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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

fed up with my partner using my house as his base

571 replies

amedeusamadeus · 04/09/2024 09:04

As with title really.
he lives in house share , when we got together had his own (rented) house. It was lovely, is very solvent, good job etc and all fine.

some months in the landlord was selling up so he moved into a house share as a stop gap.

it’s now been a year of him at this bachelor pad, younger housemates/ workmates , their younger girlfriends etc.
he is ‘saving’ with no plans to buy anywhere and seemingly no plans to move on from this fun bachelor pad.

there’s no space for me there, I don’t feel welcome in the slightest and quite honestly I’m not sure I want to spend time there.
its a nice house but it’s like something from my 20s (we’re middle aged)
his kids are grown and he has grandchildren while I still have kids.
im nowhere near ready to move in together and him suddenly slot into our lives for convenience and more money saving which is what I think he and everyone else thinks will happen.
I probably won’t even entertain it until the kids have left school

it’s become the norm for him to spend my free weekends at mine and some time during the week.
it also means that his adult kids and grandchildren have been visiting more and more at mine because there’s also no space at his really for family visits .

I have good relationship with them too but it’s starting to feel like encroachment, they stay longer and longer cos of baby’s sleep time interfering with journey home, we don’t get privacy as a couple and most importantly , I am not getting time to myself to enjoy my home and feel I’m running on empty with work, housework, my kids, and I’m not finding energy to fulfill my needs.
obviously I love him and his company so I find setting the boundaries hard because I want to see him but the only place where we can be comfortable together is my house.

he helps out with jobs and buys groceries so he feels he’s not taking the mickey and it gives us more time together but I don’t want my romantic/ sexy time to be spent doing housework together because I haven’t had time to catch up elsewhere.

he is a good earner but in a highly stressful job.

as well as supposedly saving is always arriving with new and expensive items and clothes so I feel a bit shortchanged in terms of my space and time.

ive said this to him numerous times, he says it will change and then does something like book us a hotel for a weekend so I get a break but I feel it’s all unevenly weighted in his favour.

house prices and rentals have skyrocketed here and there is a dearth of available accommodation for everyone so I feel like it’s unfair to force his hand by giving an ultimatum but I don’t know how else to deal with it.

ive asked him to tell me how he plans to make a space for me and his family (and my family) in his life.

in my head I’m giving six months to see him make changes

I feel this may well be a hill I choose to die on and can’t quite work out if I’m being selfish/ petty because of the stressful housing market and the fact he’s happy living with his friends.
also we have a great relationship if I ignore this (lol) and am I throwing the baby out with the bath water if he doesn’t change and I end it?

OP posts:
independencefreedom · 07/09/2024 15:59

GoldZebra · 07/09/2024 15:44

When the two week limit is up, I'd suggest you shut him down for a further couple of weeks. You also have an equally important project (delousing this loser from your memory bank) that needs to be completed.

How dare he tell you he won't discuss this. I'm raging on your behalf 😡Dear sweet, lovely OP why are you accepting him making you wait ? He doesn't get to choose that. He's training you to not challenge him by punishing you. He probably thinks you'll miss him and be glad he's back under any conditions.

I think you sound lovely and I expect his children really do appreciate how welcoming you have been. But........this must not be at the expense of your well being or that of your children. Fill your own (metaphoric) cups first. Use this time for fun stuff. Treats and outings or chilling in PJs and watching movies with your children. Anything and everything you wouldn't be doing if you were busy butlering for the cock lodger you nearly got saddled with.

No matter what 'plan' he comes up, with you can't deny the blatant lack of respect this man has shown you, your children and your home to date. Even if he changes his ways, can you really just ignore that he's only done this after instruction? That he would have happily continued to use you for as long as he could get away with it. He will only be changing (if he does) because he has to, to keep the benefits you bring to the table (that he's trying to wedge his feet under).

This.
If he actually cared about you and your well-being he would discuss it now, listen to your concerns and promise to come up with a solution to the situation. He should want to de-escalate the stress in your life, not contribute more to it. It seems he's not willing to really listen to you, and not taking you seriously. It's so disrespectful. You owe him absolutely nothing.

independencefreedom · 07/09/2024 16:01

And there is absolutely no work project, no matter how intense, that would stop him giving you an hour of his time to reassure you that he loves you, wants to solve this, and is sorry for putting you through all this stress. Anything less than that and absolutely LTB

amedeusamadeus · 07/09/2024 16:03

independencefreedom · 07/09/2024 15:59

This.
If he actually cared about you and your well-being he would discuss it now, listen to your concerns and promise to come up with a solution to the situation. He should want to de-escalate the stress in your life, not contribute more to it. It seems he's not willing to really listen to you, and not taking you seriously. It's so disrespectful. You owe him absolutely nothing.

And clearly this is how he feels because he is giving me fuck all . I am not going to ask him anything else, now nor in two weeks.
im raging at this complete dismissal

OP posts:
Loopytiles · 07/09/2024 16:41

have you talked to any friends who don’t know him? If you did imagine they would understand your concerns

independencefreedom · 07/09/2024 16:42

amedeusamadeus · 07/09/2024 16:03

And clearly this is how he feels because he is giving me fuck all . I am not going to ask him anything else, now nor in two weeks.
im raging at this complete dismissal

Honestly, how can he be happy to leave you in a state of distress for two weeks? It's not good enough. Your primary relationship and concern in terms of happiness and security is for yourself, and your children. He's a huge threat to that happiness and security and has made your home - your home - a site of stress and anxiety. No wonder you're enraged. He has made you sacrifice your happiness and security and personal retreat with such carelessness. If you've said all that to him already and think he hasn't taken it seriously, I'd say it to him again and then it is up to him to deal with it or not.

We all have 'stressful projects' whether that's at work, home, within the family, whatever, but as he's bound himself up with your life, he has a responsibility to you, he can't just cut loose as and when he feels like it. And if he feels like he can, well then if I was you I'd cut him loose.

friendlycat · 07/09/2024 16:45

Ok. I agree his dismissal of your feelings is highly disrespectful. He should be feeling contrite and doing everything in his power to make amends working actively towards a future situation that works for you and him. Not just him.

The dismissal of your feelings and actively rejecting having an adult conversation over it all is extremely unfair, disrespectful, disappointing and downright insulting frankly.

goody2shooz · 07/09/2024 16:45

@amedeusamadeus the friends may ‘know’ him but they are not in a relationship with him. It’s quite a different dynamic as you well know, so their advice is badly skewed and not really worth much. He’s having a strop because you want to assert reasonable boundaries - and saying you’re putting him under all that pressure is simply him turning it back on you - DARVO.

GoldZebra · 07/09/2024 16:49

I had a near miss with a Mummy's boy who decided that he'd finally leave home and get a flat share with his friends. We were still young enough for that to be ok though lol.

He excitedly explained to me that we could spend more time together that way. He lived in a small town about 30 miles away and would be moving to my city, so again, nothing wrong there.

......his grand plan was to come to my flat after work every night for dinner, leave his car at my place (free of charge) and then go and have fun with his friends. I informed him that GoldZebra was not a pop up restaurant nor a soup kitchen for lazy men that couldn't be arsed to cook or clean up after themselves. He went off the idea and stayed with Mummy. Bloody cheek......🙄

PaminaMozart · 07/09/2024 16:53

me feeling in the dark is giving me the clarity I needed

That's a great insight, @amedeusamadeus. You've come a long way!

pinkyredrose · 07/09/2024 17:21

How did it even come about that his family come to your house? Agog that they just turn up!

amedeusamadeus · 07/09/2024 17:23

pinkyredrose · 07/09/2024 17:21

How did it even come about that his family come to your house? Agog that they just turn up!

I can’t really remember, I think it started around Christmas build up and then Christmas dinner at mine which was fine, he did help with most things that day and I think it just grew from there

OP posts:
amedeusamadeus · 07/09/2024 17:24

PaminaMozart · 07/09/2024 16:53

me feeling in the dark is giving me the clarity I needed

That's a great insight, @amedeusamadeus. You've come a long way!

Thank you, I’m so glad I posted here, it’s really helping me keep it together

OP posts:
pinkyredrose · 07/09/2024 17:27

I bet he's looking a lot less attractive as this thread has gone on!

PaminaMozart · 07/09/2024 17:28

If you are within reach of London, do go and see the Marriage of Figaro at ROH. Excellent young cast and a really nice production.

amedeusamadeus · 07/09/2024 17:28

PaminaMozart · 07/09/2024 17:28

If you are within reach of London, do go and see the Marriage of Figaro at ROH. Excellent young cast and a really nice production.

I love the marriage of figaro , I should check it out

OP posts:
Terrribletwos · 07/09/2024 17:29

amedeusamadeus · 07/09/2024 15:59

His long term plans have changed since we started dating and at periods throughout where we’ve discussed it. The latest long term plan seems to be we’re not discussing it.
fuck him. I’m happy not to have any more painful pulling teeth conversations.
me feeling in the dark is giving me the clarity I needed

Good. You're finally seeing the light!

Hopefully you can now move on.

amedeusamadeus · 07/09/2024 17:31

pinkyredrose · 07/09/2024 17:27

I bet he's looking a lot less attractive as this thread has gone on!

Yup. He is very attractive but this latest episode has taken off any of the remaining shine.
im still half expecting him to pull something out of the bag, he has a full on weekend of working and socialising so I’d never expected to really see or hear from him until mid next week but the fact he’s said and done nothing to alleviate any concerns is speaking volumes

OP posts:
Terrribletwos · 07/09/2024 17:37

amedeusamadeus · 07/09/2024 17:31

Yup. He is very attractive but this latest episode has taken off any of the remaining shine.
im still half expecting him to pull something out of the bag, he has a full on weekend of working and socialising so I’d never expected to really see or hear from him until mid next week but the fact he’s said and done nothing to alleviate any concerns is speaking volumes

How could he possibly alleviate any concerns after all you have said on here?

Conniebygaslight · 07/09/2024 17:42

OP, I think you are brilliant for setting boundaries and sticking to your guns. Why on earth would a middle aged man want to be in a house share with young adults. He’s clearly just hoped you would just allow him to move in by stealth and now gaslighting you thinking this is your fault. Stay firm, you are doing the right thing, he is dreadful.

SensibleSigma · 07/09/2024 17:52

If you were to mention in passing to his kids that you worry about his ability to prioritise relationships and mutual planning for the future, they’d immediately recognise your concern.

A man in his position shouldn’t be living moment by moment. He should be discussing what longer term plan you were working towards, knowing he won’t be moving in until your dc are adults.

He should be saying that he’s investing his money so he’ll be able to get a place together with you when the time comes, or getting a holiday house you can go to or… almost anything really.

WildCats24 · 07/09/2024 17:59

Conniebygaslight · 07/09/2024 17:42

OP, I think you are brilliant for setting boundaries and sticking to your guns. Why on earth would a middle aged man want to be in a house share with young adults. He’s clearly just hoped you would just allow him to move in by stealth and now gaslighting you thinking this is your fault. Stay firm, you are doing the right thing, he is dreadful.

I know! I briefly needed to move into one in my late 20s (for 6 months) and it was horrific! Even at that age, I knew I was too old, and just put my head down to get through the 6 months.

Bonbon21 · 07/09/2024 18:05

Now you have seen the light maybe you could relieve him of some of his stress and finish things... nice and quick... rip off the plaster.
If your decision is made, why linger?... being kind is what got you here!!
Be kind to YOU... for a change.

achipandachair · 07/09/2024 18:12

The more recent posts about what his actual plan for living space might be long term are illuminating. He so obviously just assumed that one fine morning he’d wake up in your bed and never leave the house again that the recent things you’ve been saying probably have made him feel under a lot of pressure. How much is your house worth OP? He’s just found out that he’s something like between a quarter and half a million quid poorer than he thought

BirthdayRainbow · 07/09/2024 18:17

If I'd seen this at the beginning of the relationship I don't think I'd be with him...

This is very telling. This is how we get caught staying with men with bad behaviour because we are invested, in love, married, have had kids with etc. If the behaviour had been shown in date one, two, three we would have bailed...be careful about not falling for the sunk cost fallacy and love is not always enough.

Clarabell77 · 07/09/2024 18:23

achipandachair · 04/09/2024 09:34

I think you have to tell him to entertain his family at his place, that is a huge drain on your resource and headspace. If he says his place is not suitable, he’d better move.

This. I’d find the visitors situation so stressful. Been married 20 years and wouldn’t want my husbands family coming over to ours on a regular basis - or mine for that matter!