Witholding my rent AIBU

[littledragon99]

I'm a woman in my late 40s, living in a 3-bed Victorian terrace in West London, where I pay £1,200 a month with all bills included. I signed an AST in May.
I work in recruitment and DJ on the side. Despite being skilled in my job, financial difficulties have arisen following my mother’s death, and I've struggled with timely rent payments. I’m currently in therapy to manage my depression.
Recently, my landlady has begun Airbnb-ing the living room, removing the communal space I was paying for. Given this change, I believe the £1,200 rent is no longer justified.
Additionally, she inappropriately contacted my boss, (my boss was my reference) about paying rent directly and has threatened eviction. I’ve consulted Citizens Advice and suspect my deposit wasn’t placed in a Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS), which may breach legal requirements.
Due to these issues, I’ve withheld my rent since August 1st and am prepared to take further action if needed.

This is incorrect, as is it not a standard AST that OP has.

It's not possible to have a standard AST unless it's for the entire property.

It's a type of AST, known as a room-only AST, and this will transfer to a licence if the LL moves in.

Sadly all too common - between two rental flats and a lodger I have endured several who have created similar situations. Its never their fault and always someone else's problem.

Looool
You do coke.

so you could afford your rent but pick drugs. Enjoy life on the streets.

No wonder you can't pay your rent if you have a coke habit. Get some help, you need it.

Coke works as an anti depressant.. for however many hours the user is shoving it up their nose. The aftermath is a DEPRESSANT, which is why the OP keeps going back to itm it's also horrendously expensive.

I'm not sure whether to feel a modicum of pity for her. She may well be out on the streets soon, with a nasty drug habit, we all know what could happen next...

This is textbook how people become street homeless.... get a drug habit, prioritise any money on drugs, get behind on rent, get evicted. OP please sort yourself out before it comes to that.

Yeah, the coke comment is a pretty big red flag. Kinda surprised it took me this long to think fake.

If it's true that you never pay your rent on time, I can see why your LL is annoyed. Your emotional issues and mental health have nothing whatsoever to do with her - she's not a relation or friend. This is a business arrangement.

Why don't you pay by standing order so that your payment goes out on time every month? If you can't be certain the money will be there, you need to leave and find somewhere cheaper.

Exactly this.

Coke.. “dj” At 40 but haven’t made it. Yup this is a clip clop or a huge failure to thrive.

I really hope it is fake because otherwise this person is in a horrible downward spiral that they’re going to really struggle to get out of.

Honestly I know loads of people who are in the same failure to thrive phase. I think it’s telling that a parent dying was the trigger - I’ll bet any amount of money that parent was financially propping the OP up whilst they pursued their “dream” of being a DJ (substitute DJ with artist, actor, musician, music promoter - all the same nonsense where they can’t accept that they’re not going to make it in their desired field). And in an industry that is drug fuelled in many circles. Take away that parental financial support and they can’t manage anymore. And have never had anyone telling them to grow up and be an adult

Also telling that the OP has a failed business venture behind them. I’ll bet that was in a similar kind of airy fairy not real life sphere.

And self medicating on coke = drug habit for years hence absolutely no money or savings at a fairly mature age. But hey that’s ok because it’s medication. An absolute shitshow of a life and I wish I could say hand on heart this doesn’t happen. But I’ve seen it and I know it does.

Ah great, if you're on coke you have a dealer. Ask him for ADJD meds instead of coke and you're golden...

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Its not ADHD,, its become clear, if real, that it's a coke habit.

coke helps, i’m really not making it up

It clearly doesn't help given that whilst taking it you are rapidly spiralling into homelessness.

Look, I dabbled maybe once a month in my twenties and early thirties, not touched it in at least a decade, but at no point did it come before my rent, it was out of fun money after rent ,bills, food, travel to work etc. You are not managing this and need to stop. It is not a form of medication, and what you see as ADHD may well just be post coke symptoms. Grow up, the rest of us did.

when did your mother die ?

If you had said cannabis people might have believed you.

No ADHD diagnosis and you use coke instead of paying rent, refuse to speak to Shelter. Starting to sound like a fake.

I think it's sort of irrelevant. My MiL died last September, DP lost his job 3 days after the funeral, we powered on through, he got a new one, yes there's grieving, there still is, of course, he crashes, I hold him as I did financially too then, but you still need to get your shit together.

Landladies who are owed rent don't, and shouldn't, care about your personal circumstances, it's a business relationship. She's been overly nice as it is.

Me too.

The loss of the lounge is a red herring, the Op agreed that it was never included in her agreement.

Basically everything is a red herring bar the lack of rent payment.

exactly !