Is she crossing the line!?

[digimumworld]

I’m a freelancer and I’m renting a section of a shared studio. I’m renting it from someone I’ve know for a while, but we only connect professionally - let’s call her Sally - I say this to highlight that we are acquaintances . Of course renting from her means that we have more conversations.

I received a call from the property owners saying that I have been causing problems. That maybe me and Sallys friendship means that there is a clash and Sally has some concerns with my behaviour.

Here are some of the issues that have arisen -
Sally had put some second hand furniture across the section I work in. I moved it around as I was (and still am) the only teneant occupying that section and it was in the way and not clean. I told Sally the day I moved it. She went bonkers and told me to move things back as I’m breaching the contact. We solved this and moved on and I promised not to move furniture around, she has since made the space more presentable as it was agreed (as prior it was just a cold Warehouse type space).

The property owner said that Sally has mentioned that I’m moving things around and causing issues.

There is a secondary space next door used for public activities and a cafe it’s usually shut, I needed to make a hot drink (the space has no central heating so I’m usually freezing!!) and borrowed a cup, I also used the space to take a call. Apparently Sally has seen me via camera (didn’t know I was being recorded) and said I’m breaking the rules.

Lastly an employee came in, they were 30 mins early and I was out in a meeting. Apparently they asked Sally if I was in. Sally said no, and told the employee to wait outside. She told the property owners that I instructed the employee to sneak into the premise when Sally wasn’t looking! When Infact I told the employee to wait for me as I would arrive at the appointed time after my meeting. Sally is aware that I work with a team and that was factored into my agreement of using the space.

I heard about the other 2 scenarios from the property owners. I confronted Sally to find out what’s going on.

She said she’s upset with me because I’ve been ignoring her! (What on this earth has that got to do with anything!) - she usually sends the odd passive aggressive message. She called me the day before to ensure the invoice for the month would be settled - I answered the call and we had a short normal chat.

Sally also doesn’t want to discuss the other 2 scenarios without a mediator present. However she admits that she is over the furniture moving scenario.

AIBU or does Sally sound a little psycho? She’s exaggerated my actions and now the property owner has to mediate a convo between us because she’s refusing to tell me about what her problem with me is!

I also find it strange the property owner seemed to think we were good friends that have let our personal relationship affect business!

This is not workable. Find another working space and let Sally shoulder the bill for the entire studio if she can't play nicely with others.

Too much hassle. I'd move out and let the landlord know why.

I wouldn't spend too much time trying to figure out whether Sally is a psycho. I'd look for alternative arrangements instead and move out as soon as possible.

Give her your notice and find an alternative space - preferably one with central heating and running water

@digimumworld why is sally moving things into the space which you are renting from her?? are there no partitions between the spaces?? no idea how much you are paying rent but pretty sure you can rent, even from the council and not be bound by sally and her rules!! and you will be able to make tea and coffee at your leisure! the problem is sally has sublet! probably without the landlords consent!! she may be overcharging you to help her pay her rent!

Sally sounds a total nutjob. Did you know there were cameras, never mind that they were recording? There's something else going on here (and the property owner sounds weird) but I wouldn't hang around to find out what it is. Find somewhere else to rent.

She sounds bonkers, and life’s too short for this - I’d be moving out sharpish!

What did the property owners say after they heard your side? They got one thing right, it does sound like it’s not working! I’d find a different place to work from if you can. Sally has completely wrecked the friendship with her behaviour anyway.

Well this is the thing. The reason I rented from Sally was for a short term project. She then mentioned that she is converting the space into studios for creative people and so I stayed as the amount was cheaper than your average workspace.

It was a blank canvas when I joined, and Sally was meant to decorate it overtime. She’s finally added the partitions, but that’s only because I moved the furniture - by moving the furniture and “breaking her rules” it’s made her realise that she hasn’t been sticking to any of her own rules - and that the space looks nothing like the agreement I had signed.

Theyve also given me patio heaters which actually made me so so sick! As I was directly under them for almost 8 hours.

We will speak to the property owner. Sally told me that the property owners have agreed to let her manage the studio, but she needs to match the amount that they would have received if they had a commercial client.

The property owner seemed nice and seemed as if they wanted me to stay. But are confused as apparently me and Sallys story don’t match up at all. Which is worrying because now I’m thinking she’s probably a liar

They said our stories don’t align. They wanted to hear my side first.

I comforted Sally and the story she told me didn’t even match the one that the property owner told me that she said! She kept saying “well that’s how it felt”.

So she’s clearly put het emotions into this. And hasn’t approached this rationally at all.

Nope no idea! I know one tenant has them over his section - but you can see them. And it’s because of his expensive equipment.

I have no idea what the purpose of the other cameras are. Maybe for security. But when she called me the other day, she spoke to me as if she knew I had been at the studio - but I didn’t think much of it until later. Makes me wonder if she just watches she shop for fun.

I’d be finding somewhere else asap, she’s going to cause you nothing but grief.

Time to find somewhere else. Sally is a lunatic and not worth the trouble. She has essentially “told on you” because she wasn’t getting enough attention from you - I had the displeasure of dealing with a Sally in the past and you just can’t win with people like her. She will use any perceived slight to start drama and drag you into it. Her behaviour is only going to escalate so don’t wait around to find out!