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Housing

What to Do When Housing Goes Sideways (Because Sometimes It Just Will)

Aug 7, 2025

•

Sam Lipscomb

•

3

min

Even if you plan everything perfectly, something will go wrong. A roommate ghosts you. The landlord forgets to fix the heater. Your upstairs neighbor does jumping jacks at 3am.

Welcome to off-campus housing.

Here’s how to handle common student housing problems without spiraling-or losing your security deposit.


  1. Roommate Problems

They stop cleaning, start inviting randos over, or stop paying rent.

What to do:

  • Have a calm conversation first (not a text war)

  • Refer back to your original roommate agreement (you made one, right?)

  • Set boundaries or revisit expectations

  • If it’s a shared lease, talk to the landlord early

If you need to break the lease, look into subletting. Don’t just ghost.


  1. Maintenance Issues

No heat, broken appliances, weird smells.

Steps:

  • Document the issue (photos, videos, timestamps)

  • Email or formally request repairs (text doesn’t always count)

  • Follow up if they stall (be persistent but polite)

  • Check if your city has tenant rights or a housing inspector

Some states let you withhold rent until essential repairs are made-check your local laws.


  1. Landlord is Unreachable or Shady

They don’t respond. They enter your unit without notice. They threaten fees.

What to do:

  • Communicate in writing (email > text)

  • Look up your tenant rights by state (Google: [your state] tenant protections)

  • Escalate to student legal aid or a local tenant union

  • In some cases, file a complaint with your city’s housing department

Keep all receipts, messages, and signed agreements. Documentation is power.


  1. Rent Trouble

You or your roommate can’t make rent one month.

  • Don’t go silent. Talk to your landlord early.

  • Ask about payment plans or grace periods.

  • See if you can cover part while subletting the room.

Using something like Fizz helps avoid these situations. You can build credit with daily autopay and keep rent payments on track-so you’re less likely to miss one in the first place.


  1. Conflict With Neighbors

Noise complaints, passive-aggressive notes, parking disputes.

  • Try to solve it person-to-person before involving landlords

  • Stay respectful, even if they aren’t

  • If they escalate, report it to the property manager in writing

Keep it documented-especially if it affects your ability to live there.


  1. You Hate the Place

Sometimes it’s not dramatic. It’s just… bad vibes. No light. Crappy layout. You feel stuck. If it’s bearable: reframe it as a learning year and plan your exit early.

If it’s not: ask about subletting or lease break fees. Start looking for better housing. You’re not a failure. Off-campus housing is trial and error.


Fizz Makes the Chaos Smoother

Fizz can’t make your roommate do dishes-but it can:

  • Keep your bills split fairly and on time

  • Build your credit while you live

  • Give you a clean record that makes the next lease easier

It’s the kind of tool that helps you hold things together when life gets messy.


College housing won’t be perfect-but it can be manageable

Fizz helps students navigate the real-life parts of renting: bills, credit, and shared expenses. Try Fizz and make housing less chaotic

Sam Lipscomb

Author bio

Sam is a Kenyon College alum and is head of content at Fizz. He's been a go to personal finance resource among his peers since getting his first credit card during his sophomore year of college. He hails from Washington, DC, loves all things aviation, and currently lives in Los Angeles.

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