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Friend upset because of a comment I made about renting

239 replies

scarystories · 24/07/2025 14:03

Last week, I caught up with a close friend and we started talking about pensions. This topic came up because I recently started a new job and chose to opt out of the private pension scheme. I've always made this choice for various reasons that I won't bore you with, it’s a personal decision that suits me. However, I completely understand why others would choose to have one. Of course, I might live until I'm 90 and end up eating beans on toast every day, who knows? But that's my issue, not anyone else's.

Anyway, I told my friend that I wasn't worried and was hopeful that my mortgage would be paid off in the next 20-30 years, so I wouldn't have to worry about that monthly expense. I mentioned that it's harder for people who rent, as that bill will always be there. This comment upset her because she rents, and she felt I was looking down on her. That was not my intention (I actually rented for 7 years before buying my house). I was only stating a fact: rent is a constant expense, whereas a mortgage eventually ends.

Was I wrong? Should I apologise?

OP posts:
SpaceRaccoon · 24/07/2025 18:13

Some countries can’t understand why the British are so caught up in home ownership. Is it the Germans who mostly rent?

The UK actually has lowever than average home ownership based on wider European statistics, although admittedly it is lower in Germany:

https://www.statista.com/statistics/246355/home-ownership-rate-in-europe/

Homeownership rate in countries in Europe 2023| Statista

In the presented European countries, the homeownership rate extended from 42 percent in Switzerland to as much as 96 percent in Albania.

https://www.statista.com/statistics/246355/home-ownership-rate-in-europe/?__sso_cookie_checker=failed

DwarfBeans · 24/07/2025 18:09

Some countries can’t understand why the British are so caught up in home ownership. Is it the Germans who mostly rent? There’s pros and cons to both. Obviously your friend took it the wrong way but maybe she’s had a bad experience.

scarystories · 24/07/2025 18:06

@AllyDally No, I bought my house and the interest rate was high right from the start. This happened right after mortgage rates increased. It wasn't something I could control, unless I chose not to buy the house and kept renting instead, which would have meant the possibility of the landlord raising the rent or selling the property anyway. I bought one of the cheapest houses in the area (aside from a caravan).

OP posts:
DiggingHoles · 24/07/2025 18:02

Icanttakethisanymore · 24/07/2025 14:15

Saying it's harder for people who rent in retirement is a statement of fact. If I were your renting friend I wouldn't have been upset about you stating the obvious but some people are very sensitive.

Is it though? If you own, but don't have the money for maintenance and repair, doesn't it make retirement much harder because you are forced to live in a house with a leaky roof, heating that doesn't work properly and mold on the walls and ceiling?

Ducks behind the couch to hide from people who own instead of renting

AllyDally · 24/07/2025 17:59

Sorry I must have misunderstood, I thought you had never paid into a pension. If you have had to stop paying in due to interest rates increasing then that is understandable of course. The increases in real money terms are horrendous.

Justchilling07 · 24/07/2025 17:59

Boomer55 · 24/07/2025 16:52

No they don't. Like everyone of any age, it depends on income/savings. I rent (HA) but I can't claim benefits, and pay all the rent etc myself.

No regrets about renting though. 👍

Yes they do.Obviously, it depends on savings and income, pensioners on low incomes have always claimed housing benefit and pension credit and other benefits throughout their life.
I just don’t understand, why it’s ok to slate people who claim benefits, only aiming at people of working age, when a high percentage of pensioners also claim benefits.Get a pension that they didn’t contribute to.

scarystories · 24/07/2025 17:57

@AllyDally erm, I did? Unfortunately, I can’t control house prices or mortgage rates (really wish I could 😢). You do know that lenders check if you can afford things, right? They wouldn't have let me buy the house if they thought I couldn't afford the mortgage payments.

OP posts:
AllyDally · 24/07/2025 17:54

I dont understand why your friend is offended, its just factual isnt it!

Strangerthanfictions · 24/07/2025 17:53

TheRealGoose · 24/07/2025 14:08

That’s interesting, is there a back story maybe? I’m curious why you don’t understand that’s incredibly insensitive, most people would understand and have enough empathy to know not to crow about how you’re better off than someone else. Like a thin person saying well at least I’m not fat to their overweight friend, or at least I’m not on the dole thank goodness to their unemployed friend.

so I guess the real question is why you feel no empathy and don’t understand how this could be upsetting?

Well it sounds like her friend was passing comment on her pension choice and OP was replying with a frame of reference, I own a property, my financial position will improve when I'm older. If you want to debate people's financial position you have to accept that it may reflect on the merits of all your choices or position too.

AllyDally · 24/07/2025 17:52

scarystories · 24/07/2025 14:32

@ThatCoolGoose Have you considered that perhaps I can't afford the monthly payments, which is why I chose to opt out? I'm a single person earning an average wage. After covering my mortgage, bills, food, gas, electric, and fuel, there's hardly anything left. Maybe if taxes were lowered, people would have more money to contribute to their pensions every month. The reality is a lot of people can’t afford to live now, let alone in 40 years.

Surely you should buy a house within your means then?

scarystories · 24/07/2025 17:49

amylou8 · 24/07/2025 17:48

Well I rent and you've upset me terribly. I always assumed a free house would magically appear on my 67th birthday.

😂😂 this did make me laugh, thank you

OP posts:
scarystories · 24/07/2025 17:49

@EarthlyNightshade it was a general comment, not aimed at her.

OP posts:
Lighteningstrikes · 24/07/2025 17:48

You were a bit tactless.
It’s always wise to think about what we say first so that we avoid offending people.

The next 40 years will flyby, you should reconsider having a pension. You’ll live to regret it if you don’t.

amylou8 · 24/07/2025 17:48

Well I rent and you've upset me terribly. I always assumed a free house would magically appear on my 67th birthday.

scarystories · 24/07/2025 17:46

@TeenLifeMum Oh my goodness. How did I make her feel guilty? I spent nearly 8 years renting. I understand how hard it can be. I was showing empathy, not trying to make her feel bad. However, you've already created a scenario in your head, and nothing I say will alter that, so it is what it is 🤷🏼‍♀️

Also, please don’t believe that you’ve made me feel bad. You’re just a stranger online.

OP posts:
EarthlyNightshade · 24/07/2025 17:40

I think if you are actually saying/thinking "people like you who rent" then maybe don't say it. But if you are saying it generally, had forgotten she rented or were not thinking about her specifically, then it's easily said.
I'd apologise for hurting her feelings but what you have said is generally true.

You also now have the awkwardness of always having to think twice before speaking with her, I have friends like this and it can be tiring.

TeenLifeMum · 24/07/2025 17:39

scarystories · 24/07/2025 17:23

@TeenLifeMum I have no idea, but don’t make people feel guilty if they can’t afford to pay into their pension then. You can’t have it both ways.

I wouldn’t to a friend - I will on here to prove my point. Doesn’t feel nice does it? That’s what you just did to your friend, made her feel crap.

surreygirl1987 · 24/07/2025 17:39

BrokenHabit · 24/07/2025 14:13

I don’t see why you had to make that comment about rent. Why not just say you’re not worried about your pension, because your mortgage will be paid off by then. Why add the comment about it being hard for people who rent, when you know that your friend rents? I would not have said that extra bit about renting. Nothing wrong with a bit of sensitivity to a friend.

Yeh, it sounds like you were being deliberately pointed and attacking.

Fimofriend · 24/07/2025 17:30

TheRealGoose · 24/07/2025 14:08

That’s interesting, is there a back story maybe? I’m curious why you don’t understand that’s incredibly insensitive, most people would understand and have enough empathy to know not to crow about how you’re better off than someone else. Like a thin person saying well at least I’m not fat to their overweight friend, or at least I’m not on the dole thank goodness to their unemployed friend.

so I guess the real question is why you feel no empathy and don’t understand how this could be upsetting?

She didn't crow. Why are you interpreting it like that?

Redlocks28 · 24/07/2025 17:26

It's how you said it.

was hopeful that my mortgage would be paid off in the next 20-30 years, so I wouldn't have to worry about that monthly expense

That is a reasonable thing for you to say.

I mentioned that it's harder for people who rent, as that bill will always be there.

This bit was a totally unnecessary addition to say to someone who you know rents!

Think before you speak.

Anyonecanachieve · 24/07/2025 17:26

Katiesaidthat · 24/07/2025 14:16

I must be totally lacking in empathy too: I rent, have done for the last 15 years and the fact that this bill will still be there after my retirement fills me with dread. If stating the financially obvious is so upsetting, this young lady has deeper problems than a neverending rent bill.
OP you have said nothing wrong, 2+2 makes 4 but some are sooo permanently upset.

It worries you when you rent though. I was 45 and renting with two kids and could never have afforded to buy where we live. I can get a mortgage as a single parent for 180K and a deposit of 40 K so raise 220k tops and that without stamp duty, solicitors and movers. The cheapest house round here to buy at 3 bed is £350K and that would need gutting and rewiring and be full of damp and mould etc and need a new boiler, windows etc

I met DH and we brought together he put in far more than me and we brought a 4 bed for £500 K - same house others are selling for now 965 K locally - how the hell does someone afford that? Women particularly single parents with children can get properly screwed - I did!

scarystories · 24/07/2025 17:23

@TeenLifeMum I have no idea, but don’t make people feel guilty if they can’t afford to pay into their pension then. You can’t have it both ways.

OP posts:
UnemployedNotRetired · 24/07/2025 17:22

Though rent can be covered by Housing Benefit in retirement, if income is low.

TeenLifeMum · 24/07/2025 17:20

scarystories · 24/07/2025 17:18

@Justchilling07 Comments like that really make me laugh because people here get absolutely slated if they don’t work or pay taxes. Meanwhile, I do work, and the only reason I opted out of the pension scheme is because I can’t afford the monthly payments. After paying tax, national insurance, mortgage, bills, and everything else, there’s hardly anything left to put into my pension pot. Maybe the government should consider reducing taxes so that people can afford to make monthly contributions to their pensions instead. And then people like that wouldn’t be so bitter about having us to subside in our old age. Just a thought 🤷🏼‍♀️

and which services are you happy for the government to stop funding to allow for the drop in taxes?

Miley23 · 24/07/2025 17:20

I don't necessarily think it's easier being a home owner in retirement years. It depends on the situation. Some older people particularly those in social housing get the vast majority of their rent paid for them by housing benefit, especially if like you they will have no private pension, wheras homeowners can be crippled by one huge house repair bill.