Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Is it me, or is my new flatmate batshit?

315 replies

ThierryEnnui · 15/10/2018 22:08

Posting in Chat so this disappears eventually.

I’m almost sure I’m not BU, but I’d appreciate a sounding board before I compose a strongly worded message!

My new flatmate moved in 3 weeks ago. When I’d met her I saw no red flags - on paper she lives a similar lifestyle to me, we clicked straight away, she’s chatty etc. But within a couple of days, something in my gut just said it wasn’t quite right. On the first morning, she quite loudly knocked on my door and opened it (I was asleep) and asked to borrow a comb. I got up and found her one. 5 mins later, she wants to borrow my toothpaste. And then my hairdryer. Fine, she’s just moved in, but she’s come from another flat share so surely she had these things before?

That evening she baked chicken in so much BBQ sauce I must have burnt a week’s worth of calories scrubbing the dish (which was left on the side, not even soaking). I’m a vegetarian and she hadn’t done much to clean up the raw chicken-y mess from her meal prep: there were chunks attached to the chopping board which she’d put straight into the dishwasher.

A couple of other things:

  1. I was away for the weekend and she had come into my room, taken my hairdryer again and not returned it
  2. She’s taken one of the sofa scatter cushions for her bed - I didn’t know this until I went in to try and find the kitchen scissors when she was out. The kitchen scissors have turned up this evening after I asked, as they had fallen (?) into her handbag...

All of this is irritating but not a dealbreaker. Until this evening... as I got in from work she asked if she could ask me a ‘strange’ question. Sure, fire away. She very gingerly and awkwardly began to imply she’d invited a bloke over next weekend. I laughed and said ‘don’t worry!’ - it wouldn’t bother me at all. But then she came out with: ‘so would you mind if i paid for you to get a hotel for the weekend?’

I laughed awkwardly and muttered something about keeping out of their hair and that I’m a heavy sleeper so it wouldn’t be necessary, but I feel a) completely baffled and b) like I need to send her a carefully crafted message just making clear that this is my home and I found it odd. One friend’s theory is that she wants the bloke to believe it’s her own flat. Another thinks she’s got weird fetishes Grin

I just think it’s really fucking cheeky and has kind of heightened all my irritation about the other things to the point I feel kind of uncomfortable and like I don’t want to be here! Any tips on what to say in my message would be appreciated - I want to give her a chance and I don’t want to be heavy handed, but I feel I need her to realise that it was a completely bonkers and disrespectful thing to suggest. Confused

OP posts:
marvellousnightforamooncup · 25/10/2018 16:33

I had a shot lodger like that once. He used to burn the pans and say they needed a 'patina'. He never cleaned his room and there would be dirty plates crusting away in his room. When he started using my toothbrush I kicked him out. I said a mate wanted the room, turns out a friend really did need a room so it worked out well.

ThanksItHasPockets · 25/10/2018 20:31

Is she now aware that you own the house and that she is your lodger rather than a fellow tenant?

ThierryEnnui · 26/10/2018 16:17

I’ve sent her the message giving her notice until the end of her current rent period. I feel sick!

OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

HauntedForestier · 26/10/2018 16:19

Sounds like you did the right thing OP

dontalltalkatonce · 26/10/2018 16:30

Just tell her you've had to give her notice as a friend needs a place to live.

ThierryEnnui · 26/10/2018 16:31

She’s read the message (blue ticks on WhatsApp) but not responded. Feel even more sick now!

OP posts:
VanellopeVonSchweetz99 · 26/10/2018 16:34

Well done OP. You're doing the right thing!

Delatron · 26/10/2018 16:39

Good work OP. Try not to feel bad. It’s your house and she is taking the piss massively.

SheRaTheAllPowerful · 26/10/2018 16:42

Oh well done, you’ll be much better off!

ThierryEnnui · 26/10/2018 16:45

Perhaps she’s not responding because she’s en route to change the locks/kill my cats?! Argh!

Amongst the more obvious ones, this process has definitely taught me I need to be more assertive and also that I might need therapy for my anxiety Grin

OP posts:
al2002 · 26/10/2018 17:14

You're doing the right thing OP.
Less of the feeling guilty and more of getting angry.

LexieLulu · 27/10/2018 00:07

Did she respond?

ThierryEnnui · 27/10/2018 11:07

Yes - she said (verbatim) “I’m truly disappointed. I don’t have any other words”.

Confused
OP posts:
ThierryEnnui · 27/10/2018 11:08

I haven’t seen her since as I got in late and she was asleep. Can hear her pottering around in the kitchen now... wtaf do I do or say?! I’m hiding in my room!

OP posts:
Cuckooclocks · 27/10/2018 11:12

That is way too much crazy to be revealed given she’s a new flatmate and this is still the “best behaviour” stage...
...based on past experience I would get her out of here, the hotel comment is just plain weird.

ElizabethMainwaring · 27/10/2018 11:15

OP - haven't read the thread yet - but wanted to congratulate you on your user name. It's brilliant!

queenrollo · 27/10/2018 11:24

I've followed this but not posted before.

She's just very odd, isn't she? She appears to really lack any social skills or self-awareness.
When is the end of the rental period?

It's hard when being assertive doesn't come naturally, so I do have some sympathy with why you are finding this hard.
I would go into the kitchen and see if she responds to you or ignores you.

Otterseatpuffinsdontthey · 27/10/2018 11:30

Q

mum8196 · 27/10/2018 11:32

All of those little things would really annoy me, but at the same time you really need to specify what you want from a flat mate next time you interview

Wauden · 27/10/2018 11:37

She is devious and up to something. It is your home with your rules. I would say, it's not the house for you, sorry, can you find another place more siuted for you.
Very dodgy.... make sure that you hide your handbag now.
No way should anyone suggest that you move out even for an evening.
Spidey senses. I have had lodgers and this is definitely a red flag but be v careful. Most are good, just get rid.

WhingyNinja · 27/10/2018 11:38

Don't hide! It's half 11 and you're not a prisoner in your own home. She will either completely blank you or she will ask why you're giving her notice and you can give her your reason. It may be awkward but it's not forever.

MajorArcana · 27/10/2018 11:43

None of it sounded too weird to me until you got to the part where you said she wanted you out for a weekend and she was prepared to pay for you to leave. That makes no sense. Why not take her bf to a cheap hotel.

Id worry that she is taking out loans in your name. Does she know your date of birth, your pps number, and if she has you out of the house to intercept mail to you then bingo she could have enough to borrow in yr name. Dramatic worse case scenario. I know. But it happened to somebody i knew yrs ago.

ForgivenessIsDivine · 27/10/2018 11:55

Go in. .. tell her you want to clear the air..

Be firm. Say that you are uncomfortable with her borrowing your things and not returning them. You are not happy that she does not clean up after herself and does not respect your belongings, mention the burnt pans and the broken glass and then say the fact that she asked you to move out for the weekend unfortunately confirmed to you that she is not a suitable lodger for you.

MajorArcana · 27/10/2018 12:13

I wouldnt go in to detail. Just say it turns out this isnt what you want.

Jux · 27/10/2018 12:32

Get into that kitchen and make your tea/coffee! You don't need to hide from her. If it's awkward around her that's her problem not yours, but is also further confirmation that you're not compatible.

She should be the one hiding in her room. Don't let her dominate you.