice anytime he wants to make a deal with me again because he's got a history of saying he'll pay for something and then refusing too because "he thought it wasn't a good deal".
He otherwise pays rent without question and he's never shafted me over on money before in the 10+ years I've known him.
Cliffs: Roommate offers to pay extra $75 per month to use garage, forcing me to park in street. After 3 months, roommate is caught up on rent minus the $75 for each month and said he's going to give me the garage back, but he can't/won't pay the difference. He's actually paid about $20 more in rent each month, but not the full $75.
Should I just let it go? I know he can't afford it right now, and I'm not going to starve if he doesn't pay. He's pretty handy so I'm tempted to just let it go, but then hold it over his head anytime I need help with something.