To think that, yes, people who rent like nice things too...

[Everythingnotsavedwillbelost]

I rent, I have done for years and at the moment it’s likely to continue. I have lovely furniture, my kids have lovely bedrooms & our life is normal and like everyone else’s.

Parent at the school last week ‘what, you own your own furniture when you rent?’

Aibu to think what the actual fuck? She clearly was amazed that as someone who rents a house, I might own furniture and shock horror, buy nice things?!

I just missed the boat housing wise because I don’t have a deposit & despite trying to save, can’t get a big enough mortgage.

Aibu to also think that this country’s perception of renters is so warped and out of date and actually just bloody rude

[Idontwanttotalk]

YANBU. I assume people who rent do own their own furniture. I don't assume most renters live in furnished properties. Maybe that just happens to be the other parent''s experience?

[Beacauseisaidso]

Totally agree with you.
Snobbery is rife.
We have an odd obsession with property ownership in this country.

[GertrudeCB]

It certainly is on this site.
We rent, been here nearly 30 years , assured tenancy, very lucky. Couldn't get a mortgage back then because DH was self employed.
Also I love my home, have nice things, look after it etc.

[eladen]

Aibu to also think that this country’s perception of renters is so warped and out of date and actually just bloody rude

Based on one person who thought rented properties were all rented as fully furnished? Yes. You are very reasonable.

You know that some rented properties come fully furnished, right?

[MountPheasant]

When you said ‘nice things’ I assumed this was going to be about sky TV or expensive bags and clothes. Luxuries, basically.

But it’s about furniture?

From a comment about furniture I don’t think she was assuming that you couldn’t have ‘nice things’ because you rent, more likely the people she has experience with who rent all do so fully furnished? I am aware that people rent long term with their own furniture, but at the same time, everyone I know in real life who rents is a short term, furnished renter. Maybe she is the same and was just surprised?

Only you can know from her tone but tbh it sounds like you are being defensive and oversensitive.

[Fluffsmum]

I actually find the other way around. Everyone I know who rents has lovely furniture and homes, as whilst they can't afford to buy a house due to deposits, they can afford nice things and their rent is cheaper than the mortgages around here.

All the people I know who own have awful houses (fixer uppers) and tatty furniture as the houses need so much work that we can't afford to do!

[Pollywollydolly]

It was one uninformed, thoughtless person. Of course the whole country doesn't think like that.

Why do random parents at school know you rent? It's no-one's business but yours.

[CBCB7992]

I private rented for years and they were never furnished. What a stupid thing for her to say!

You are either house proud or your not. Whether you live with parents, own, rent, have a council house etc. It sounds like you take great pride in your home.

Saying that, we own our houses house (I private rented in my younger years) and most of the houses on my street are privately rented. People assume we are loaded but this is not the case. Anything but to be honest, we saved for a deposit and our house was cheap .. I grew up in a council house with a mother who is extremely house proud.

It’s such a shit country when private rent is so high so renters can not afford to save for a deposit bug are often paying more in rent than you would a mortgage.

She sounds like a ignorant fool. I think people just assume if you rent you don’t stay in a home long. My neighbour has rented his house from his landlady for 10 years now and he keeps the house looking great.

[eladen]

She clearly was amazed that as someone who rents a house, I might own furniture and shock horror, buy nice things?!

Nice bit of wild conjecture, by the way, based purely on someone asking if your rental property was fully furnished. She never suggested you can't have nice things!

You sound like you have a huge chip on your shoulder.

[CBCB7992]

and our neighbours rent is double the price of our mortgage. Rent prices are crazy here!

[Aquestionforyouall]

I hope you don’t have the audacity to have a financed car while you rent OP. That really would be taking the biscuit.

[Everythingnotsavedwillbelost]

@MountPheasant she was rude. And I might be over sensitive to it because I have had similar comments before along the lines of ‘you aren’t as good as us because you rent’

[Witchinaditch]

You seem a bit sensitive about renting, I would ignore the silly comment and not let it take up anymore of your head space! She is clearly a moron.

[Everythingnotsavedwillbelost]

@eladen I don’t have a huge chip on my shoulder at all. I am just a bit tired of assumptions made because we don’t own our own house

[BeyondMyWits]

My daughter rents, she rents fully furnished, she can't afford "nice things" ...yet..

she would be surprised that people who rent have their own furniture, as that is the sum total of her experience to date. (she is 18)

[MrsMaiselsMuff]

I've just skimmed through the properties to let in my town, and out of thirty only one is (part) furnished. It's not unusual on very short term lets, but they are not the norm. Therefore her attitude was either ignorant as to how properties are let, or just ignorant in general. I'd go for the latter.

[MittsMajuna]

YANBU she probably can't believe you pay council tax either.

I part own/part rent and reguarly get told - "wow your rent & mortgage is so cheap" (Its 50% of my wage) or "could you drop a day at work to spend more time with DD"

No & No. I am a lone parent. 1 wage. Thats it. Its all relative.

I realise this has nothing to do with your OP, but I wanted a rant about people assuming!

[MountPheasant]

So a bit of both then!

If her tone was judgy then leave her to her stupid judgments. If it comes up again- ‘gosh, you’re not very worldly are you if you’ve never heard of renters owning their own furniture.’

And try not to get defensive. Other people being ignorant is not your issue.

[LolaSmiles]

Make a sweeping statement off one person's comment pertaining to furniture in rental is a bit much.

Some rentals are furnished, some are part furnished (or include white goods like ours did) and others are fully unfunished.

Someone's limited awareness doesn't show a snobby approach to renting. Dear me. Most people rent at some point

[Butchyrestingface]

I certainly wouldn't assume renters don't own their own furniture.

However, as a renter at the moment, I had a bit of difficulty in finding a non furnished flat in the area I wanted (central Scotland). Most of the flats on offer were furnished or part furnished.

Maybe OP's acquaintance had a similar experience?

[Butchyrestingface]

I don't consider 'owning' with a mortgage to be ownership.



Okay, well you have a different definition of the word to most people.

[Lockheart]

I rent and I don't own all my furniture. Lots of places nowadays come fully or part furnished.

I don't buy any nice / expensive furniture because I'm waiting for something more permanent. Til then it's cheap IKEA all the way!