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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to just leave their stuff?

152 replies

AndroidsConundrum · 11/05/2018 15:20

This is going to be massively outing, but sod it!

I live with my DP in a duplex flat. DP owns the flat, I'm not on the mortgage and I don't have a tenancy agreement (yes, I know, but I can't afford a solicitor to draw up an equity agreement and work part-time, still a student) At Christmas, DP's mate was planning to split up with his girlfriend and at my suggestion (to save him continuing to live with her to save money in spite of wanting to break up with her!) I said this mate should come and stay with us. In January, he split and moved in. In late February, DP asked whether I wanted to make it a longer-term thing. The mate (FM, flatmate!) started paying us rent and moved upstairs. He also doesn't have an official agreement.

I like FM. We've been friends for as long as I've known DP. We get on well, and back in January I was working really long hours and DP was studying so it was nice to have company and have someone to go to the pub with. He moans about DP a lot (they moan about each other) and because DP and I weren't getting along, it was nice to have someone who kind of knew where I was coming from. FM can be a bit sexist and direct, and he likes to explain things to me at length like my job but apart from that he's an alright guy.

And now he's been living here for months. We share cooking, shopping and bills between the three of us. FM and DP used to live together for a few years when I was at uni, and apparently have similar high standards for flat cleanliness. They expect the surfaces in the kitchen clean, cooker clean, all things put away and no 'clutter' at any time. FIY their old flat was a shithole and hardly ever met this standard.

FM doesn't like my cooking. He complains to DP all the time that I'm messy, or leave my stuff in the kitchen (laptop and shoes and things) or don't clean the cooker every night. DP agrees. FM is aggressive and mean to me one minute and then sweet as fuck the other times. He correct me during conversations, or argues with me about politics or whatever endlessly. He does the same to DP who will have 'a chat' about how I'm spoken to, yet simultaneously agree with him.

Last week, I'd gone out to a class, then come back and was sat working in the kitchen. The kitchen wasn't clean, granted, and I was making stuff for lunches for the week. FM came in from the gym, stood there with his arms folded for about five minutes then demanded that I clean the kitchen because he can't cook. I (probably badly) responded "don't cook then". He went for a shower, I cleaned the kitchen. He came back, started telling me I was rude, arrogant and disrespectful and should apologise for my comment. Then said that I didn't understand shared space, that I am messy, leave my stuff everywhere, and I'm childish. I left and went to work in a cafe. DP comes home, FM has told him that I stropped for half an hour because he'd reasonably asked me to clean up, and started being a bitch about it. DP came to the cafe and asked me to make peace and apologise! Later he said that he's often told me to clean up, and that I generally tend to throw a massive stop and pointedly don't clean just to piss him off. That I act like a twelve year old, moan about FM all the time and if I was just cleaner, neither of them would have a go at me.

I do the majority of the cleaning. I clean the bathroom and the kitchen and do the dishwasher and hoover and dust and shop... for the last two weeks I've been making sure absolutely none of my stuff is left anywhere (I've done this experiment a couple of times to "keep peace") and all the dishes, shoes, coats etc are FM's. He's left dishes out. Nobody's hoovered. I've cooked and nobody's been in to eat it. FM shaves in his bathroom and leaves hairs on the floor. I had to ask him three times to clean the bathroom because it hadn't been done for two months. DP hasn't cleaned anything apart from wiping the kitchen/cooker for three weeks and counting.

AIBU to just leave all the stuff to prove a point? DP thinks I'm being childish but it's his stuff left out too. They're as bad as each other and I'm fucking sick of being painted out to be the messy one!

OP posts:
coconutbun · 11/05/2018 16:47

It sounds like the two of them are ganging up on you, which isn't fair at all. Your OH doesn't deserve you if he's only prepared to stand up for you 50% of the time.

I'd love to just say "leave him" but we all know it isn't always that easy. If it were me, I would start trying to put a little money aside so that if things really came to breaking point, I'd have enough money to rent somewhere for a couple of months until I sorted myself out.

Sending you big hugs, it can't be an easy situation. Flowers

AndroidsConundrum · 11/05/2018 16:48

bellanotte Three-way split on mortgage, bills and food. The two of them pay council tax on top (I'm still a student until June and earn half as much as they do, so I refused to split the tax).

OP posts:
ThumbWitchesAbroad · 11/05/2018 16:48

Why are you both putting up with this behaviour though? you let him stay with you as a favour, and he's treating you both equally badly, and encouraging your partner to treat you badly as well - why?
As Bramble said, if any of my lodgers (and I had several) had ever spoken to me like that they'd have been out on their ear!

Juells · 11/05/2018 16:50

It's not your home. Both your 'D'P and the FM have made it quite clear that you don't even warrant respect. I couldn't live like that.

Look for a flat-share (which is all you have right now) elsewhere. Your landlord has shown his true colours, he considers his friend has more rights than you do, and he prefers him.

CoffeeOrSleep · 11/05/2018 16:53

If you really think your DP would be 'fine' if you split up, then do you think he's with you because it's easy, not because he cares?

If you both really love each other, then you'll survive living separately. But I don't think asking the FM to move out is enough here. Your DP has to see the flat as equally yours to his, but he doesn't - and it isn't.

Move out. No drama, no childish games. Just go and leave them to it. Tell your DP you don't like living with them anymore and then make a condition of you moving back in that it's as his equal. Not his lodger who has sex with him.

Mxyzptlk · 11/05/2018 16:54

Why does your P want to continue his friendship with this jerk anyway?

Tell P that you can't live like this so either he puts FM out or you leave.

Motoko · 11/05/2018 16:55

Oh god, this sounds exhausting. Just leave. Your partner obviously doesn't give a damn about you, otherwise he'd have pulled up FM about the way he speaks to you, the first time he did it, and then kicked him out when he carried on.

You're just a convenience to him, someone to keep his bed warm, do the housework, and help to pay the bills and his mortgage. It's a win-win for him, as he also gets his friend on tap, and yet another person to help with the bills. He's on a nice little earner there.

Don't bother with the solicitor, just leave.

EightdaysaweekIloveu · 11/05/2018 16:55

Sounds like FM ex had a lucky escape and he has now become your problem.

Does your DP know FM slags him off to other people. Why are you allowing this guy come in a ruin your relationship? Get rid of him and sort out your own relationship with your DP, he is holding all the cards while you think it's your home.

starsandstuff · 11/05/2018 16:57

Get this man the fuck out of your house, like way the fuck out. If your DP doesn't have the guts to tell him to leave, think about whether you want to actually be with someone so pathetic. If got done reason you do, get to a solicitor bloody immediately. I have a relative who's DP owns their home and basically she pays rent and all these years later she has nothing to show for it if she leaves and he knows it and uses it against her. Seriously OP there are non-asshole men in the world and other places to live. Personally I'd advise you to find one of each.

Willow2017 · 11/05/2018 16:58

He is a piss taking wanker to you both, slags off the people who stepped up and helped him, yet he is still there? Tell him he has till end of next week to find somewhere else.

His gf had a lucky escape🤔

Missingstreetlife · 11/05/2018 16:59

You have no rights unless you get on the deeds, do it asap
Cocklodger obvs thinks he has same rights as you (he does) get rid

AndroidsConundrum · 11/05/2018 17:00

Sounds like FM ex had a lucky escape and he has now become your problem

He was absolutely horrible to her. That's why I said to move in with us in the first place.

OP posts:
NameyMcNamechangeface · 11/05/2018 17:02

So what do you want to do, then?

a) Tell FM to fuck the fuck off out of your home. The friendship is no loss to anyone, because the bloke's a dickhead of the highest order. Accept the fact that your DP was too gutless to do it himself, and was happy for you to be treated that way.

b) Decide that if DP doesn't defend you to his dickhead friend and kick the idiot out of his flat, he's not much worth having a relationship with, and move on. Move out, leave spineless and knobhead to their own spreadsheeted, organised existence, and thank your lucky stars that you don't have kids together yet.

c) Give DP an ultimatum and a time limit - choose you or knobhead, if the former, give knobhead notice to move out. Then you know where you stand.

Slightlyperturbedowlagain · 11/05/2018 17:04

He was absolutely horrible to her. That's why I said to move in with us in the first place. Shock or have I misunderstood? Did you just say he was being so horrible you said he should move in with you and your DP? Erm as they say, when people show you what they are like, believe them....

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 11/05/2018 17:04

"He was absolutely horrible to her. That's why I said to move in with us in the first place."

Err, didn't that give you the hint that he wasn't exactly a nice person?!

Juells · 11/05/2018 17:04

@Willow2017

He is a piss taking wanker to you both, slags off the people who stepped up and helped him, yet he is still there? Tell him he has till end of next week to find somewhere else.

She can't, she's a lodger just like FM is, so he has the same rights as she does.

Innit great to be a man? You can have sex on tap, someone to pay towards your mortgage but have no rights, clean up after you, and you can complain if the cleaning isn't to the standard you approve of.

AndroidsConundrum · 11/05/2018 17:05

d) move out and see what happens.

I think C?

Sadly none of these options seem to involve a time machine Angry

OP posts:
thatwouldbeanecumenicalmatter · 11/05/2018 17:06

’DP does his fair share of housework... He won't shop, plan meals, adhere to any kind of cleaning rota whatsoever’

Sounds it. Sorry to be harsh but this man doesn’t respect you never mind anything more (and I’ll be honest it doesn’t even sound like he even likes women) if he did he would have you on the deeds by now rather than still in limbo 10 years down the line, talk/treat you like shit, let his friend talk/treat you like shit, pull his weight round your house.

And don’t even get me started as to wtf the cleaning is responsibility.

Seriously use your free half hour entitlement with a solicitor right now, beg, borrow or steal if necessary the money to get you on that deeds.

AndroidsConundrum · 11/05/2018 17:07

I thought he'd be nicer to us because we weren't 'the ex' or 'the girlfriend'. Also, stupidly, that he maybe valued me as a friend and a person to not aggressively have a row with me about cleaning.

OP posts:
MachineBee · 11/05/2018 17:08

This is a rubbish situation and I can’t see it ever changing. It doesn’t sound and couple’s home with a lodge it sounds like three squabbling teenagers. If your DP can behave like this with you after a 10 year relationship you’ve got some serious problems.

I’d be working flat out to finish my course, then get a full time job and out to my own place. Sorry that’s rather brutal. WineFlowers

Slightlyperturbedowlagain · 11/05/2018 17:10

I can see why you might want to believe that, shame it wasn’t the case, but IME how people treat their significant other is a good indicator of how they will likely treat others.

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 11/05/2018 17:13

Sorry OP, I'd still for for D - move out and see what happens. Just tell your DP that you can't stand it in there any longer and you won't even consider returning while FM is still in residence. His response to that will tell you everything you need to know about your future relationship with him.

CurlyWurlyTwirly · 11/05/2018 17:15

Sometimes relationships run their course.
I don’t think fm is going any time soon.
Hang on till June. Or suggest that DP pays the solicitor & deduct that amount from the rent you have invested in the property.

Otherwise leave them to it & start a new life without all of this crap

Slightlyperturbedowlagain · 11/05/2018 17:15

And yes ^^ what Thumbwitches said. Sorry, it’s probably not what you want to hear. Flowers

thatwouldbeanecumenicalmatter · 11/05/2018 17:16

You’re not stupid for believing/hoping that. He’s a nasty misogynistic shit - you, his ex, other women, it doesn’t matter to men like that.