As if you don’t wade through enough crud on a regular basis just to get your coursework turned in, make the grade on tests and get that hottie across the aisle to pay attention to you; when you go home, you also have to deal with your cruddy roommate. You’ve tried everything—begging, pleading, threatening, building a Roommates Bill of Rights and chore chart—and still, you do all the cooking, cleaning, purchasing of groceries and of course, your roommate owes you the past three month’s rent on top of it all.

Okay, so maybe your roommate isn’t that bad. But here are some signs that it’s time to dump your roommate and bring someone better in to share your blissful student apartment.

1. You come home to a “Do Not Disturb” sign on the apartment door almost every night. If you’re constantly crashing on the neighbor’s couch because your roomie doesn’t know how to keep their pants on or at least keep it in their bedroom, you only have two choices: fry the pleasure center of their brain or kick them out.

2. The Hazmat team called to schedule your roommate’s weekly cleaning session…or they should have. If your roommate’s room is so completely disgusting that you’re afraid not only to walk in, but also to walk by, it’s time for the proverbial “come to Jesus/Allah/Buddha/insert your name here.”

3. You haven’t slept in three weeks because of the noise and neither have the neighbors. Some people are clearly missing most or all of their hearing hair cells by 22 years of age. And your roommate is one of them. While that explains the 200-decibel, rock-music marathon coming from your apartment, it doesn’t mean you don’t deserve sleep or the ability to hear properly for the next 20 years.

4. Your roommate has paid only 1/3 their rent since the day they moved in. Taking on a roommate is supposed to help you mitigate costs. And whether your roommate has fallen on hard times or is your best friend doesn’t matter. Being in college is about nursing your grades and your term paper, not mothering your roommate. If your roommate misses rent or bills more than once, it’s time to say goodbye.

5. Somehow, you went from spending $50 per week on groceries to $150 per week on groceries but you’re not eating more than usual. If your roommate is constantly taking your food without reimbursing you and refuses to purchase their own or do the cooking to help pay off the expense, you should be lighting a fire under their butt all the way to the door.

6. Your roommate has never done any chores. Living in the real world means accepting real-world responsibilities and real-world consequences. If your roommate refuses to wash dishes, cook meals, vacuum the apartment, clean the bathroom or take out the trash, it’s time for you to take out the trash—the trashy roommate, that is.

Remember, college is about learning how to live in the real world. For everyone. And if your roommate refuses to grow up and live in the real world, it’s up to you to send them back to Mommy’s house.

And as the independent, college-going adult you are, you already know exactly what to look for when inspecting your student apartment. Or do you? Check out this list of things to look for and you’ll be set at move-in.

Windows. Always check to make sure all of the windows that are supposed to open do open. And don’t forget to check for breaks, cracks, chips and other damage. Make note of any missing screens or water between panes of glass.

Carpet and other flooring. Paying attention to the flooring is one thing many students forget to do upon move-in. It may look fine to you, but you should walk around and make sure that carpet is properly tacked down and has no damage, such as cigarette burns or excessive wear or staining and discoloration. Note chips, tears, cracks, discolorations and other damage to all other flooring.

Paint. If your student apartment hasn’t been painted in a while, you’ll notice. If it was recently painted you’ll notice that too. Make note of any paint that was accidentally splattered onto mirrors, doors, carpets and other items. Also make note of any chipping paint or if the paint is rubbing away. Look for stains and discolorations and note these in bold, as they could be a sign of water damage and leaks.

Light fixtures. Turn on all of the lights while doing your walk through. Also, make certain that lights are in a convenient location—if you open your bedroom door and hit the ceiling fan, this should be noted. Most importantly, make sure there are light fixtures at all…many older homes and apartments (circa 1965 or older) do not have ceiling light fixtures and you’ll need to bring lamps.

Tub(s) and showers. Check for chips and cracks and also check water pressure.

Exterior Doors. Make sure the locks work, that the doors have no serious damage and that they are properly sealed.

Interior Doors. Make certain these doors fit the door frames, have no damage and have working handles.

Drywall. Look for holes and other damage. Lean against the walls—if you fall through them, look for a different apartment.

Sinks, toilets and other visible plumbing fixtures. Check the caulking, tile and grout for visible wear and damage. Also, make sure to turn on every faucet to check the water pressure and to look for leaks.

Appliances. Check the condition of the refrigerator, dishwasher, oven, range and any other appliances provided. List the condition in great detail.

Roofing. If you are on the top floor of the apartments and are able, check the condition of the roofing for holes, excessive wear, etc. The condition of the roof may foretell surprises to come.

Other things to look for. Check you outlets and make sure they are properly grounded—3 prongs. Also look for signs of rats, cockroaches, termites and other pests as well as unwanted drafts. Don’t forget to check the heating, air conditioning and water heater as well.
Remember, if your apartment needs repairs but is still live-in-able, you have no legal standing to break your lease without bearing the financial consequences. So make sure you are firm with the landlord on all needed repairs prior to move-in.