I (26F) recently left the Navy, and my husband (25M) and I moved back to our home state. Since we were in military housing, we needed somewhere to stay and arranged to rent a basement room from his friends after their oldest son moved out. They said they could use help with the mortgage.
Months before moving, the wife said rent would be “a few hundred.” Two weeks before moving in, the husband raised it to $650. We agreed, even though the space is just one room and the rest of the basement is her home office.
Right away, we noticed an issue. Our door doesn’t latch, so their dog can push it open. It wasn’t ideal, but manageable.
I took a little time to find a job, so we paid rent a couple weeks late the first month but caught up quickly. During that time, we helped around the house: dishes, feeding and letting out the dog, and driving their youngest son to school.
A few weeks in, the wife asked us to contribute to groceries since she cooks and invites us to eat. We agreed and were told $200. So now we pay $850 for a small room and about three home-cooked meals a week (leftovers on other nights).
We later tried to save money by buying some of our own food, but when we asked for a bit of fridge space, they said there was none in either of their two fridges. There’s also no pantry space, so we use a linen closet for dry goods.
On top of this, the couple fights constantly, making privacy nearly impossible. Their youngest son and his girlfriend are also very loud. They wrestle and stomp during the day (my husband works nights) and blasting movies late at night, despite us asking multiple times to lower the volume.
Last week, when the son claimed he’s “never loud,” I shit him a look. His father asked why, and I explained the ongoing noise issues. The son was offended, and the father said my comment was rude.
Here’s where I might be the AH…
I brought up all of it, the noise, lack of privacy, and not having space for our belongings despite paying $850 to live there. I probably wasn’t the nicest about it, but I was fed up.
We’ve been here 3 months…
So, AITA?
NTA – but you needed to move out 3 months ago. They are completely taking advantage of you, you’re better off finding a stranger to live with. They’re treating you as if they’re doing you a favor and not like you’re a tenant. You need to move somewhere with actual space for the two of you and a lease that properly lays out what you do and don’t have access to.
NTA don’t even need to explain ik u alr know girlie
NTA
But you guys are pushovers.
So move out.
NTA… Save yourself and move out. They are very inconsiderate
ESH because the relationship between your family & your friends has been screwed up from the beginning from both sides. Your husband’s friend slightly moreso than you two, though.
It’s like both parties want the positive parts of being in a landlord – tenant relationship and none of the downsides.
Just move out.
Maybe YTA?
I’m not sure where you live, maybe I missed it, but in CT, $850, with food, Internet & utilities and a “private” room is amazing.
Technically, you’re a tenant, but being treated like a guest who’s over stayed their welcome.
Idk, rough one, but you should absolutely move out.
NTA. The money is one thing that’s debatable, but you’re paying real rent and you don’t have the ability to store your own food, you have no privacy or peace. It’s just not working for you and it’s clearly not going to get any better.
ESH. Move out!
Move.
Where I am $850 will get you an efficiency apartment with electric included. For $1,000 you can get a bedroom with ensuite in a 4 bedroom 4 1/2 bath shared newish townhouse in a central location or a 1 bedroom 1 bath older apartment in an ok location.
Why, exactly are you still there after all this time? Great job? Close to family? Guilt trip over your friend not being able to pay her own mortgage? Maybe if her son and his girlfriend had jobs they could help pay instead of freeloading off your money.
Yta. Don’t like it find a new place to live.
I hate people who complain instead of solving a problem.
You are working now. Be adults. The situation you are in is for children.
Obviously you can’t get a better deal or you’d just move out.
Ypu two need to find somewhere else. This is not working.
ESH. Your friends are bad landlords. You should have fridge space and a door that closes all the way. $650 for a room pretty much anywhere is dirt cheap though, it’s not like you should expect a lot at that price level especially if WiFi and utilities are included. But the noise issues, lack of privacy, etc should have been brought up close to when the problems happened, in a grown up manner. You kept it to yourself, stewed on it, and then let it all out starting with making a snarky face at a kid. That’s not how adults solve problems.