To want to run own fridge and freezer in house share?

[thinkingaboutfostering]

So I have recently moved into a friends house (moved 200 miles from old home). I am paying her at least the market rent if not more! Her house is a tip (think like hoarder bad) everywhere is filthy. I knew it was bad having stayed numerous times before but didn't really have much choice about moving in here because I have poor credit. We had agreed I'd rent two room from her, a lounge area and a bedroom. I also have my own bathroom. I know she is struggling financially and has asked me to be economical with electric ie not leaving lights on which is fine by me. But her fridge is filthy. The kitchen is along way from my end of the house (think longhouse) and I have been ill and have mobility issues. She has today said after discovering I have put a mini fridge on in my space, that she doesn't want me to run it but to just share her fridge to keep the electricity bills down. She also doesn't want me to run my freezer and again share theirs (which is full). Am I being unreasonable to say no I am paying you rent and keep running both my fridge and freezer?

Offer her an extra £5 a month for electricity

Or keep yours and don’t tell her

I would pay her a bit extra to cover it.

Or just clean the fridge..

Why should I offer her more I'm already paying more than market rent!

It's not my job to clean out her fridge either!

Clean the fridge or pay extra for your own.

No just keep it, she can’t tell you what to run in your own house

It’s nit her fridge - it’s a share fridge
So if it’s not cleaned to your standards then you clean it
Explain that her freezer is full so you will run yours until her freezer has room for your frozen products to fit

Are you paying more than market rent with or without bills though? The way I am reading it you're paying more but not paying towards bills etc. To be honest I think it is perfectly reasonable that even in a bills included place you can't expect to run out of the ordinary extra drains on electricity. I have no idea how much a fridge freezer costs to run but at the end of the day your landlord never anticipated the running costs of it and I don't think it is their responsibility to cover it.

Pebble - why should I pay more. I'm renting a room off her to include bills so I am already paying for it! I'm paying between £50 & £100 more than market rent already!

Average fridge cost less than £25 per year to run. I'm paying her £££'s in rent per month!

Why are you paying more than market rent?

If it's a shared fridge then it your partly your responsibility to clean it no?

It sounds like it could be a miserable place to live in winter.

I’m not sure I would want to stay there under such controls

Sounds like you need a plan to move out of there, as you are resentful about the amount you are paying her and the place doesn't seem like the nicest for you

It's not op's responsibility to clean a filthy fridge!

If you're unhappy there and paying over the odds would it be better to find yourself somewhere else, a studio of your own.

That sounds horrific, OP. Did you know what it was like before you moved in?

Well leave then if it doesn’t suit you.

Op’s already said she can’t get anywhere of her own, due to having no credit. But I’m sure I rented without credit at some point... Things may have changed a bit since then though.

Where were you before op?

Why not move? You've said several time you're paying more than the market rent. You can afford to live somewhere else.

I'm looking into moving but I have bad credit and no deposit (just getting back to work after being off for awhile having been really ill). So I'm really limited on options plus I have a dog.

I don't feel like it my responsibility to clean her fridge out. I've only just moved in and it's not my mess! If it was partially my mess then of course I'd clean it.

I'm paying what I am because it's what she was asking for and I didn't have any other option. It was a take it or leave it offer.

I think you should keep your small fridge and get a small freezer to go on top, in your own room. Tell your friend how much it costs per year to run them and she might get a sense of proportion, especially if you pay a good rent. It sounds unlikely that she would find another tenant as good as you.

These are only suggestions, not advice because you are in the situation and know it better than I:
Regarding the dirt, if it isn't in your bit of the house and you have your own bathroom, try not to let it bother you. Vacuuming the hall and stairs if you go upstairs could be your job and make the place presentable. Presumably you have to share cooking facilities so keep that part of the kitchen clean.

I'd be a bit worried about fire risk if your friend is a hoarder so worth keeping an eye on any fire risk and make sure the smoke alarms work (if she has them).

Good luck.

Have you asked her to clean her scuzzy fridge?

So you’re unlikely to move elsewhere, your landlady accepts the dog & you along with your bad credit

Why not just clean the fridge - what’s so hard about that?