Renter’s Remorse? Here’s How to Get Past It

If you’re renting an apartment, chances are you put quite a bit of effort into finding the right one. Shopping around for apartments takes time, even if you end up renting the first one that you find. So what do you do when you’ve signed the papers, moved in your stuff, and then gotten hit with renter’s remorse?

There are a lot of reasons you may experience regret about your new apartment. Perhaps the space that seemed so charming at first glance now seems small and cramped. Or maybe the roommate you thought would be a great fit is eliciting some unexpected red flags. Whatever the reason, renter’s remorse isn’t uncommon—more than two-thirds of renters experience it—but it certainly can be frustrating.

Signing a lease means that you’re locking yourself in to a particular apartment for a set period of time—whether you wish you hadn’t done it or not. The best thing you can do is work on getting past the remorse and seeing the positives of the situation. Here’s how.

Clearly identify the problem(s)

Identify the things you like about your apartment

Talk to your landlord

Resist the urge to continue browsing listings

Put your circumstances into perspective

If your problem is roommate related, take steps to improve the relationship

Focus on the end point

In some scenarios, such as if your living situation is unsafe, you can take bolder steps to cope with your regret. Again, talk to your landlord about your options and see if there’s a solution that will work for the both of you.