<prompt> Human: Hi, sorry if this post might be better suited elsewhere but Im hoping this is the correct sub.My roommate and I are moving into our first apartment on Monday and just this morning she messaged me saying that she thought that I was going to pay the entire pro-rated rent for July aprox. 500 because she wasnt moving in until August.We had never discussed this and it caught me completely off guard. At first look, it seems like I should go ahead and pay the pro-rated rent. However, neither of us needs to move into the apartment until late August when our university classes start. When we were looking at apartments we decided to sign the lease on this one for mid-July because it was the best apartment in our price range and we didnt want to risk loosing it and ending up somewhere crappier for the same price or more. We live in a metropolitan area where its highly competitive to get apartmentsUsing that logic, were both paying the rent as a way of guaranteeing that we get the apartment we both want. I assumed though I shouldnt have that this meant that she would pay her half of the pro-rated rent, because she decided not to move in so she could stay at her job to make some more money before classes start. We both signed this lease knowing we didnt need the apartment this soon.My question is, is it reasonable to ask her to pay at least a portion of the pro-rated rent? Im not sure that I would have agreed to this plan knowing that I would have been agreeing to pay essentially double rent on top of my half of the security deposit.For context, our rent is about 1,200 a month, our utilities, insurance, internet, etc. on top of that Im estimating will be about 300 a month. So as a 19 year old college student, an extra unexpected 500 on top of all the deposits we owe on move in day is kind of a big deal for me.Thanks for reading.Edits for grammarEdit: Also, for context, were good friends right now. I dont want to get off to a rocky start on our first living arrangement together. Im somewhat worried about upsetting her, because she pays for rent entirely by herself and I receive some help from my family.Edit 2: Had an awkward phone call with her and explained the reasons why I felt she should pay her half of the pro-rated rent and offered to pay utilities until she moves in. Apparently this is stemming from her thinking that I had already agreed to pay for all of it. I politely disagreed but we ended the phone call pretty unresolved. I dont really know how to nicely but firmly tell her that she is wrong that I agreed to pay the entire 500. Any advice on this front would be appreciated. Thanks for all the feedback.Assistant: I had a roommate years ago and without a thought felt obligated and responsible to pay my full half-portion regardless of my later move in date. On the other hand, if it was enough for her to ask to not pay half months rent because she doesnt plan on moving in until later, it could be that she is in some sort of financial conflict. After all she messaged you and didnt come to you in person. Human: She and I live in different towns and she doesnt have a licence, so until we move in we generally just message each other. But you do have a point, shes been asking me a lot of questions about exact financial numbers the past couple of days, and that might mean shes having some kind of financial conflict like you said. Ill try to respectfully inquire about that when I speak to her next.Assistant: So you are moving in before her? She should pay half the rent, you should pay all the utilities. I would be firm, but have empathy. Be open to working out a payment plan if it works for you, but get everything in writing. Human: I am moving in before her, but I dont need to. Im definitely planning on paying all of the utilities. How would you recommend getting things in writing? Through our landlord?  <response>: Well I think the least confrontational way to handle it, in that case, is for you not to move in until August either. Then you tell her Im not moving in until August either, so I guess we need to split the rent of July. 