Thread: Dealing with roomates the polite way.

So as of August I started renting a new apartment with a new roomate. Before we started living together we both made it clear that we were very clean, energy conserving neat-freaks. She's a very nice girl, but I got a bad vibe from the beginning when she wanted the room twice the size of mine without paying more (even though my room doesn't even have heat and is only 7 feet wide) but I let it go.

We just got in trouble with the city health and safety inspectors because the fire escape is only accessible through her room, which is a wreck, and the door couldn't even be opened. Her stuff has been continuosly spilling into the living area, and I've been dealing with it, but now I actually need to make her get on top of her act, but I don't want to sound naggy and mom-like about it.

I spent roughly $600 on living/dining room furniture and appliances and she didn't bring any. I've been paying the electric bills out of my account (need I mention the electric company stress?) and she's been reimbursing me in cash. She owed me $17 last month and gave me a $20 expecting change, which I didn't have at the time. Last night I made dinner for myself and she said she was hungry, so I let her have some, then after eating my food and sitting on the $300 couch I bought, she says "You still owe me three dollars".... which I thought was pretty silly.

Somebody gives me pointers on dealing with roomates without causing tension. I don't want to sound like I'm taking control of the place, but I also don't want my wooden bathroom cabinet getting destroyed by her makeup or getting fined because our fire escape is blocked and I can't do aynthing about it.