Ok this time I am posting in a calm and reasoned manner - what do you think of this rent increase with regards to childminding?

[eenybeeny]

I am training to be a childminder.

My landlady is my next door neighbour and for 4 years has introduced me to friends as her "honourary daughter" etc and as she never had any children I have gone out of my way to be kind and respectful for her in every way including giving her Mother's Day gifts etc. I also look after her house/cat 6 times a year for at least a week each time and it goes without saying I have never asked anything for it. We have never been even a day late on rent and also have looked after the house very well.

Our rent goes up by £25 a month each year, this year by £50.

She informed me Sunday that as I will be "earning a living at her expence" i.e. childminding in this house, then the rent will go up MORE in April when it comes time to renew our lease. She would not say by how much she said I would get a letter in the post saying how much.

Well I got it today.

In addition to the regular annual increase it is being increased EACH MONTH by another £100. Which pretty well take care of a lot of my CM profit thanks very much.

I think this is appalling. Quite apart from the fact that I did not think she would be so mercenary I really can not see why me CM in this house justifies an extra £100 a month. A little, sure, because of wear and tear etc I can sort of see that but £100 A MONTH???????? I am not doing her any harm, she is not having to change the insurance for the house etc. I am stunned.

I am planning on moving in April partly because I do not want to pay this and partly because I want to get away from a person who is becoming increasingly desctructive to me... various things like constantly inspecting our storage space etc to make sure it is "tidy" - we are normal clean people and we pay for that storage space so I resent the intrusion.

Ok. So what is the MN verdict? Is this unreasonable? I am trying not to feel sick because of this, I havent got this sort of money and I cant fathom why £100 extra a month is called for.

you are very right twinkie I am no longer counting her as a friend and am going to insist the relationship is formal. She cant pick and choose when we are family and when we are her milk cow.

I think the increase related to childminding was all in her phrase 'why should you make money out of me?'

CMing doesn't justify the extra cash - she just doesn't like the idea of you making money. It would appear she genuinely sees that you would be making money out of her - if you started running any kind of business from the house she would see it the same way I suspect.

Where is the party? Any way of saying you have extra guests who are family and you have to cut down on numbers? Can you change the date of the party and 'forget' to tell her?

An increase of £25 a month every year sounds far too much. My mortgage doesn't increase by that.

The party is at my house - I am going to pluck up the nerve and ask her not to come though (I think) as seeing her that day would really spoil it for me. And its only close family and friends really anyway. Which I considered her as but no longer. She is really taking the proverbial piss.

she sounds like a bit of a loon tbh, and yes it is very unreasonably for her to put the rent up by £100 just because you are chldminding there. Ridiculous.

Tell her you ar moving anyway in a few months, see what she says then.

I just checked and it was because we had a rolling contract I guess if it was a new contract I would have been able to.

Good luck with the party

You need to find another place to live.

You are training to be a childminder and she's already increased the rent? It's not even a done deal.

You also need to end any sort of relationship with her other than landlord-tenant.

Coming into the property without teling you whilst she signed an agreement to let it to you for a specified length of time is quasi-legal. See your CAB to find out the legality of it and if you find out it's not legel then write her a letter informing her of this.

DO NOT do anything for her for free.

At all.

No more inviting her round and don't take her calls anymore.

and don't apologise for any of it.

why should you?

you're not in the wrong here.

Sounds like she wants some sort of profit share from your hard work and effort.

Cheeky fecking cow.

Expat is right - much as it pains me to say this, don't feed her cat anymore.

Oh, I'd feed her cat alright.

For a fee, just like you charge all your other petsitting clients.

And since it's so new to her, I'd expect half the money upfront and the other half upon her return.

yes... IF I look after the cat again it will be at £5 a visit. I am sick and tired of being a doormat for her. She has taken advantage of me and talked to me in a bad way and I have chalked it all up to her just being like that and I am doing it no more. She has to respect me and I DO NOT want her as a friend anymore.

In all truth, you don't need her as a landlord for much longer, either.

Good for you eeny.

no. I spoke to a lettings agent and they think I might be able to get out of the lease in Feb or March (its actually up 3 April) so its not that long to wait and save money.

Thanks all

the sooner you can get out of there, the better.

if i win the lotto, i'll pay your moving costs and deposits so you can get shot of that cow asap.

I would withold your rent before you leave to the same amount as your deposit - I would never ever normally recommend doing something like this but I bet you anything you like that she'll try and keep a huge chunk of it otherwise and presumably it would mean you can move more easily.

don't leave her a forwarding address, either.

tell you you're going into homeless accommodation.

she told me sunday I wouldnt be getting my deposit back because recarpeting costs more than my deposit. But Shelter told me today that all reasonable damage is her responsibility and there is NO WAY the house has been damaged by us. It hasnt!!

Thanks very much expat - how about if I win the lotto I help you out too! Go on tell me what you need I shall incorporate that into my millionaires plan!

Oh, then, I wouldn't pay her that last months' rent then.

Stuff her.

Hmm, a newish car would be nice .

you haven't even used her house for childminding.

you haven't even finished the training.

and she's already screwing you over!

i'd tell her i decided to delay setting up my business until we moved.

Seriously, make sure you get the deposit back by witholding your rent. There will be nothing she can do about it either (although if you need a reference for your new house probably wise to get that sorted first )

yes the reference thing is what worries me about witholding rent. I dont want any decision I made to damage us in the future.

What kind of car expat? Family? Sports? Camper van?

eenybeeny - you need to get outta there. She is having a laugh.