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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To Clean Lodger's Room?

125 replies

MarriedToNetflix · 02/02/2018 19:08

NC for this.

I live with my husband and female friend who's our lodger. She pays rent every month and has her own room while having full use of the rest of the house. She works nights (5 on, 2 off) and we're all in our early thirties.

Lodger has always been lazy. She never cleans the communal areas but has always seen to her room. About a year ago she brought a cat home who was due to be put down that belonged to her friend and it didn't get along with our cat so she keeps it confined to her room at all times. The cat won't leave the room even if the door is open so while I've been concerned about the cat, I've been told she's fine.

Lodger hasn't cooked in months. She orders takeaway, eats in her room and doesn't take the rubbish out. She does a big clean maybe once a month and fills our bin up when she does it. I haven't spoken to her about this because I didn't want her to be embarrassed.

She's been away for four days with no contact. I tried texting her asking if she was coming home and if she needed me to feed the cat. No response. Called many times. One ring and straight to voicemail. Mutual friends said she was out drinking Wednesday and yesterday so I knew she was safe but I couldn't get hold of her at all. I'm annoyed because I've fed her cat on request before but either a) she expected me to feed the cat or b) didn't mind the cat starving with no fresh water for days.

After realising the cat hadn't been fed in two days I went into her room to feed it and OH MY GOD THE MESS. Cat litter and poo on the carpet, clothes everywhere, tins and tins of empty cat food on the side and the smell was disgusting. I fed the cat and left but mentioned it to my husband who went upstairs and said he could smell it on the landing. He said we couldn't live like this and went in to change the cats litter tray, take out the three black bags of rubbish he found including one of used cat litter and to crack a window.

Lodger came home today and said hello. We didn't say anything. She obviously noticed her room was cleaner and didn't confront us. We went out and came home to her leaving for work through the front door without even saying goodbye as usual so she's annoyed.

Was this unreasonable to feed her cat and expect not to live in filth in our home? It was absolutely reeking. Planning on having a conversation Sunday when I next see her about where to go from here.

OP posts:
ChasedByBees · 02/02/2018 19:33

Normally I’d say you shouldn’t but if you know there’s an animal in there not being fed then you have to. To have a room which is stinking out the house is not acceptable so YANBU.

BackforGood · 02/02/2018 19:33

Before reading your OP, I was going to say - 'her room, which she is payng rent for, so you don't have the right to go in and clean, no.'
However
The information about why you needed to go in, and what the room was like, puts a different light on it.
What I don't understand is why you didn't have the conversation as soon as she returned though. Confused
You either need to give her notice, or say she has to follow basic rules of hygiene if she is going to live in your home.

OnTheRise · 02/02/2018 19:35

It's horrible to keep a cat confined to one room. It's even worse if that one room is dirty and smelly.

I'd consider taking the cat to a rescue centre without her knowledge. Tell her you went in there to see if it was ok and it was dead. Poor thing. And I'd give your friend notice because the longer she's with you the worse this is going to get. No one should live like that.

Bluelady · 02/02/2018 19:36

How anyone could be so cruel to an animal and disrespectful to someone else's home is beyond me. Both she and the cat need new homes.

babyccinoo · 02/02/2018 19:40

She was annoyed at you? [hmm{

Cheeky cow, get rid of her. She won't change whatever she promises.

Whatwouldkeithrichardsdo · 02/02/2018 19:41

Life is too short. Serve notice. Get rid. I say this because of the animal cruelty you mention alone.

Thoroughly vet and set ground rules with the next lodger before they move in. Have it in writing.

LagunaBubbles · 02/02/2018 19:42

Why on earth didn't you bringing up with her right away when she got back? Confused

stardust18 · 02/02/2018 19:43

Dirty bugger and to have the cheek to be off with you. I can't believe she's treating your home like that. Good job there's a cat in there otherwise I'm sure a rat would love it! I'd say it's not working for us anymore you need to find somewhere else to live. The poor Cat stuck in one room all the time with its poop and pee, sounds like that needs a new home too. Dirty bitch

BulletFox · 02/02/2018 19:43

Another one who before clicking on thread title thought 'no', but that is awful.

Poor little cat. It's not ok to leave it without food, water or litter tray.

I think you're going to have to have 'the talk' with her, it's not working out

Katedotness1963 · 02/02/2018 19:43

Poor cat, living in one disgusting room, surrounded by its own mess. What a sad life...

I'd tell her she had to leave. Paying rent or not, that's no way to treat someone else's home!

MarriedToNetflix · 02/02/2018 19:47

I didn't confront her because I'm nine weeks pregnant and very hormonal. I didn't want to start a chat and end up raging because I am so angry this has happened, especially regarding the cat and lose a friendship over it. It's why when she left without saying goodbye I posted on here to see if I really was being unreasonable before having it out on Sunday. Sunday would have given me time to think on it a little and calm down.

The plan was to discuss her leaving in June to give her plenty of time to sort a place that takes pets and somewhere she likes but DH and you all
have made me realise she's not going to get better and it's actually a far more devastating situation than I first realised in regards to her poor elderly cat. My cat has full reign of the house with the dogs and lots of socialisation and her poor cat is constantly locked inside a (not huge) double room.

OP posts:
MyBrilliantDisguise · 02/02/2018 19:49

Get her out asap and get the cat rehomed. She's disgusting.

MatildaTheCat · 02/02/2018 19:50

Sorry to be blunt but you are facilitating her mistreating her cat. Tell her the arrangement isn’t working and give her two weeks’ notice.

She’s irresponsible and filthy. Not ideal lodger material.

isadoradancing123 · 02/02/2018 19:50

Get rid of her immediately. Poor cat, that's cruel

TillyMint81 · 02/02/2018 19:52

I'm sure you know this but be careful around cat poop if you are pregnant. X

MarriedToNetflix · 02/02/2018 19:53

There's no contract but I'd like to try not to lose my friend over this. What's an acceptable amount of notice? One month? Two?

OP posts:
Bluelady · 02/02/2018 19:54

One month. And cat goes immediately.

specialsubject · 02/02/2018 19:56

As a lodger she can be kicked out tomorrow. She's skanking up your house and mistreating an animal. With friends like that....

BTW be careful with cat excreta in pregnancy, I think there's a risk.

humblesims · 02/02/2018 19:56

Take that poor animal to a shelter and then tell her to get the fuck out of your house
Exactly.
She's not a friend is she, friends wouldnt treat your home that way. The cat is one thing and needs to be sorted. And its not acceptable in any universe for her to keep the room in such a state.
You know of course that when you give her notice she will just fuck off and leave that room in the disgusting state its already in. And she wont find another place that will take on a cat. I would take the cat and give it to a rehomeing site and I wouldnt care if that pissed her off.
Dont try to spare her feelings OP she's a CF.

kalinkafoxtrot45 · 02/02/2018 19:56

What a disgusting woman she is! No respect for you or your home, and cruel to animals too. I'd be booting her out asap, who cares if she has nowhere to go, she didn't care if the cat had food.

kalinkafoxtrot45 · 02/02/2018 19:58

Btw: since you already have a cat, there's a good chance you're already immune to toxoplasmosis, but just in case please wear gloves when dealing with that room.

Helllllooooooo · 02/02/2018 20:01

I’d imagine you have to give as much notice as often as she pays.
I’m not sure I would want her as a friend, she obviously has no respect for you, your family, your home or the cat.

rocketgirl22 · 02/02/2018 20:03

absolutely the cat goes to the shelter and she needs to leave immediately

Pearlsaringer · 02/02/2018 20:03

Does your friend have any MH issues that you are aware of? I ask as it sounds a bit more than just untidiness. She is probably ashamed that you saw how she lives, hence making herself scarce, but she may not be able to do anything about it. Obviously she can’t continue living with you, but if she is a friend she may need your support in other ways.

Pengggwn · 02/02/2018 20:04

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