Is it rude to have guests over without asking your roommate?
Guilty
The short answer
One friend for coffee needs no notice, but a group in shared space does. A text the day before is the minimum, and a weeknight raises the bar.
The ruling
From the public record. Names are replaced with roles.
Small claims division
Case no.PC-2026-06014
The roommate who came home to nine guests v. The roommate who hosted game night
Filed 10/19/2026
- Plaintiff
- The roommate who came home to nine guests
- Defendant
- The roommate who hosted game night
Statement of claim
I came home from work on a Tuesday at 9 and there were nine people in our living room playing a board game about trains. My roommate said I was welcome to join. I had an early meeting.
Charge
Hosting a nine-person game night in shared space on a weeknight without prior notice
Judgment
Guilty
Roommate found guilty of a surprise nine-person game night on a Tuesday
Sentence
The defendant gives 24 hours' notice for any group of three or more for the next two months, and the next game night ends by 10.
How the court usually rules on this
The court separates a visitor from an event. A single guest in a private room rarely needs permission, while several people in the living room or kitchen change the use of shared space. The roommate who was not asked does not need to approve, only to know in time. Hosts who give notice are almost never found guilty.
Related rulings
Trending rulings
What people are judging right now.
- Who should pay on a first date?Guilty · Money
- Who controls the thermostat when couples disagree?Both at fault · Couples
- Who should buy toilet paper in a shared apartment?Guilty · Roommates
- Who should get up to turn off the light in bed?Both at fault · Couples