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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:
amoreoamicizia · 04/09/2024 09:38

I have told him that I need more time for me and that it starts from now.

When did you tell him and did it indeed start? What about this last weekend?

AncientAndModern1 · 04/09/2024 09:39

He leaves with them, and you are left behind to clean up after them all? I’d be RAGING! What a bloody cheek.

amedeusamadeus · 04/09/2024 09:39

buttonsB4 · 04/09/2024 09:33

His "generous" weekends away etc only happen because you're saving him a shit-ton in rent, bills or mortgage, which he would have to pay if he wasn't using your facilities.

If he actually had to house himself adequately for his needs, including having family to visit etc, he wouldn't be able to live in a flat share.

But he has you, subsidising him.

You offer a home, a place for his relatives to visit and a lovely, clean, welcoming environment whilst a small amount of his money is being spent on something akin to student lodgings which you can't visit as it's too uncomfortable.

He came into the relationship offering X and now it's X minus his own place and space and taking up more of your time, bills and energy on things you'd rather not be doing (like hosting his family).

His worth has gone down. Yours has increased. You're no longer in the relationship you started out in.

Yes yes yes. Why do I feel like the arsehole when I express this (without mentioning his value depreciation) I can be very blunt so I have to be careful not to make it a personal attack

OP posts:
Aquamarine1029 · 04/09/2024 09:39

He is deliberately using you, and sadly, you've allowed it. He's not a good man.

Roaminginthegloaming · 04/09/2024 09:39

@amedeusamadeus

I would just tell him that he can go and visit his family members in their homes!

amedeusamadeus · 04/09/2024 09:40

amoreoamicizia · 04/09/2024 09:38

I have told him that I need more time for me and that it starts from now.

When did you tell him and did it indeed start? What about this last weekend?

I told him on Sunday night and he wanted to come over tonight and I said no

OP posts:
buttonsB4 · 04/09/2024 09:41

He offers out your home and your services as a host, but he behaves like a guest, leaving with the others at the end??

And for you to do all the tidying up 🤦🏻‍♀️

He's really taking the piss.

amoreoamicizia · 04/09/2024 09:41

Ooh this is a tough one, I must say I could see myself doing exactly the same as you so I'm not going to comment any more but good luck.

NoSquirrels · 04/09/2024 09:43

Instead of booking you fancy hotel weekends, he can hire a family-sized house for a weekend regularly to host his family. That’d be a start. Then you can visit and go home early!

amedeusamadeus · 04/09/2024 09:44

AncientAndModern1 · 04/09/2024 09:39

He leaves with them, and you are left behind to clean up after them all? I’d be RAGING! What a bloody cheek.

Not every time but enough times for it to bother me, I’m knackered and drained and I don’t have any energy left to put things right, for example on a Sunday night or week night.
I definitely let things slide over the summer holidays and doesn’t help that I work from home so I’m seemingly always available and very central for him, his work and his family to drop in and hang out.
I know I haven’t helped myself with this

OP posts:
Spenditlikebeckham · 04/09/2024 09:45

Imo he needs to be taking you out. He is your bf... He isn't entitled to your home. Or even being in it if that's not your want.... Who the fuck thinks they have dibs on a home after a year long relationship?? A cheeky fucker that's who. Or an odd mner..

NoSquirrels · 04/09/2024 09:48

If you work from home you are definitely NOT a convenient place for people to drop in and hang out.

The thing about boundaries is, they’re your boundaries. Other people don’t have to agree with them, just respect them. They don’t get to bargain about stepping over them, or the right to change them. You sey out the boundaries, then they decide whether to respect them or walk away or suffer the consequences of overstepping.

It’s hard but it’s not unfair.

DustyGrapevine · 04/09/2024 09:48

He's keeping his expenses to a minimum by paying for a house share, while exploiting your nice home to have a nice, comfortable adult lifestyle. He's a user.

amedeusamadeus · 04/09/2024 09:50

I keep trying to picture how I’d feel if the roles reversed and he expressed these feelings but it just doesn’t compute!

OP posts:
AllHisCaterpillarFriends · 04/09/2024 09:52

especially at the times when his family leave and he goes along with them at the end of the evening/ weekend

Not often I'm speechless.

He will try and make you feel bad because he is living the perfect life. Of course he won't want you to change anything. I want to live his life.

You deserve better.

RedHelenB · 04/09/2024 09:52

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. And its on OP a bit too given that she's set herself up as a matriarchal figure, no need to do that.

Conniebygaslight · 04/09/2024 09:53

He's completely trampling over you and when you suggest space he whisks you away on a break. He's not listening at all and trying to move in by stealth. Not acceptable OP.

amedeusamadeus · 04/09/2024 09:53

Also I’m perimenopausal and feel generally unbalanced (need a hormone / hrt check)
so is hard to know when I’m over reacting as someone’s kind of mentioned upthread ref not seeing the wood for trees when exhausted (and in pain)
I think I’ve blurred my boundaries for short term gains like fun times and good sex , some support although I haven’t emphasised that here as it’s a moaning thread, and of course his company.

OP posts:
Aquamarine1029 · 04/09/2024 09:53

amedeusamadeus · 04/09/2024 09:50

I keep trying to picture how I’d feel if the roles reversed and he expressed these feelings but it just doesn’t compute!

Op, he's not stupid. Of course he knows what you're saying, he's playing dumb and running a quite successful long con. I wouldn't be surprised at all if he's pulled this same stunt before you. He saw you coming a mile off. Men like him always do.

You shouldn't even want to be in a relationship with this man. He is nothing but a selfish user.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe · 04/09/2024 09:54

I'm quite sure that he has money/capacity to buy if he wanted to. A man of his age/career wouldn't live in a house-share and be so blase about finding accommodation of his own. I don't imagine you know all there is to know about his financial set up and why should you?

He's using your home as if it's his own despite you telling him (or hinting) that it's becoming an established pattern and uncomfortable. Yet he still does nothing about that. No very considerate, is he?

I think you will have to give an ultimatum at some point and he's a bit of a shit for making you need to do that. Think about what you will and won't tolerate and then tell him - and don't back down.

I don't know how long you've been together but if you have children then this is their home, not his and not his children's home.

Agree totally with the never a man so much in love who is in need of accommodation.

PaminaMozart · 04/09/2024 09:54

I speak to him about this on a regular basis hence the odd hotel weekends and recent promise (at the weekend) to take action . I haven’t told him my six month plan yet. ...
The six months is because of the housing shortage, but I’d expect to see some concrete movement plans in that time at least . ...
it’s becoming an unhealthy resentment.
and annoyance that he doesn’t have to host, clean up, deal with social battery drainage especially at the times when his family leave and he goes along with them at the end of the evening/ weekend. ...
ive made it too comfortable for him and made myself uncomfortable in the process.

There you are, @amedeusamadeus - your own words.

You keep telling him, but he is not taking a blind bit of notice. The 6 months is your own avoidance of putting your foot down as it's easier to kick the can down the road.

He has got a very cushy number, and you are being a bit of a wet lettuce (which is perfectly understandable - you are exhausted!) ......... so why would he want to give up his cocklodging lifestyle?

And all the while your annoyance and resentment grow.

You need to be totally clear and firm with him NOW.

PashaMinaMio · 04/09/2024 09:57

Spenditlikebeckham · 04/09/2024 09:19

Never a man more in love than one who needs an address. Ltb op.

This is SO true. ^

Get this sorted out OP because if you don’t the resentment will explode one day & in anger you’ll split.

Then you’ll look back with even more resentment that you gave so much and got back so little.

Take back your power. You are being taken for a ride. Start today with a new school term plan.

SquirrelSoShiny · 04/09/2024 09:58

buttonsB4 · 04/09/2024 09:33

His "generous" weekends away etc only happen because you're saving him a shit-ton in rent, bills or mortgage, which he would have to pay if he wasn't using your facilities.

If he actually had to house himself adequately for his needs, including having family to visit etc, he wouldn't be able to live in a flat share.

But he has you, subsidising him.

You offer a home, a place for his relatives to visit and a lovely, clean, welcoming environment whilst a small amount of his money is being spent on something akin to student lodgings which you can't visit as it's too uncomfortable.

He came into the relationship offering X and now it's X minus his own place and space and taking up more of your time, bills and energy on things you'd rather not be doing (like hosting his family).

His worth has gone down. Yours has increased. You're no longer in the relationship you started out in.

This is a pretty good summary.

SquirrelSoShiny · 04/09/2024 10:00

amedeusamadeus · 04/09/2024 09:35

I have told him that I need more time for me and that it starts from now.
He does work hard so I don’t begrudge him his down time so it’s not what I’d call jealousy but maybe it’s becoming an unhealthy resentment.
and annoyance that he doesn’t have to host, clean up, deal with social battery drainage especially at the times when his family leave and he goes along with them at the end of the evening/ weekend
ive made it too comfortable for him and made myself uncomfortable in the process.

He leaves with them???

Jesus wept OP you are being taken for a mug. You're basically an Airbnb with a live in maid. Fuck that for a game of soldiers!

amedeusamadeus · 04/09/2024 10:03

SquirrelSoShiny · 04/09/2024 10:00

He leaves with them???

Jesus wept OP you are being taken for a mug. You're basically an Airbnb with a live in maid. Fuck that for a game of soldiers!

Not every time but it’s happened enough times, it would leave me feeling upset but I was never really sure why until putting it in writing today

OP posts:
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