Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Angry angry angry

199 replies

Sounbelievablydull · 28/09/2017 23:27

Dd and her boyfriend live with us- they are both mid twenties- supposidly saving for their own place.
We charge minimal rent £100 pm each ( London) that includes everything food toiletries etc
They help out a bit not much cook dinner once a week
Other than that that not much else
This evening dd has flounced into the room where I'm watching to brandishing her boyfriends shirt complaining that I have somehow washed it inadequately so it has strange stains on it
She later came back in to show me that I'd washed it with a pen in a jacket of hers which had leaked
She's furious his shirt is ruined by me! And she will now have to buy him another to replace it- message is I should - I think??
yes I did go and get washing from their room because if I don't it piles up into a stinking pile
I also do their ironing - I feel really angry and am awaiting the onslaught of advice telling me what an idiot I am bring it on

OP posts:
MoosicalDaisy · 29/09/2017 09:13

Don't do their washing or their ironing. Start charging them more and stop including food/toiletries in that.

I paid £100 a week when I was 17 that was not including food. I was earning £120 a week full time. I promptly moved out. They have it good.

Inform her not to speak to you like that in your house.

Appuskidu · 29/09/2017 09:14

Use this as an opportunity to lay some ground rules. I could not live as you currently are.

FlowerPot1234 · 29/09/2017 09:16

You have made your bed.

Of course your DD's behaviour is disgraceful, but you have brought her up to behave this way, you are facilitating her behaving this way into her 20s, and hey presto.

You have asked 20-somethings to pay just £100 per month for everything included. £100 each a month in London? Are you crazy? You have led them to believe that laundry is included in what they have paid for. Are you crazy? So she's right to be angry that her laundress has not provided the service she expected (if you see what I mean). You are off your head in providing that service in the first place.

What the hell are you doing doing the laundry of adults? Leave it in a stinking pile. Leave them to do it. If they don't have anything to wear, they don't have anything to wear - they might get off their lazy backsides and a) do it b) buy more clothes.

You are living with idiot taking the piss Snowflakes, but you have given them permission to be this way. Stop it today.

onemorecupofcoffeefortheroad · 29/09/2017 09:18

Your DD and her bf are perfectly capable of doing their own laundry and absolutely you should not be doing their ironing.
I have two boys and haven't done their ironing since they were 15 - they do their own and they both started doing their own laundry from age 16.

AWaspOnAWindowInAHeatwave · 29/09/2017 09:19

She shouldn't have spoken to you like that. Is her BF verbally/emotionally abusive towards her? Is she scared of his reaction on finding out his shirt was ruined by her pen, and could she be projecting onto you? Just a thought (and sorry if someone's already mentioned this possibility).

tygr · 29/09/2017 09:24

I had a place in London, moved out and rented it to young professionals. This is a few years ago now and they were paying £1,400 a month between them. Just for accommodation, no bills, no services, no washing!

They are getting an absolute bargain.

Remember that when you decide what to do and say next.

SonicBoomBoom · 29/09/2017 09:24

Yeah... You've sort of been hoist by your own petard here OP.

Stop doing it their laundry.

Stop cooking all their meals for them.

Make a tidy room and chores being done part of the conditions of them staying with you, and if they don't like it, they can leave.

It's sadly true that no good deed goes unpunished.

AC14MUZ · 29/09/2017 09:25

£100 ppm Shock and that includes getting your laundry done? Can I come and live with you please?! I'll make sure I don't leave any pens in my pockets.

Don't feel bad about not saving the money, when I lived at home I paid housekeeping, but it didn't include my washing and ironing or any toiletries etc, or food even, I remember buying that myself too! My parents didn't save what I gave them and they are very well off.

You are doing them a huge favour and its a shame they can't see it. I hope when my kids grow up I can be as good to them as you are being, especially by letting your DD boyfriend stay too.

Can you get an air freshener and put it outside their room so when the stinky pile gets bigger and bigger you won't have to smell it anyway
Wink

PovertyJetset · 29/09/2017 09:27

Charge them more and save some of if like your sister?

Give them a breakdown of household costs, and tell them to wise the hell up.

Give them notice.

tocas · 29/09/2017 09:29

Just to say OP that I am in my mid twenties and whenever I go home to visit my parents or we stay with DPs parents I try to go out of my way to do my bit around the house and that is just when we are visiting! You are being an absolute mug letting them treat you like this - who cares if their washing is in a stinking pile in their room? At this rate they will never move out, why would they?

EvilDoctorBallerinaDuckKeidis · 29/09/2017 09:30

I did my own washing in my teens. Do they know what a washing machine is?

tocas · 29/09/2017 09:31

Also when I lived at home I did my own washing from the age of 13, why on earth would I expect somebody else to do my washing? Bizarre Confused

letsdolunch321 · 29/09/2017 09:34

£200.00pm between them in rent .... Seriously they probably use that on electricity, gas and water used per month.

Firstly, he can replace his own shirt, secondly I would draw a rota for them to incorporate washing, ironing into their evening routine along with giving a hand washing up, drying and putting away and thirdly double their rent and treat yourself to something each month from it !!

Good luck

AngelsWithSilverWings · 29/09/2017 09:39

£100 a month is mad! I was paying my mum that in 1990 and did my own washing and ironing and purchased my own toiletries. That was a fair chunk out of my salary back then.

You need to charge them a realistic rent even if you just put it in a savings account and give it back to them when they finally do get to the point of getting their own place.

Jux · 29/09/2017 09:41

Rules. Chores. They need boundaries, and they need to be made aware of what is involved in working and keeping a house, so they need to participate.

All adults are responsible for the environment in which they live so make them responsible by giving them Rules Which Shall Not Be Broken. If they don't' keep them then He, at least, goes - and mean it. It was only meant to be temporary anyway, and temporary disappeared a long time ago.

You are not their Charlady, but if they treat you like you are then charge them.

They each need to cook once a week and clear up after.
They each need to keep things neat and tidy and clean.
If they don't do their washing you bag it and put it out.
Anything out of place in the bathroom gets bagged and dumped.
Etcetera etcetera etcetera.

Good luck.

Mary1935 · 29/09/2017 09:42

Hi are they actually saving up and what is there goal. Are they going out a lot - buying lots of stuff? How much are they saving each month. They are taking the piss and you are enabling them badly. When I was 17 I earned £36 a week working as a waitress in a wimpy bar - I had to give £18 each week for my keep this was 35 years ago!!!! Find out there plans - see if it works for you - stop doing there washing - If it stinks bag it up and leave in there room. She doesn't respect you and the more you give - the more they will take. Good luck and stop putting up with this.

RhiannonOHara · 29/09/2017 09:42

I can't leave the washing ironing bathroom etc because I cannot live in the equivalent of a student house

That's why they're staying. They've got a very good deal indeed.

Tell them a) your daughter shouldn't speak to anyone like that, b) you'll no longer do their washing and c) they can have until x date (personally I'd say 3 months from now) and then they will be moving out.

lurkingnotlurking · 29/09/2017 09:44

They don't need to own a place. They need to rent. They're old enough. Give them their notice to leave.

TheodoreFrancine · 29/09/2017 09:45

Did any of you recent posters bother to read the OP's reply? Hmm

Well done for allowing your eyes to be opened OP - Your Dd's going to wish she hadn't complained about the pen lol! However as you said this situation has drifted into being so once you take control I'm sure things will be a lot better. Good luck!

WellThisIsShit · 29/09/2017 09:48

Yup you need boundaries, and they need boundaries. The current situation isn't working for you or them.

  • Don't go into their room.
  • Don't do laundry... especially if it means you invading their privacy.
  • Strict rules for communal areas of house - if they don't like it they can move.
  • You cannot insist on their private space being up to your standards. Unless it's going to invite critters in, let them live in their own squalor!

Make a clear division between private and public space. You may well find they are a lot more respectful of house rules if they are treated like grownups, and that means you respecting their right to privacy in their own room.

At the moment it feels like you've both made a deal with the devil that means everyone feels badly done to and entitled to more than they're getting. Never ends well.

They pay a pittance in return for leaving their adulthood at the door. Suspect they are taking the situation and you for granted as they feel it's a trade off because they have no privacy and right to decide how they live.

You feel they have to live exactly to your rules, and because they're paying a pittance, they don't have a right to privacy or to make their own decisions.

Tbh I would be furious about you invading my personal space and rifling through all my stuff for my used underwear to wash! Gross invasion of privacy, ugh! That's because I'm not a child and I have a right to my own space, and with that I have a right to do my own laundry and tidying in that space :) I think you're thinking martyred thoughts about 'having' to do their laundry because you expect, and don't get, them living in exactly the way you want to run your household. But switch that around. Think about being free to do your own clothes, in your own way, when you want to, as a 'right', not a chore you're taking off them as they won't do it 'properly'.

However this right to privacy and freedom to make their own decisions about how they live only extends as far as their own room! Then, it's all about your rights in the rest of the house (within reason of course!). They certainly don't have any rights to make the rest of your house messy or dump their stuff around it.

Ultimately it's all up to you, as it's your house. However as they are not children anymore and they pay (nominal) rent, they would be reasonable to need privacy & to be treated like grown up housemates/ lodgers vs naughty kids.

I'd be making rules very clear. And making it clear that once rules and rent has been agreed, if they don't abide by them they have the choice to move out.

And that's fine.

No flouncing or emotional blackmail needed, as they are grown ups living on extremely good terms in another grown ups house. If the terms are not acceptable to them, that's fine, because they have the option to go. If the terms are acceptable and agreed, then everyone sticks to the rules, just as they'd have to as lodgers in someone else's house.

They don't have the choice to treat you like a skivvy or treat your house like it's their own (in terms of communal area standards). Or rather, they can do that, but they can't expect to do that without consequences. And that consequence will be to be asked to move out. And you need to be ready to abide by that, and not let it descend into a situation where everyone blurred boundaries and disrespects each other (which is what the current situation seems to have descended into!).

Their bedroom, their rules... within your household, your rules!

They get their own room, in exchange for rent & abiding by the rent agreement. You're giving them privacy and the 'right' to deal with their own laundry, tidying, cleaning etc. In exchange, they get to abide by your rules and standards throughout the rest of the house.

Cooking / kitchen use is likely to be another flash point, so you'll have to have clear rules and expectations for this.

Are they expected to eat with you sometimes for example? Or do they cook & eat separately as a lodger would?

What foods are 'communal' and up for grabs? And what isn't? Maybe you could make staples communal and give them a bit of cupboard space for extras/ special stuff that they buy for themselves? Likewise you have foods just for you and your dh, which are not for pillaging.

What happens in terms of food running out? Do you have a system for shopping lists and what goes on your weekly shop? I can imagine grubbing around the kitchen discovering what they've used up would be infuriating and keep them in the 'irresponsible teenager' type of role!

I'd also make sure they're paying enough rent so you're not paying for loads of their food on top. Show them the amount of their rent that gets used on food. And what gets used on household cleaning products etc. And how much you are subsidising them, with electricity / internet, water etc (possibly compare to figures for one bed flats in the area?), so they understand how much they are getting as part of the deal/ or free. If they've fallen into the 'kids' role in the house, they may well be taking all the 'hidden costs' for granted, and jerking them out of that attitude will help get things on a better footing.

Are you happy to cook dinners for them for them to eat when they get back? Does this mean they're locked into coming back at a certain time? I'd personally limit this to x times a week, or certain days, or confirmed x amount of time in advance.

Anyway, good luck with getting the living arrangements to be on a more grown up level, where mutual respect and clear rules and boundaries mean no one feels badly done to again.

DamnSummerCold · 29/09/2017 09:48

Good for you OP for coming back and taking it on the chin.

I think you're right to look at this in work mode and take the emotion out. Just hold on to the thought that by allowing your daughter and possible SIL to think they 'only' need £200pcm to pay thier bill you are doing her a disservice.

I've seen this in DP's family, BIL (golden child but that's another thread) was still living with MIL in his 20's he was in a very good job, all he paid was £50 for 'his' dogs food ( I say 'his' as MIL did all the actual buying the food/feeding/walking/vets including bills...) And she did everything including making his bed Shock.

When she finally put her foot down he had a tantrum and moved out within a year he was evicted from his flat, I mean why pay rent when there's a new games system....

Why budget for food when you can mooch off friends and family?
Budget for electricity, no and then act outraged when they send the bailiffs.

Bit of an extreme example I know, but all true. But he was so used to have all his wages as disposable except for £50, he was clueless.

Don't let these 2 continue to be clueless adults

TheViceOfReason · 29/09/2017 09:48

Fuck me.

Don't waste your time "investigating".

If any more is said about it, give them a raised eye brow and "are you kidding me"?

Stop buying their food and toiletries. Increase the rent - absolute minimum £100 each. They clean up any communal areas / items of the house IMMEDIATELY after using them. If they don't wash any clothes that is their problem. Keep "their" bedroom door shut and ignore it.

BrioLover · 29/09/2017 09:51

My younger sister and her boyfriend, both mid-20s, have just moved in with our DF for a few months as they are in between jobs. He is not charging them rent because he "doesn't need the money".

They are SO grateful. He hasn't cooked or cleaned since they arrived, and the boyfriend has offered to do the odd jobs around the house/garden that didn't get sorted over the summer (DF works part time despite being almost 70!). They are topping up food shops and are secretly collecting a Christmas stash of naice wine to say thank you.

That is what it should be like.

Please do NOT "investigate" the damage to the shirt - use this as the opportunity to tell them that they are very lucky to be living so cheaply with you and therefore you will not replace it. From now on you will no longer do their laundry as clearly this mistake has been made.

If they leave shit in communal areas dump it back in their room.

Oh. And make sure you know when they are leaving.

Mittens1969 · 29/09/2017 09:52

Fgs, why are you doing their washing? When I used to go back home for holidays during my uni years, I used to do the family's washing, never mind just my own!

Either she shapes up or finds herself and her boyfriend another place to live.

guilty100 · 29/09/2017 09:56

Make doing their laundry, and some of your other household jobs, part of the "rent" they pay. And insist on this. If they don't like it, they can move out.

Swipe left for the next trending thread