To not pay them rent?

[throughiwatch]

Me and my ex moved into his parents two years ago. He does freelance and I lost my job in covid and we couldn’t afford central London anymore.

They are very wealthy and basically gave us an entire floor to ourselves and never asked for rent. They also live in London so it was an easy decision to accept when they offered.

Me and my partner have since broken up and it wasn’t pleasant (no cheating involved) and I’ve moved out. I’ve come over to give them my key and they’ve advised me that I need to pay them £5K to cover rent for the last two months.

I know they are doing this to hurt me as it was me who initiated the breakup, surely I don’t owe them though. No contract was signed.

@throughiwatch
I've been there (the threats, not the rent situ), it is awful. Is he still living at his parents? I'm.assuming you've managed to hold your ground now if you've given the key back?

I finally got away when I told his brother first. No idea what he did with the information, if anything, but I felt the weight lift like I'd passed on the responsibility of it.

@throughiwatch I would be inclined to respond in writing, to the effect that you owe nothing (for the reasons you've stated) and will not respond to further requests for payment (or something similar) so you have, in writing, a clear boundary. That way, if they were batshit enough to try to take you to court you have a record of your response. Other than that, I'd block and ignore.

Sorry it's a bit shit op

They are just being vindictive because you broke up with their son. Block them and move on with your life.

You owe nothing. Block on everything, this is not your problem or responsibility.

Post the key back through the letterbox and block them.

In that case she owes them twenty four months rent at 2.5k a month. So you think op should pay them 56k?

Family help each other, and that's basically what she was until she wasn't. Op shouldn't be disgusted with herself FFS because her and her partner had some help from his wealthy family

It sounds a lovely set up. Hope you made the right choice!

*I attempted multiple times during the time I lived there to offer money and it was always refused.

I slowly moved out over the last six months and rarely stayed there, but unfortunately I have a manipulative ex that threatens suicide every time I try to leave.*

What? That set up?

Well I posted the key (in person) and I got a load of abuse by text from him because he’d wanted me to hand it to him in person so we could have yet another discussion. He’s now blocked.

He’s also done a rant on Instagram about what a cold hearted bitch I am and how I’ve ended a five year relationship by posting a key. I’d blocked him ages ago but my friend sent me screen shots.

I hope I’m free of him now but who knows.

He’s desperate so he’ll try every avenue. Block on all social media and email. How very dare you drop such a man! Presumably he knows where you work and lots of your friends. Might be an idea to speak to someone at work and warn them he’s likely to turn up/contact them. Ask your mates to block h8m/warn you if he tries to count them.

Seriously? She should in an unhappy relationship because she gets free accommodation??

You lived there rent free, put them out, and broke their son's heart. You get to walk away and wash your hands of this, and they get to pick up the pieces. They're innocents in all this.

This is the most dramatic thing I've ever read.

Well if you've repeatedly tried to giving them money its slightly weird that you won't now when they're asking for it. But no, you are not obliged to, either legally or morally.

Spend more time here, it won't be.

It’s not remotely weird imo. She offered money while she was living there. Not handing over a randomly demanded amount after she left us not remotely the same thing.

Very clear that the Apple doesn’t fall far from the tree in regard to manipulative bullshit in that family!

@throughiwatch if he threatens suicide again call 999. That’s the correct thing to do with a suicidal person. It’s not in you to work out if he’s serious or a manipulative bullshitter.

Also consider speaking to women’s aid or the likes for advice on how to proceed if he continues any harassment.

I don’t have £5K spare with moving out, paying a deposit, buying new furniture - having sold most of what I owned previously just to pay bills when I couldn’t get a job.

Legally if you are charging rent for lodgers you need a gas safety certificate- they need to be done yearly

if you don’t have a gas certificate and charge rent then you can be fined

if they ask again for money, tell them to put it in writing along with a copy of the gas certificate

No agreement. No rent.

Don't be so utterly ridiculous.

Forget about them … new year, new beginnings.

If they wanted a tenant, they should’ve set up a tenancy agreement from the start.

They didn’t so it’s tough luck. Glad to hear that you’re out of what sounds like a toxic relationship ( at least at the end).

Unless you and they signed a rental contract, I doubt very much there is anything they could do if you decided not to pay. How very churlish of them.