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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flatmate awful to live with

14 replies

Pam1191 · 06/05/2025 20:27

Really unsure what to do here. I (33) moved into a room in a flat where a mutual friend was living after my 10 year relationship ended. She (30) had lived there 3 years and had had a flatmate for some of that time - but it’s not her flat. She’s just a tenant.

We got on great for over a year. Having wine nights together, girl chat, shopping etc. Hanging out with our mutual friends. Then she got into a relationship really quickly. She went on a date that lasted a whole weekend and then was glued to the guy after that and official with him after just 3 weeks. We stopped hanging out, she stopped asking how I was. She started doing things we’d do together with this guy. I heard from others that she’d stopped bothering with them too. I left her to it until she started increasing the frequency of his overnight stays at our flat. It was 2 times a week but creeping up to 3 with additional dinner visits etc. I tried to nip this I’m the bud by asking if we could have some boundaries around when we both have guests staying over (I was seeing someone also). I suggested twice a week for both of us.

This blew up and resulted in her saying she wished I’d never moved in and that I’m ruining her happiness. She also said she wanted this guy to move into our flat at some point and seemed to think I should move out or let him live with us seeing as she was there first. She said me not allowing this would be keeping them apart. She also brought up the amount of furniture we each had in the flat, highlighting it was mostly hers.

After those comments I felt like a lodger in my own home so made some changes to try and rebalance things - new prints, a bookcase etc. never touching her stuff, just filling in some gaps.

In response she retaliated and started adding more random things like prints etc. She’s also hardly spoken to me since and things are horribly frosty. When I went on holiday, she went in my room and put things in there from the front room (my blanket etc) and turned all my plug sockets off. She has also started buying things we’d previously shared in her room like toilet roll, kitchen roll, washing liquid - there was never a discussion about not sharing these anymore. At one point she also tried to accuse me of causing the bills to be higher because I work from home, with no reference to her boyfriend staying.

Weve got just under a year left on our tenancy but I regret resigning it. I’m so miserable living with her - she’s marches around with a face like thunder and seems to think the flat belongs to her. Everyone is telling me to stand my ground but I’m anxious and down all the time. I’m in a new relationship (6 months in) and am happy with my life otherwise but this girl is bringing me down. What would you do? Part of the reason I stayed was because the rent is dirt cheap, it’s a lovely flat near my friends and family and I’m not sure I could afford to live alone.

OP posts:
BoredZelda · 06/05/2025 20:31

I’d be looking for somewhere else to live.

Rosesanddaffs · 06/05/2025 20:33

I’d be looking to move, this isn’t good for your mental health, I can’t imagine coming home and not being able to relax, she sounds like an absolute nightmare xx

Ryeman · 06/05/2025 20:38

It seems like you trying to lay down the law re the boyfriend staying was a bit controlling - maybe you were a bit jealous? Understandably. But it was inevitable that one of you would partner up sooner or later and ideally it would have been discussed before it happened. Can you have a conversation now about him maybe contributing to the household if he’s staying more than half the week, rather than trying to dictate the number of nights he stays? If it’s gone beyond having that civil conversation then I think moving out is your only option.

Geranium1984 · 06/05/2025 20:41

This is horrible, I have had a couple of flat shares where I've ended up not enjoying living with the flat mate. Funnily enough, both times it was when very intense boyfriends came on the scene!
In both my cases I was able to switch the my part of the tennant agreement over to a replacement person. Usually there is a fee to pay if it is before the tenancy expires.
Would her bf be interested in taking in the remainder of your tenancy?

noctilucentcloud · 06/05/2025 20:48

I can only offer sympathy, I had a flatmate from hell and its horrible when you don't want to go home because of the atmosphere. As your flatmate is also unhappy, maybe broach with her about finding someone new to take over your part of the tenancy (another friend or maybe her partner). That doesn't help you find somewhere new with a reasonable rent though. But realistically (as someone who's been there) your only choices are to stay and try and manage the affect it is having on you, or to move out.

Notmycircusnotmyotter · 06/05/2025 20:50

I don't see why you're fighting here. She's been there longer than you. She's met someone and wants it to progress. Move on.

Bobbybobbins · 06/05/2025 21:01

Yeah you need to look for somewhere else unfortunately- presumably her bf would move in and take over your part of the rent/lease? The situation sounds irretrievable.

loropianalover · 06/05/2025 21:04

Notmycircusnotmyotter · 06/05/2025 20:50

I don't see why you're fighting here. She's been there longer than you. She's met someone and wants it to progress. Move on.

I agree. Just leave OP. Even into a short term flat share until you find something long term.

You said the flats near your family, can’t you stay between theirs and your new partners for a little while?

HiddenInCubeOfCheese · 06/05/2025 21:24

So, you’re definitely not the crazy one here.

Is there really no break clause? Could you sublet?

Communitywebbing · 06/05/2025 21:39

Horrible for you. In retrospect it would have been good to agree rules about overnight visits before they became so important.
I’d be inclined to let her boyfriend to take over your share of the tenancy and find somewhere else.
Being in this wonderful relationship doesn’t seem to making her all happy and relaxed does it? Maybe there’s more going on.

Jc2001 · 06/05/2025 21:42

Notmycircusnotmyotter · 06/05/2025 20:50

I don't see why you're fighting here. She's been there longer than you. She's met someone and wants it to progress. Move on.

Well, she said she has just under a year left on the tenancy so it's not necessarily that easy to move on.

Pam1191 · 06/05/2025 22:03

Ryeman · 06/05/2025 20:38

It seems like you trying to lay down the law re the boyfriend staying was a bit controlling - maybe you were a bit jealous? Understandably. But it was inevitable that one of you would partner up sooner or later and ideally it would have been discussed before it happened. Can you have a conversation now about him maybe contributing to the household if he’s staying more than half the week, rather than trying to dictate the number of nights he stays? If it’s gone beyond having that civil conversation then I think moving out is your only option.

No definitely not jealous as I was/am seeing a great guy who is now my boyfriend. I still maintained balance though in my life and in the number of nights he stayed in our flat. I just didn’t enjoy the two of them dominating the shared spaces so often. The walls are also thin and her bedroom is right next to mine

OP posts:
Octavia64 · 06/05/2025 22:08

Yeah this probably isn’t going to go well.

it’s very common for flatmates to fall out especially if one gets a boyfriend.

my DD’s house share fell apart after two of the sharers who were in a relationship broke up and there was a terrible atmosphere.

in your shoes I’d look to move on elsewhere - she’s pissed off at you and isn’t going to give up.

giddyauntie123 · 06/05/2025 22:10

I think you're absolutely right: territorial pissings come to mind !! Having clear, firm boundaries around guests is reasonable. It’s your home too, and you shouldn't feel invaded in your own space. I'd leave them to it. That's really ugly behaviour, sorry you're going through it op

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