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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think I need to have a word with lodger?

220 replies

beautifullybonkers · 04/10/2020 23:27

But of a long one but don’t want to drip feed information and think a bit of background might be useful.

Mid July we took in a new lodger. She seemed fine and moved here as had long term partner living locally. Few teething problems in her breaking a couple of things in the house and leaving her possessions all over (kitchen, lounge etc) but no big deal really although admittedly a bit irritating. Within a month she split up with partner and I supported her through break up. She is now 10 days into a new relationship and is spending most of the time outside the house with him. Within the first week of their meeting i received a late night text asking if he could stay over I had agreed previously to her long term partner staying one night a week but had asked her to be mindful that this was mine and my teenage son’s home and they needed to be respectful of thatcher . However I didn’t feel comfortable having a man I had never met and she had only known 4 days stay in my home so replied saying that and I had to consider my son and his well being. At this point I should point out that I have older children no longer living at home and would not have agreed to them having people they had known less than a week stay over either. She replied and said she understood but has said very few words to me since.

At 11 o’clock this evening she texted my teenage son who is in bed to ask if he could stay up to let her in as she has mislaid her keys. My son came to let me know as obviously I would hear him up when he should be asleep. He had texted back to say he would but I have told him no, he needs to go back to sleep, and I am now lying in my bed waiting for her to return so I can let her in. Incidentally she still hasn’t arrived back. AIBU to think she should not be texting my son when he is in bed to let her in, especially when he has to be up for school in the morning and has a paper round at 7am? Would it BU of me to speak with her about this and ask why she would text him and not me?

OP posts:
QuestionableMouse · 04/10/2020 23:59

@Tinty

Am I the only one who thinks it’s odd that your lodger doesn’t have a Key 🔑. It sounds more like an old fashioned boarding house where you had a curfew and had to be in by 10 in the evening.
I think she does have keys but had left them in the house.
jessstan1 · 05/10/2020 00:00

It's not on is it. She really needs to respect your boundaries. I expect she texted your son because she thought he'd be more sympathetic; having said that, I doubt you'd have left her standing on the doorstep in the middle of the night.

Hee hee, did you realise what predictive text did to your opening post? "...respectful of thatcher". That's a classic.

She sounds a bit cocky.

MissMarplesHandbag · 05/10/2020 00:01

I’m with the others thinking she was trying to sneak the new fella in.
Very inappropriate of her to text your son.
I’d defo be having the ‘I don’t think this is working’ chat.

Tinty · 05/10/2020 00:02

Oh okay sorry, I missed the part where she had lost her keys.

She should definitely not be texting your son.

She sounds a bit of a pain and you are right not to let her just bring in some random man she barely knows.

Riv · 05/10/2020 00:03

Sorry, you had already thought of the replacement locks thing and posted whilst I was typing (internet v v slow tonight)

FlouncerInDenial · 05/10/2020 00:03

I think her expectations from life and priorities are different from yours.
Neither is wrong, but they're not compatible

beautifullybonkers · 05/10/2020 00:05

Jessstan1 - I hadn’t noticed that but it has made me laugh (not a fan of the Iron Lady)

OP posts:
Riv · 05/10/2020 00:06

She would want to use her own key to sneak a man in, not risk being outed or refused entry by your son on the doorstep. So I don’t think that’s what is going on tonight.

ButtonMoonLoon · 05/10/2020 00:09

It doesn’t sound as though she is a good fit for you to be honest.
I’d also be concerned about security given she appears to have mislaid her keys!

beautifullybonkers · 05/10/2020 00:09

So it’s now gone midnight and she’s still not materialised with or without keys. Perhaps she’s decided to stay out after all, who knows. We will definitely be having the conversation tomorrow. Thanks for all the advice, sometimes it needs the collective hive mind to confirm what you already know needs to happen

OP posts:
MJMG2015 · 05/10/2020 00:09

When you are at home, it's inappropriate of her to text your teenage son to ask him to wait up for her

PurpleTrilby · 05/10/2020 00:10

Sounds like a seriously cocky young woman. Shy yet shacking up with a random bloke in 4 days flat? And trying to get your son to collude in her bringing the random back to your house? Cheeky cunt. Get rid. She knows exactly what she is doing. Don't fall for any tears or histrionics. She took the piss from the start, remember that. It's also been less than 3 months and you're dealing with all this shit?

MJMG2015 · 05/10/2020 00:11

I wonder what DS replied? Maybe she thought she wouldn't be able to get in if he didn't make it clear YOU would wait up & let her in?

MeepleMe · 05/10/2020 00:11

Quite apart from the texting your son (totally out of order IMO), how she just casually say she's lost her keys? That's a massive security risk and I wouldn't be able to sleep soundly knowing a rogue door key could be found. I'd be waiting up for her and reading the riot act, as well as her arranging and paying for a locksmith to change the locks asap.

UnaCorda · 05/10/2020 00:11

I think she texted the OP's son because she still has the hump with the OP about not being allowed to bring the new man back.

beautifullybonkers · 05/10/2020 00:13

MumG2015 - he replied he would let her in - I told him no to go back to sleep and I would let her in

OP posts:
oakleaffy · 05/10/2020 00:15

@QuestionableMouse

I wonder if she planned to sneak the new fella in if your son had let her in?
My thought exactly.
MoonJelly · 05/10/2020 00:17

I'd suggest you text her to say you can't stay up any longer and she'll have to make other arrangements for tonight.

Gin42 · 05/10/2020 00:18

Wow! I would be looking for a new lodger to be honest, the boundaries are odd and you're becoming her mum. Maybe she needs that, but do you want to be mum to yet another person?

Hollyhobbi · 05/10/2020 00:18

Why has she your teenage sons phone number? And if I were you I'd be getting rid of her too.

Tadpolesandfroglets · 05/10/2020 00:20

If she still hasn’t turned up, is she expecting your son to wait up all night for her? She texted an hour ago and still not home. That’s really cheeky.

MJMG2015 · 05/10/2020 00:20

@beautifullybonkers

MumG2015 - he replied he would let her in - I told him no to go back to sleep and I would let her in
Have you looked at his phone in case she's sent another message to say she's not coming back after all?

If she has you can sleep without one ear open for her & you can put the chain on the door (if you have one)

katy1213 · 05/10/2020 00:24

I think a week's notice. She's more trouble than she's worth - you had me at supporting her through her break-up; that's not your job as her landlady!

katy1213 · 05/10/2020 00:26

But for now a text to say it's gone midnight - the door is bolted - and you're not running a hotel with concierge service.
If you need to change locks, that comes out of her deposit.

beautifullybonkers · 05/10/2020 00:31

MUMG - I’ve just been and checked his phone and no messages after he said he’d let her in at 11pm.

I’ve sent her a message saying not waiting up for her any longer.

OP posts: