首页 / 法律问答 / 我把一个租客赶走了,因为她怀孕了,我这样做过分吗?

我把一个租客赶走了,因为她怀孕了,我这样做过分吗?

商业律师 5 回答
Okay, so I know the title sounds bad, but hear me out before you judge. I'll accept whatever you think of me. I'm a 30-year-old guy, and I bought a condo in Toronto five years ago when I was in my second year of medical residency. To help with the mortgage, I rented out a room to my roommate, a 29-year-old woman. I have my own room, she has hers, and then there's a third room for my study/office. She's been a great roommate – we're not exactly friends, but we get along really well. Everything was going great until recently. A few weeks ago, she told me she's pregnant. It was a fling, and the guy wants nothing to do with the baby. She's decided to keep the baby and raise it on her own, which I think is incredibly brave. Here's the problem: I don't hate kids, but I really don't want to live with a baby. The condo is a decent size, but I know I'll be woken up by the baby crying at night. My condo is my escape after a long day at work, and the idea of coming home to a baby just seems chaotic, especially since it's not my own child. It was hard, but I told her all of this and said it would be best if she found a new place. I'm giving her six months' notice because anything later would be too close to the birth. She was shocked and thought I was being cruel. Her main worry is that rent has gone way up since she moved in with me (I've kept her rent the same since 2015). She's a waitress, so she'll probably have to find a smaller, cheaper place. Also, she was out of work when the restaurants closed, but I didn't charge her rent then. Plus, all the furniture is mine except for what's in her bedroom, so she'd have to figure that out too, on top of all the baby expenses. I get where she's coming from, and I feel terrible, but I just can't do it. So, am I the bad guy here? **Update:** Thanks for all the comments. I've had some great suggestions and taken them to heart. I've been so busy with work, I haven't had time to think. First, I'm going to ask a friend in real estate to help her find affordable places. Second, since I don't plan to get another roommate after her, and I can afford it anyway, I'm going to waive her rent for the rest of her tenancy. Hopefully, that will give her a little boost to get on her feet. **Update 2:** I'm just now checking this again. Wow, I didn't expect this many replies! Thanks, everyone. I'm heading into surgery, but I'll try to respond to as many people as I can later. **Update 3:** I'm overwhelmed by all the attention. Thanks to everyone who commented, no matter what you thought. I was going to reply to everyone, but there are over 2000 comments, so I'll just address some common questions here. I also have an update, and I wish everyone who commented could see it. First, to those asking about the legality, I checked with a lawyer to be 100% sure, and it's perfectly legal. Since I live in the unit, the eviction laws are more lenient. Second, to those who said I should let her stay, consider what the alternative would be. If it doesn't happen now, when? Her baby will become a toddler, then a school-age child. Would it really be better to do this later? Or are you suggesting I let her raise the child here until they're 18? Finally, the update: When I got home from work today, I told her I wanted to talk. Before I could even start, she apologized for how she spoke to me and for expecting me to be okay with her raising her child here. I told her she didn't need to apologize because her reaction was understandable, considering the uncertainty of her future. Then, I told her what I told you all: that I'd waive her rent for the rest of her stay to help her get on her feet. She resisted at first, but after I told her to think of her child, she gratefully accepted. I also told her about my friend who could help her find affordable listings. I thought I might be overstepping, but she was extremely thankful and said she'd take me up on it. Lastly, I want to thank u/tuttipeachyfrutti for the best piece of advice I've gotten (I'm sure there are others I should thank, but I can't read everything). They suggested I help her get a more stable job at my hospital. Nothing fancy, since she doesn't have a degree, but it would be much more secure than waitressing (and there's room to move up). Plus, there would be benefits and maternity leave that restaurants probably don't offer. This was probably the riskiest thing I could do, but when I mentioned it to her, she was ecstatic (tears were shed!). I know I acted in my own self-interest here, so it's the least I can do to make sure this soon-to-be mother and her child have some security in their lives. Thanks again to everyone. **P.S.** Does anyone know if I can change the title to include "updated"? I really want everyone who commented to know they made a huge impact on a new mother's life. I can't thank you enough. I'm so glad I made this post.
回答次数 (5)
# 5
I wonder how people can vote that you’re the asshole. I mean seriously. You didn’t make her pregnant, nor you told her to keep the baby. To sleep with the guy and then keep the baby was her decision, she wasn’t forced into it. Baby has his daddy, and if she struggles, she should either make the dude take responsibility, or she can rethink the choice to keep the baby. She is an adult and can evaluate all cons, pros, and possibilities and opportunities. She isn’t your family, nor friend. You’re not responsible for her choices. She has to figure her stuff out by herself. You’re already going above and beyond. Solid NTA.
# 4
If she's not super attached to her current employer, rent is way cheaper in Hamilton. (I know because I live in Hamilton but grew up in the GTA). There are tons of restaurants downtown, we have a great food scene so I'm sure she could get a job here fairly easily. And her rent is more likely to match the value of the space she's living in than it would in Toronto.

I live downtown just a 5 min walk from the GO station and it actually takes me less time to get to Union from Hamilton than it did from my parents place in R. Hill.

I hope she's able to find a good place soon! If Hamilton is something that might work for her, message me and I don't mind helping her look for a place here!
# 3
NTA. You're a good person. Your edit shows you're a thoughtful and kind one as well.

As a single woman less and less interested in long-term relationships the older I got, I had to think long and hard what a pregnancy and baby would do to my ability to support myself.

It was one of the many, many reasons I decided to not have children at all, which as an old person now I do not regret in the least. My adult family of choice is also child-free. It works for all of us.

Many pregnancies go just fine, but many more do not. It will definitely impact her ability to work as a waitress for a while, so unless she has some good money saved up, she will struggle. I hope she has a good support network.

Good luck to you and her!
# 2
NAH

1st, you are giving her half a year's notice. This isn't a sudden thing, its a good enough time to make plans and figure things out.

2nd, living with a baby sucks. This isn't some building you own and are renting out, this is the place where you live. You get special consideration towards your own residence that you wouldn't get for any other dwelling that you rent out.

That said, check out the tenancy laws where you live. In the US family status is a protected class in regards to evictions, and it would be illegal to evict a tenant because they are pregnant. Usually Canada has stronger tenant protections than the US, so you may want to talk to a lawyer. You get some amount of special protections regarding a rental that you also live in, but the law varies by locale and should be consulted.
# 1
NTA

It's your home. You are allowed to live with who you want to.

She's an adult. She has six months to figure out a new living arrangement.

Edit:

Since some people were wondering why I said NTA instead of another judgment:

OP has been nothing but generous and compassionate over this situation. They have even edited their post to offer their roommate additional support and kindness.

But what gets me is that the roommate has called OP cruel and "acting put out". OP doesn't deserve to be treated like that.

It's not cruel to not want to live with a newborn, especially one that is not yours. It's a reasonable boundary to have when you are sharing space. Where else should OP draw the line?

Roommate has had a pretty sweet deal. No raise in rent. Payments waived when they were in financial crisis. A generous timeline for moving. And with OP's edit, no rent in order to save money for moving out and tapping into OP's network for additional help in finding a new home.

Roommate thinks all that isn't enough, otherwise she wouldn't have accused OP of being cruel. And that makes her TA in my book.
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