AITA for taking everything that’s mine when my roommate asked me to move out?

A young man (21M) moves out of an apartment shared with his friend (21F) after she unexpectedly asks him to leave. Realizing he purchased most of the apartment’s furniture and essentials, he decides to take everything he paid for when moving out, leaving her in a nearly empty space. While some friends support his decision, others call him an a**hole for leaving her in a “bare apartment.” Read the full story below…

‘ AITA for taking everything that’s mine when my roommate asked me to move out?’

My (21M) roommate (21F) and I moved into an apartment together about 5 months ago. We’re friends, and she was the one who found the place and put me on the lease to sign. I was nothing but respectful as a roommate. We split chores, I did my dishes, and there wasn’t any tension between us—or so I thought.

One day, while I was out, she texted me saying she needed to talk when I got home. When I returned, she sat me down and told me she wanted me to move out. She said she didn’t think she wanted to continue living with me. She’d already talked to the landlord and set a move-out date for January 1st.

I was blindsided but didn’t put up a fight. I decided to leave as quickly as I could because why stay somewhere I’m not wanted? I scrambled to find another place, and in the process, I realized something important: I paid for pretty much everything in the apartment.

The plates, couch, TV, router for the Wi-Fi (which I also paid for), and all the “cool stuff” in the apartment were purchased out of my pocket. So, I told her I’d be taking everything I bought when I moved out. She said, “Okay.” On the day I moved out, I rented a truck and took all my things. She wasn’t home, so when she came back to the apartment, it was basically empty.

She freaked out and started texting and calling me. When I answered, she went on a rant about how I “shouldn’t have taken everything,” how bad the apartment looked now, and how she was supposed to explain the situation to her friends. I calmly reminded her that I’d told her I was taking the things I bought, and she agreed.

She hung up on me but then started telling our mutual friends what happened. Now some of them are calling me an a**hole for leaving her in a “bare apartment,” while others say I did the right thing because it was all my stuff anyway. For what it’s worth, I didn’t leave her with nothing. I left the mini-fridge (though I took the liquor that was inside it), so I feel like I was considerate enough.. AITA?

Here’s what the community had to contribute:

Srvntgrrl_789 −  NTA. This reminds me of another Reddit story about a renter who built a beautiful garden in the backyard of a house she rented. The landlord then informed her that he was going to sell the property and she’d have to relocate. She found another house… and took the garden with her.

All the garden components were above ground in planters and other structures. When she moved, the landlord started to harass her for taking all of it with her since the house details included pics of the garden, which raised the overall property value. You only took what you brought with you. Your ex-roomie can kick rocks.

Ok-Try-857 −  NTA she wanted you gone and you took your belongings with you. That’s normal and expected. You should never leave a roommate to deal with things that don’t belong to them. 

Ok_Resource_8530 −  She let you pay for the apartment she wanted. When she got it looking good she asked you to move out. She NEVER really expected you to take ‘everything’ you bought. Poor baby, got what she deserved.

Certain-Risk2100 −  NTA, she’s an entitled baby

TarzanKitty −  NTA. You no longer live there. There is no reason for your property to be there. Tell your friends that they are welcome to furnish your former roommate’s home if they feel so strongly about it but she isn’t your responsibility.. Have you cancelled the WiFi yet?

Vegetable-Cod-2340 −  NTA. Op, its kind of sounds like she kicked you out thinking she was going to keep some of your cool stuff and is pissed you took what belongs to you. Don’t be feel bad, everything about your ex-roommate sounds shady, so course she spreading lies and rumors.

Secret_Sister_Sarah −  If this is real, you’re obviously NTA – she doesn’t get to evict you for no reason then keep all of your stuff. lol. Friends who are divided is why I think this might be AI; in real life, only idiots would call you an a**hole for keeping things you bought with your own money. (If this is real, those people are \*her\* friends, not yours.)

Salt-Finding9193 −  You should have taken the mini fridge if it was yours. 

Substantial-Radio155 −  Is this even real? There are always these divided friend groups where one half sides with the most obvious assholes? You have a supposed ”friend” who is so dilusional she thinks your property is somehow hers, and you ask who’s the a**hole? Is she a master manipulator but you outsmarted her? Well, if you are not som abuser or something then you are NOT tah

Sweethearrtt −  NTA. She kicked u out and then expected u to just leave all ur belongings behind? Like, wym? She agreed that u wud take ur stuff, so its on her for not thinking it through. Its not ur job to furnish her apartment after she decided she didnt want to live with u anymore.

Was he justified in taking everything he paid for, or should he have left some items for the sake of fairness? Share your thoughts below!