Roommate is threatening and abusing me

[sureshrajendran]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? New Jersey
My Name is Raj. I am living in NJ-08648. I am a non-resident immigrant working as a Software Consultant in USA for past 11 months. Recently (August) I moved to an apartment which is nearby my office (30 mins walk). It's a Condo apartment and I am living by sharing a small bed room. The lease is in my roommate name, he offered me this room for 1 year stay but he refused to add my name in the lease and so I do not have any legal contracts. He said I can stay how much ever time I want to. But once I moved to this apartment, he started treating me as a slave ordering me, abusing me for silly reasons, torturing me mentally: for example: He shouts when I lock my bedroom door when he lives in other bedroom, he shouts when I fry something for my food, he shouts when I forget to open the window blinds in my room, he shouts when I ask him to knock the door before come in, he enters my bedroom without my permission and check my things, I don’t have any privacy to talk on the phone, he said he wants to watch me even when I am sleeping.. And more as behaving as a mentally disabled one. I lost my peace of mind, I unable to concentrate on my job. Basically he was an Indian migrated in USA and got citizenship in USA. I am from a poor family in India, left my wife, 1yr old kid and parents in India and came to USA for my career and survival. I don't even have a car in USA; I go to office by walk. I am suffering a lot being alone here with no friends or relatives and there is no support for me. My roommate knows about my background and harassing me in such a way I couldn’t even talk to him back. He is saying that the lease is in his name and I must follow what ever he says. One day his tortures were exceeded and he raised his hand to beat me, I couldn't bare his tortures. I don’t know how to deal this man and I told him directly that I am not his slave to behave as his order and started doing my work and not minding him. Last week he said If I want to live in this house means I must follow his words else I have to leave the house immediately, I said I will leave after winter since I don’t have any other place to live and don’t have a car to travel. He refused for that and says if I don’t leave means then will complaint the police and police will arrest me. I am very much afraid, I came here to work and for my survival, my family is depending upon me only. I didn’t do any mistakes and I can’t live as a slave also. I don’t know what to do. I don’t have any other place to live. Will police really arrest me if I don’t follow his words? He says he will do whatever to send me out of this house. He says in USA rules are always positive for citizens. Is that true? I even literally begged him saying my situation but he is very rude. I am very much depressed. Can anyone suggest me please?

[IsabellaSoriano]

if he is abusing you in a physical manner, you need to report him immediately when it occurs.

[Stevef]

Originally Posted by sureshrajendran

I told him directly that I am not his slave to behave as his order and started doing my work and not minding him.

That's the correct response.

Last week he said If I want to live in this house means I must follow his words else I have to leave the house immediately

He would have to follow the process for a legal eviction. He can't simply lock you out. If he does, call the police.

craigslist shows plenty of rooms for rent in your area. Start looking.

[Hot Topic]

I think a lot of your story is exaggerated, such as you assuming that when he lifted his hand, it meant he was going to beat you and him wanting to watch you even when you were sleeping.

If he threatens your life, call the police instead of telling people about it and expecting them to feel sorry for you.

If you've been in this country for eleven months, you should know a lot more than you do.

You came here for your career and "survival." The people we should feel sorry for are your wife and child. Their husband/father seems to care more about his situation, which could be remedied with a little effort.

[MsJamieLynn]

Wow some people on here really dont know how to respond real well.. If you feel like he is threatening in way shape or form, then your best bet is to call the police and make a report. Some how you have to get yourself out of the situation that your in, and do better for yourself and your family back home. You can easily find an apartment or somewhere cheap to stay in the mean time.

[Ohiogal]

Originally Posted by MsJamieLynn

Wow some people on here really dont know how to respond real well.. If you feel like he is threatening in way shape or form, then your best bet is to call the police and make a report. Some how you have to get yourself out of the situation that your in, and do better for yourself and your family back home. You can easily find an apartment or somewhere cheap to stay in the mean time.

You have no clue about the legalities. YOU are the one who doesn't know how to respond and you are misleading people.

[fabulous07]

Since you have a job, then you need to find your own place or look in the classifieds ads of the newspaper for someone else to room with. There is a website [url=http://www.roommates.com]Roommates, roommate finder and roommate search service[/url] where you can find people in your area looking to share living expenses. You shouldn't stay living there if the environment is hostile. Get out!

Look in the classifieds or go to the local Department of Social Services who should have a listing of cheap rooms or apartments in your area.

[Son of Slam]

K-Y Jelly is a water-based, water-soluble personal lubricant produced by Johnson & Johnson.

[You Are Guilty]

Originally Posted by Son of Slam

K-Y Jelly is a water-based, water-soluble personal lubricant produced by Johnson & Johnson.

Nice to see you're back. You really ought to consider posting more than once every month