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AIBU?

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Original poster

To consider distancing myself from a friend over her views on renting and benefits?

58 replies

TheGentlePoet · 19/04/2026 14:14

I’ve had a conversation with a friend that’s left me a bit uncomfortable and I’m not sure if I’m overreacting.

She’s a landlord and was saying that with the changes to renter rules and the abolition of Section 21, she’s planning to sell up and “claim benefits as it’s the only way forward.” It just didn’t sit right with me - the tone of it, more than anything and it’s made me question our values a bit.

I’m now wondering whether I’m being unreasonable to consider distancing myself over this or whether it’s fair to feel put off by it.

AIBU?

OP posts:
PeopleLikeColdplayYouCantTrustPeopleJez · 19/04/2026 14:28

Sounds like she’s in for a rude awakening as by the sounds of it she’ll be entitled to the grand sum of fuck all.

catipuss · 19/04/2026 14:26

I don't think she meant it literally, just venting her frustration on her current problems as a landlord.

Sprogonthetyne · 19/04/2026 14:26

Selling up because of the changes to renting rules isn't unreasonable, if it's now higher risk, less profitable, or possiblely loses money (quite possble if she was only scraping by before) then it's no longer a sensible investment.

The benefits comment was a bit odd, unless maybe she's unable to work and the rental profit was her only income. She could potentially have very high mortgages and very little capital, so it's not impossible that she would go from living off rent to benefits, but it would be a pretty unusual situation.

sesquipedalian · 19/04/2026 14:25

OP, did she mean it literally, or was she saying it as she’s hacked off with the changes to rules for landlords? How good a friend is she? You don’t actually have to agree with every last opinion a friend holds - I have a very dear friend but there are a couple of things we just don’t talk about as we know our opinions are diametrically opposed.

SpiceGirlsNeedAComeBack · 19/04/2026 14:25

Well if she sold up, she wouldn’t get a penny of benefits so it’s irrelevant.

Friendlygingercat · 19/04/2026 14:24

Despite having to pay tax she is going to realise quite a bit of money which will debar her from benefits. Even if she is saavy enough to park it in an offshore account she would have to account to the benefits people as to how she went from being a property owner to being unable to support herself.

NeverGonnaGiveYouUpProbablyGonnaLetYouDown · 19/04/2026 14:15

Well she can't simply sell up and claim benefits anyway so I probably wouldn't be friends with her based on the fact she doesn't know what she's talking about yet so confident with it.

pinkyredrose · 19/04/2026 14:15

Presumably she'd get quite a lot of money from selling so she wouldn't be eligible for benefits anyway.

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