Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

Original poster

Landlady woes

22 replies

Autumngrump · 26/09/2015 11:30

I currently share the house I rent with the owner (used to rent the whole house but she's temporarily moved back in & is driving me mad).

AIBU to feel angry that she's booked a painter/decorator to come round all weekend whilst she's not here? Early starts and quite noisy, sawing and banging wood etc

She has given him a key so I don't have to be here to let him in but I think she could have waited till she was around. It's not the first time as she booked a plumber to come round whilst she was away on a previous occasion. I know its her house but I pay a lot of money to stay here too.

I feel as if any time I have to 'myself' in the house ends up being spoiled by her booking jobs to be done whilst she is out. Is my irritation blowing it all out of perspective? please tell me like it is

OP posts:

lorelei9 · 26/09/2015 11:33

the thing is, if she didn't live there, she'd still book the jobs in for whenever IYSWIM. I agree a considerate landlord would ask - and someone doing the work at the weekend is annoying - but what I wonder is, would she have done this even if she didn't live there?

If you don't have to deal with him at all, then waiting till she was in is pretty irrelevant. I would hope that he won't ask you questions etc. There's tea making I guess....the fact that it's a weekend - assuming you don't work weekends - is what would bug me the most I think.

Penfold007 · 26/09/2015 11:33

Give your notice and move.

Original poster

Autumngrump · 26/09/2015 11:37

If she hadn't moved back in, I don't think she'd have booked the jobs though...it is painting windows and doors and god knows what else. I feel miserable so yes I guess I should look for somewhere else!

OP posts:

TenForward82 · 26/09/2015 11:38

Why does it matter whether she's there or not?

TheHouseOnTheLane · 26/09/2015 11:39

Did you know her personally before? Sounds very odd! If I rent a house then I have a tenancy agreement and having the LL move in is not usual!

specialsubject · 26/09/2015 11:42

also seems odd - if you had a normal tenancy agreement she can't move back in.

but put up with things being fixed, it is a pain but stuff needs to be done.

move on if you don't like it. But so many here complain that landlords don't fix stuff so make sure the place is in a good state.

YoniMitchell · 26/09/2015 11:44

Was it always the plan that she'd move in? I hope she's giving you a rent reduction at least!

As for booking jobs in, does she give you an opportunity to say 'actually that doesn't work for me' and suggest an alternative date/time?

Original poster

Autumngrump · 26/09/2015 11:50

tenforward82 - it matters if she's here or not because she can do the teas and answer questions they have! Also, it feels like she is not having to put up with the disruption and inconvenience and having other people around.

YoniMitchell - she is reducing my rent and I suppose doing us both a favour as I will (hopefully) get the house back to myself at some point (when my rent will go up!) She never asks me if its okay about the workmen jobs, just acts like whatever works for her and I have to accept it. I suppose I feel that she forgets I pay to live here too, its not free!

Probably I am feeling disappointed and annoyed as she has sprung it on me and I had a rare weekend off work and was looking forward to quiet time at home (as she has gone away for weekend with work).

OP posts:

lorelei9 · 26/09/2015 11:53

ah, your update makes it a bit different. I was lucky with landlords but they did ask how I felt about stuff. I thought the weekend scheduling was off and this confirms it.

I guess what she's done is assumed you'd be happy enough with a reduction in rent. Do you feel you can talk to her about it?

Original poster

Autumngrump · 26/09/2015 11:59

no, I don't feel I can talk to her about it. She is one of those 'I am always right, I know best' types.

I knew I'd have to adjust to her coming back but she throws her weight around like I have no right to be here. I feel like saying 'I do still pay you, y'know'.

now she's disappeared for the weekend on a jolly and left me with the house full of people working in it and they'll be starting early tomorrow too.

I accept if she was here this weekend, the house would still be in disarray but it almost feels as if she's booked it for this weekend on purpose as she won't be here iyswim.

OP posts:

TheHouseOnTheLane · 26/09/2015 12:59

But why have you agreed to this arrangement? When I've rented houses it would never have been raised...was it rented privately?

summerainbow · 26/09/2015 13:00

You are now a lodger
Google it and you will find you have not rights .
It is your lady lady house and shr do what they want.

Give you notice and move out .

PollysHoliday · 26/09/2015 13:04

Well an obvious response seems to be to not make the workmen lots of tea. Direct them to your LL's kettle & supplies and tell them to help themselves. And don't answer any of their questions. You haven't contracted them to do any work and you are not paying them so you can't be responsible for managing them. Just tell them they need to speak to your LL. If she isn't there or doesn't answer the phone that's her problem. You won't need to be rude to the workmen when taking this stance.

BoldFox · 26/09/2015 13:10

I'd move out! Nightmare having to put up with all the decorators tramping through the house when the improvements won't even benefit you.

ModernContinental · 26/09/2015 13:12

The house could be getting ready to put on the market?

If I were you I'd be checking out where else was available etc.

Grazia1984 · 26/09/2015 13:45

It's very disrupting. We had 8 week - 5 days a week sometimes 6 - of decorators over the summer. It was awful but you just have to pay the price to get a place decorated. I think it's better you are in so at least you can keep an eye on them and make sure they are doing it all okay. Disruptive but at least she's paying for it to be done. I had to pay every last penny of those 8 weeks - price you pay for owning, sob.

BitterAndOnlySlightlyTwisted · 26/09/2015 15:43

She's "temporarily" moved in to the house in order to change your status from a tenant to that of a lodger. Henceforward you have little-to-no rights. She can get rid of you with practically no notice at all. She's having the property decorated in order to sell it, and you will be got rid of once it's all been done. Meanwhile she's getting rent off you.

Find somewhere else asap. As a lodger you don't need to give her much notice either, if any.

BlueJug · 26/09/2015 15:54

AS others have said - if you rent a house from a resident landlord you are a lodger and whilst you have different, (fewer) rights you also don't have the same responsibilities - and you pay less rent.

If you knew that and agreed to that when you took on the place then that's fine. If not then there is a problem. It might be better to move.

The work needs to be done. You could always go out. I do understand though - it must be horrible.

NotMeNotYouNotAnyone · 26/09/2015 17:11

Very weird arrangement, I've been a lodger and a proper tenant, very different situations! I wouldn't be happy about going back to being a lodger now!

She's booked it while she's away so she's not disrupted but you're there to sort them out.

I agree it sounds like she's preparing to sell. Or that this will be a permanent arrangement (she wouldn't be doing all the work for your benefit). You're best off finding somewhere else sharpish.

Original poster

Autumngrump · 26/09/2015 23:06

Thanks all for your replies. I didn't know I had different rights, thought it would resume back to me paying full bills again once she moved out but I doubt know how long she intends to stay for.
She's going the work for her benefit I think. Can't believe I have to get up early tomorrow as there will be workmen here. She's quite crafty to have booked it all to take place whilst she's off on a trip this weekend! Will take a look and see what else is out there. I really like the house such a shame to have to move but can't really stand sharing it. Thanks for advice.

OP posts:

TheHouseOnTheLane · 29/09/2015 13:22

Don't tell her you're leaving until you have somewhere else. Like YOU have no rights, neither does SHE

wowfudge · 29/09/2015 13:28

Hang on - did you not sign a tenancy agreement when you moved in? What exactly is the arrangement? A landlord can't just move back in when they feel like it. Were you renting a room rather than the whole house?

Flip

Swipe left for the next trending thread