The Student Room Group

Private living: Did I take things too far?

I recently moved in a house with a younger guy with whom I have no previous affiliations. The guy is superficially nice, but has been inviting guests over and occupying the living room almost every night since he moved in. I had had enough of it last night when I could hardly cook or relax in the living room being occupied by them.

I see it as a violation of my space when strangers constantly occupy the living room, a security risk when there is no lock on the door of my bedroom...more so, I am entitled to have unrestricted access to facilities in the house and that guests, who pay nothing to be here, cannot be prioritised over me.

I contacted the landlord about this regarding the enforcement of relevant clauses in the lease. The reason I didn't speak to my flatmate directly is that I neither wanted to start an argument nor was able to get over the past experience that people got defensive when being criticised under 90% circumstances.

Did I take things too far? Or it's an unavoidable choice of action?
Reply 1
I would say you took things too far. It's unfair to assume he would react the same as those in your past because he is not them. Imagine if you did something he didn't like and you had no idea; then, the landlord suddenly sends an email to reprimand you. That wouldn't feel good.

I understand how annoying his actions can be. However, when living with people, if they do things you dislike, it's courteous to have a discussion first. If the discussion doesn't produce a reasonable solution; then, you can involve external parties like your landlord. What you've done could create a tense environment where neither of you can have discussions about your living arrangements. It'll just be a game of who gets to report things to the landlord first.
Reply 2
I can see both sides. It totally makes sense that you don't want strangers in your living room every day of the week but it would have probably been better to ask him directly. Good luck
Are they staying overnight or are they socialising in the living room and staying late, for example ?

What particular clauses in the tenancy agreement is your flatmate breaching?

Speaking to a flatmate over house rules is a first step.
Reply 4
Original post by Anonymous
Are they staying overnight or are they socialising in the living room and staying late, for example ?
What particular clauses in the tenancy agreement is your flatmate breaching?
Speaking to a flatmate over house rules is a first step.

The answers to all your questions are YES. The landlord has spoken to him and I haven't seen guests coming over for the past 2 days.

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