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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to tell the painter to bugger off in the morning?

13 replies

igetmorelovefromthecat · 05/12/2011 23:45

I live in a rented house and the landlords are putting the house on the market soon, as my tenancy is nearly finished. There are some damp patches in the dining room and the front door and window sills look a bit shabby so they have arranged for a painter to come and treat the damp and paint what needs to be painted.

I did tell the landlords I was OK with this but I now regret it. The painter turned up today, and the stuff he used to seal the damp absolutely stank, not just like paint but a really potent chemical smell. I have 2 DD's, one is 16 months and one is 7 years, but I had to take the decision this morning that DD1 would not be going to school as basically due to chronic constipation she has started leaking poo literally all day and has no control over this, so I could not really send her to school.

I had things to do all day out of the house today so went out as the house was so smelly and took poor DD1 with me (she feels fine, she just has pooey pants), and obviously the baby too. I stayed out longer than I normally would as didn't want to go home where the baby would be meddling with the paint and we would all have to breathe in the horrible fumes whilst freezing as all the windows had to be open. Also, turns out the front door has to be open while it is painted so again it adds a cold draught and is an obvious safety risk as DD2 could easily get out onto the road.

So the painter is due back to come back in the morning, I think it's only one more days work, but DD1 will be off school again and today was a bit traumatic to be honest with all the poo while out and about, so I will have to be in the house, but I am kind of dreading it due to all the reasons mentioned above. So AIBU to tell the painter he can't paint tomorrow when he gets here? I feel bad as I did say it would be OK and it's the painter who will lose out on money if he loses a day's work tomorrow.

OP posts:
jasper · 05/12/2011 23:49

you know you are being unreasonable.

AKissIsNotAContract · 05/12/2011 23:50

Sorry but I think YABU. It's really unfair for the painter to lose a day's wages at such short notice.

squeakytoy · 05/12/2011 23:52

YABU and as the landlord is employing the painter, and you have already okayed the days as ok, then I dont think it is really up to you to make that decision either..

igetmorelovefromthecat · 05/12/2011 23:52

Oh God. OK I thought I probably would BU if I told him that, but just wanted to check in case there was a loophole involving ill children. More pounding the streets with 2 kids and cleaning up poo for me tomorrow then.

OP posts:
jasper · 05/12/2011 23:55

I hope your girls are a bit better tomorrow. Those gut things often come on quickly but disappear just as fast Smile

lottiegb · 05/12/2011 23:55

YABU, I wouldn't do this to a painter in my own house, never mind a rented one where they are working for the landlord.

Sounds like there could usefully have been more communication in advance about what the work entailed but, workmen do tend to come in and do their thing, without always being great at spelling out effects to anyone. Grin and bear it i'm afraid.

AKissIsNotAContract · 05/12/2011 23:56

Why can't your Dd just be indoors in a different room to the painter?

squeakytoy · 05/12/2011 23:56

Speak to the painter in the morning anyway. He may well have finished with the damp seal stuff now, and not be using that tomorrow.

igetmorelovefromthecat · 06/12/2011 00:01

Thanks Jasper, but it's not a gut thing, it's been going on for a couple of years now and is linked to ongoing wee infections that she has, but the poo thing has only got really bad over the last few days.

AKiss...my house is not very big downstairs so even if we are in a different room it will still be super smelly. Also DD2 has a morbid fascination with the painter and his paint and will be trying to menace him up all day.

Squeakytoy...I hope you are right!

OP posts:
jasper · 06/12/2011 00:09

"menace him up" - what a great turn of phrase!
Hope your day turns out ok

igetmorelovefromthecat · 06/12/2011 00:10

It can't be any worse than today (famous last words?!). :)

OP posts:
WhoopsyLa · 06/12/2011 00:14

Move upstairs...we did that when the painters were in here....I took a kettle up and we lay in bed camped all day!

Bag of junk food and a DVD....nice! Shut the door.

Shutupanddrive · 06/12/2011 07:24

Was going to suggest move upstairs for the day too

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