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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Or are they? Put me in my place or make me feel vindicated please.

82 replies

Rosmarin · 19/02/2012 20:32

I am a student and I share a flat with a 38-year-old. Flat's in her name, I pay 40% but have paid extra the last two months to help her out, so it's about 50-50. Flat is openplan duplex. We both keep flat nice and tidy and pleasant and get along very well when just the two of us. She has a private bedroom, I have a balcony which overlooks the living area and have thin curtains for privacy, so perhaps shouldn't be paying as much as she has the better situation? She has ldr with fiance. He is visiting this weekend. They are both smokers. Fiance is in his 50s.

She normally smokes in her room or on the balcony. We live in Spain so the weather is lovely even now. I voiced my concerns after his last visit because he believes 'one should be able to smoke at home' and so smokes in ours. She and I agreed there would be no smoking in common areas (because it floats into my 'room').

He smoked yesterday and this morning, and after biting my tongue I finally asked him as politely as I could if he would smoke on the balcony. He just said 'we'll see'. She didn't say anything. She shortly thereafter shouted up to my balcony because I'd left crumbs on the table and then reeled off a list of things I do wrong as a co-sharer. I had a friend over and flatmate made it clear we weren't welcome in the flat, so we left. I stayed out all day to give everyone space. When I returned, the flat was smokey and their ashtray was full on the coffee table (shared area). My clothes etc are full of smoke. It just seems very spiteful and unpleasant, but I do have to live with her and they are making no indication of not smoking.

Apart from having a right not to inhale smoke, I don't like it on my clothes and bedclothes and my Mum died about 2 years ago from smoking-induced lung cancer so it's a fresh scar. She knows this.

AIBU to be really Angry? And if not, how do I make this situation liveable? He will be visiting again. Sorry for lengthy post...

OP posts:
Rosmarin · 01/03/2012 14:36

Cory - We should all be able to live the way we want to and do what we want as long as it doesn't harm or disturb other people, as I'm sure you agree. I pay equal rent and we had a clear agreement from the outset that smoking would be kept outside or in the private room of my flatmate. Decency and upholding agreements should be universal.

I also think that smoking constitutes 'harm' to other people, so it's doubley difficult. And it's not that their Spanish or that I'm English (I'm not) - it's just that there's a woman being bullied by her controlling fiance which is in turn making my living situation difficult.

Another thing:

Today, two of my colleagues approached me and asked whether my flatmate knew I was moving out (both of the colleagues know). I was a bit perplexed but it turns out that she said, almost identically to both of them, that she really likes having me in the flat and if I wasn't here she'd have a hard time paying the bills... Hmm And these are the only two colleagues who know I'm moving out so I don't know how many other people have heard this line and thought 'Oh, how nice.'

She definitely knows that I'm going, just not the date as that has yet to be decided, unfortunately. And before I mentioned finding a place, it was her who told me I could leave if I wanted and she could handle the costs alone...

So now I'm wondering if she's in some way setting things up so I'll look bad - as if I've jumped ship and left her stranded and in debt?

Foxy - Could you link me to those fb pages//o, como se llaman? Then I'll do a search to find something locally. I'm in Catalunya Smile Do you speak Catalan?

OP posts:
Shutupanddrive · 01/03/2012 14:51

Poor you!
First things first, sort things out for yourself

Old flatmate might not be able to cover bills if you move out - tough, not your problem any more so forget about it. Also remember she would do the same to you given half a chance so you don't owe her anything

Visitor - put them off/tell them they can't stay, you have enough on your plate at the moment.

Good luck, hope it all gets sorted out

FiteFuaite · 11/04/2012 12:06

Rosmarin,I was thinking about you this morning and wondering how you got/were getting on?

I hope you managed to move ok and that you are now blissfully ensconced in your new home :)

I lived in Barcelona and a couple of the towns around it years ago when I was younger and thinner ...sigh... ;)

plutocrap · 11/04/2012 14:24

I know this thread is a resurrected one, but just wanted to add my sympathy. I had a lot of accommodation trouble in my year abroad as well, so I know how you feel!

Please make sure you contact your tutor/Director of Studies about this, so s/he knows if it is necessary to cut you some slack academically, or they may be able to help with summer accommodation, in case you haven't managed to sort that. You could add that you'd like to tell second years about your experience, so they are prepared for troubles of their own, and have an idea how to get out of trouble before any trouble even starts!

Rosmarin · 24/04/2012 23:10

Thanks for checking back in you two!

Actually I was incredibly lucky and found a great flat in the next town along for slightly less money. I have a private room and en-suite, a great new flatmate as well as a huge sunny terrace for enjoying the rays here :) There's even a guest room and I did have my guest to stay after all and we got on like a house on fire. I can't believe my luck, really! So altogether I am much better off, although it was a knackering experience to move so suddenly!

The new flatmate has also introduced me to a bunch of new opportunities and through her I've joined a local sports team etc. Much better this time round Smile

I will probably convey some info to second years as I remember how daunted I was before. It's amazing how much more confident and able I am to just deal with things. I was a bit of a picky wimp before!

OP posts:
plutocrap · 26/04/2012 14:57

Your ex-"flatmate" really killed her golden goose, didn't she? Are you still working together?

Groovee · 26/04/2012 15:06

Glad you are settled now

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