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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Lodgers irritating me

86 replies

piemaggedon · 12/05/2022 12:50

So I'm in my forties, it's just me and my kids in a big 3 story townhouse, I never use the ground floor. I decided to rent it out under the rent a room scheme to lodgers. A couple with a 2 yr old are renting only for 4 months as they are doing some phd work at a local university. Omg I am so stressed, they are cooking fish all the time as the girl is on a diet so my house stinks of fish, they keep putting my heating up to 26 and 27 degrees, their 2 yr old is sweet but wakes early and cries a lot and my kitchen is over their bedroom so I can't use my kitchen at night or early in the morning when she's sleeping otherwise she wakes and is crying for ages. I never knew we would be this compromised, I can't live my life. I know I'm a total idiot for agreeing to this and maybe one lodger would have been tolerable but this has put me off for life. They are only staying for 6 more weeks but I find myself hiding in my bedroom more and more and just wishing the time away until they leave. It really isn't worth the extra money. So my Aibu question is, am I being unreasonable to not raise the issues with them as it's only another 6 weeks and we can hopefully keep things on a positive spin for another few weeks even though I'm simmering with resentment constantly or should I raise the issues so they understand why I am avoiding my own house so much and why I'm more stressed than before? I'm going stir crazy, totally wrong decision for my family. Any advice?? Obviously I've learnt my lesson and will never have a lodger again x

OP posts:
Ferngreen · 13/05/2022 07:35

If they kept the kitchen door closed the cooking smells wouldn't waft upstairs.

ferrisbuelleronadayout · 14/05/2022 18:45

1- If you have the combi boiler then you can change the settings on the boiler to reduce the heating temperature and it wont go up than that no matter how much they try.
2- For the fish, ask them to ventilate the kitchen as the house is stinking up because of cooking. Nothing wrong in asking that. They know they live in a shared space and should be considerate.
3- Use your kitchen as you like. Kids need to get used to noises around them. I am a parent too and I believe that kids should adapt to our lives and not the other way round. We already make a lot of concessions for kids, doesn't mean we should tip toe around them.

dc1001 · 20/05/2023 18:00

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Bonjovispjs · 20/05/2023 18:19

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Well, as this thread is over a year old, I'd imagine they're long gone by now 🤣

LookItsMeAgain · 20/05/2023 18:57

Unless they are growing marijuana, there is no need for them to have the heating up at 26/27 degrees at the moment.

Have a word with them and perhaps mention that if your next electricity bill is higher than a similar period, you will be expecting them to contribute to these costs as they are the ones increasing the temperature not you.

LookItsMeAgain · 20/05/2023 19:00

AARGH!!! I fucking HATE MN for not locking threads over a year old!!!

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE will you finally lock threads that are over a year old?

dc1001 · 21/05/2023 12:42

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EggInANest · 21/05/2023 12:49

OK, well if they ‘appealed’ to you to move in because they couldn’t find another let, then you do have bargaining power.

I would explain that you set the price with the spring / summer weather in mind and a usual UK heating temperature of 21’, and that while you understand they like high heat, you will need to charge them a supplement if they put it higher.

I think you will have to grin and bear the rest of it.

dc1001 · 21/05/2023 12:51

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EggInANest · 21/05/2023 12:52

Zombie ZOMBIE ZOMBIE.
Oh, FFS. Damn the ‘similar threads’ feature.
Zombie ZOMBIE ZOMBIE.

EsmeSusanOgg · 21/05/2023 12:52

AryaStarkWolf · 12/05/2022 12:52

What issue would raise though? they don't sound like they're doing anything other than living their lives! Just don't another lodger when they leave!

The insane heating! It is warm. There is cost of living crisis. You cannot have the heating at 25degrees!

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