Housemate & Rent

LegacyUser

Hi,

A very minor problem compared to others here but I'd appreciate some advice.

I moved into my house in March and took a small room. Rent was 525 and I was happy with that and my housemate mentioned that he was paying more for his much larger room (landlord is a woman). I didn't ask any other details then but I know not that he pays the same as me.

I'm kinda annoyed to be honest. I know it shouldn't matter as I moved in happily moved in and knew what I was paying but I can't help but feeling a bit pi$$ed off that he wasn't upfront. I know he's kinda embarrassed now and don't want things to get awkward. We're not kids either, we're 29/30s and get on well otherwise. But it should definitely be two different rents. I suppose I just need to figure out (1) do I ask him to reconsider his rent (2) ignore it and let it go (3) move out.

Thanks

CommanderC

What a deceitful little sh1t.

I would expect him to now start paying his fair share of the rent.

He has been saving himself a tidy amount over the last few months.

If he won't cough up, I'd be moving out of there.

ladysarah

I agree. That is discraceful. He will not rent the room again for that price.

LegacyUser

thanks for the replies. I wasn't sure if I was over-reacting.

I know some places that rent is divided evenly but in most cases, if there is a big difference in the rooms, then it's changed slightly. I mean in our place, one room is literally twice the size of the other. He can fit a desk, weights and spare suitcases whereas my bed is pushed against the wall. To be honest I think I'm more annoyed that he lied about it initially.

I guess I'll ask if we can change rents, my sense is that he'll say No so I'll prob end up moving out.

Gatling

How do you know he's paying the same as you ,
And been its a house do you have access to common areas ,ie living room ,kitchen ,shower and so on

marketty

Did you know this guy and move together or was he in that house already?

LegacyUser

No, he was there first and I moved in when the last guy moved out. Possibly the rooms were always split equal and he just continued with that. I remember him saying he used have my room but moved when the guy before that moved out (I'm his third cohabitant). Sure maybe I'll do the same if he ever moves out but I sure wouldn't dress it up with other person.

How it came out was that we were talking about a house in the estate being sold and total rents vs mortgage. I picked up on the odd calculation and asked casually what rent was he paying again. He completely dodged it and said he couldn't remember to be sure, it's a direct debit so he'd have to check. When I asked again, he said around 525/530 so basically the same as me. Well I suppose he has the decency to be embarrassed.

Anyway, prob won't bring it up again as will only cause bad atmosphere and can't really ask him to pay more money. Otherwise we get on well but definitely have him down a peg or two in my books from now on.

marketty

Sandyford13 wrote: »

No, he was there first and I moved in when the last guy moved out. Possibly the rooms were always split equal and he just continued with that. I remember him saying he used have my room but moved when the guy before that moved out (I'm his third cohabitant). Sure maybe I'll do the same if he ever moves out but I sure wouldn't dress it up with other person.

How it came out was that we were talking about a house in the estate being sold and total rents vs mortgage. I picked up on the odd calculation and asked casually what rent was he paying again. He completely dodged it and said he couldn't remember to be sure, it's a direct debit so he'd have to check. When I asked again, he said around 525/530 so basically the same as me. Well I suppose he has the decency to be embarrassed.

Anyway, prob won't bring it up again as will only cause bad atmosphere and can't really ask him to pay more money. Otherwise we get on well but definitely have him down a peg or two in my books from now on.

Well in fairness if you didn't know him and he was already there I don't think you have much grounds for complaint. You were happy enough with the rent for the size of the room when you moved in and really what he is/isn't paying is none of your business. Maybe he was paying more originally but when he found out he was getting a new housemate he struck a deal with the LL. As far as I'm concerned the whole 'splitting the rent according to room size' thing can only really be brought up if you are moving into a place with other people at the same time, not when you are moving into a place already occupied and with the rent clearly stated. Honestly if I was your housemate I'd laugh at you if you suggested changing the situation now, and I say that as someone who was in your situation a few years ago

Koptain Liverpool

I agree that you have no grounds to complain or ask the rent to be changed. Of course it's annoying - but you accepted the stated amount of rent for the room you have when you moved in. In houseshares where the tenants move in on an individual basis it's normal enough that the rent is split equally regardless of room size.
As others say it would be different if you and a group of friends had rented the place together.

Apart from all this however it seems mad that you're paying €525 for a small room. It must be some house if it's that expensive.

Emme

€525 seems a lot for a small room. Who told you the cost of the room, this guy or the landlady? Does your money go directly into her account by direct debit? If not I would contact her to check that you are paying the right rent for the room.

It seems strange that she would charge the same for two rooms of vastly differing size.

Depending on where you live, you might get better value renting a room elsewhere.

LegacyUser

Koptain Liverpool wrote: »

In houseshares where the tenants move in on an individual basis it's normal enough that the rent is split equally regardless of room size.

Not sure if I agree with you there. I've lived with lots of different randomers over the years and rent has always been priced according to room size. That said OP, if you were happy to move in to begin with and pay 525, I can't really see how it makes any difference now. Also, where are you living for a 525 box room?!

Lorna123

If he is paying his rent by direct debit he probably had all that set up from the start. So why would he change that when you came along. Do you pay your rent to him or directly to the landlady?

LegacyUser

525 for a box room??!

Jesus, Just three years ago I was paying 450 for a bedsit in Clontarf! With cable! You should definately check out bedsits.

CommanderC

Your flatmate lied to you.

He wouldn't have lied unless he felt he was doing something wrong.

He led you to believe that the total rent for the property was more than it actually was in order to get you to shoulder a higher proportion of the actual cost of the rent.

The flatmate sounds like a scumbag-get outta there

LegacyUser

Thanks for all the replies. I was really annoyed when I posted here first but have started to get over it.

You're right, I have no grounds for complaint as I took the room based on that price and I was happy at the time. Also to clarify, my room isn't a box room, the bed is against the wall but it's still grand and the house is lovely, so the rent isn't ridiculous. Sorry if that was unclear. It's just like I said, the other room is like a super master size.

Anyway, I'm gonna stay and pay as I'm paying but yeah, I imagine the original rent 1050 was split maybe 500/550 when he first took it out and it was changed when I moved in. That is lousy and he definitely did mislead me but just have to get over it.

Lorna123

He was probably paying 525 all along for rent, so he was hardly going to offer to pay more when you came along and especially when you agreed on the 525. He didn't want to admit it to you because he knew you would think it was unfair. So he kept dumb to keep the peace. Put yourself in his shoes, if you were there first and were paying 525 for a year or two and then someone else came along would you offer to pay more to accommodate them. I don't think so. He wasn't the one who set out what the rent would be so why would he up his own rent to suit you.

CommanderC

Lorna123 wrote: »

He was probably paying 525 all along for rent, so he was hardly going to offer to pay more when you came along and especially when you agreed on the 525. He didn't want to admit it to you because he knew you would think it was unfair. So he kept dumb to keep the peace. Put yourself in his shoes, if you were there first and were paying 525 for a year or two and then someone else came along would you offer to pay more to accommodate them. I don't think so. He wasn't the one who set out what the rent would be so why would he up his own rent to suit you.

I'd say it much more probable that he was paying more than 525 (as he has a super master bedroom) and when the old flat mate moved out. He saw his chance to make the new flat mate shoulder more of the rent, so he therefore concocted a lie to fool the OP and get away with it.

Lorna123

CommanderC wrote: »

I'd say it much more probable that he was paying more than 525 (as he has a super master bedroom) and when the old flat mate moved out. He saw his chance to make the new flat mate shoulder more of the rent, so he therefore concocted a lie to fool the OP and get away with it.

He didn't always have the big bedroom as per OP. Not sure if they were friends or not before OP moved in but if not then I couldn't see this guy offering to pay more and having to change all his direct debit arrangements.

Also it strikes me now that if he was always paying 525 for his rent then he was paying 525 for the smaller room at one stage too, so that would mean that the rent was divided equally all along. So he justifiably felt that it was his turn to avail of the bigger room when the other tenant left.