houseshare with noisy eater

seefin

Rented spare room a while back and he's model tenant apart from his eating. He eats with mouth open making a smacking noise-can almost hear in the next room. I'll admit Ive a thing about noisy eaters but even my friends commented on him. It's come to stage where I can't bear to be in kitchen at same time as him and he's in there for well over an hour each evening. I rush home so I can have finished preparing my meal before he starts. Is this something I can say to him or will I just ask him to leave as easier than broaching the subject?

Big Bag of Chips

I think I'd have to say it!! I too have a big problem with noisy eaters. I can't understand how people don't!!

I think I'd just have to say, maybe in a jokey way "Jesus, Mick, did nobody ever teach you to chew with your mouth closed? The noise of ya!"

Although, I know a fully grown man who is the noisiest eater I know. I've said it to him more that once and his reply has always been "How the fk do you chew with your mouth closed". He genuinely does not possess the necessary skill!

So even if you say it to your tenant, don't expect a change. I think staying in a different room, or asking him to move to a different room might be your only option...

LegacyUser

I think it's rude for you to say anything. I have a family member who claims to have misophonia and takes offensive to a wide array of sounds. If he had his way, nobody in the household would breathe, eat, sneeze, cough, yawn or snore. The way I see it, what right has he to regulate everyone else's natural body sounds; isn't he the one who has the issue? Shouldn't he tone down his self-diagnosed 'condition' (Google gave it a name but most who know him would describe him as irritable and controlling). Sometimes it's harder to look at one's self than to criticise others.

It's up to you, but if I were in your position I wouldn't say anything. You may create an awkward atmosphere after. In the great scheme of things, isn't chewing a very minor issue?

Is it possible he has sinus issues and breathes through his mouth (and so when chewing, keeps his mouth open to breathe too)? If he does have a medical issue resulting in open mouth chewing, will you feel embarrassed?

Having lived in awkward unfriendly house share situations, I'd be more inclined to keep going as you are than to tackle it, but that's just me.

Airyfairy12

I'd have to say something. My brother is a very noisy eater, if we're both in my parents house and he's eating I have to leave the room until he's finished..im not a violent person but that noise makes me want to break things. I couldnt bare living with a noisy eater so I feel your pain. Asking him to leave would be worse I think, say it to him in a polite way if you can.

Lead

You need to say it in a light hearted way. I had to do it with a previous housemate. The one i live with now scrapes their plate with every forkfull they take and this is driving me mad, they can be up to an hour eating their dinner. I can hear it from my bedroom. Need to say it to them when i see them next.

aqn29swlgbmiu4

Are they from Asian?
Chinese and Koreans are notoriously loud eaters, they never chew with their mouths shut!

God its sick!!!

seefin

Ok spoke to a few friends last night and have decided life is too short to not feel comfortable in my own home. I don't think he will be able to change his eating habits at this stage, and to be honest Im sick of having to avoid the kitchen in the morning, and planning my evening to ensure I've finished in kitchen before he gets in so will just find another excuse to ask him to leave. It's not my place to tell a grown man how to eat. He eats alot of raw food so I don't think he will ever manage to eat that quietly... whatever the chances of him learning to not make noise when eating muesli, theres zero chance with a raw carrot From comments it seems this is one of those things that really bother some people and seem trivial to others but unfortunately I'm one of those people who can't tolerate it

Xterminator

Hi OP

i agree that a grown man is unlikely to reform his eating habits. also approaching him about it could cause tension in your home/

If you read any amount of the horror stories landlords post up ; you seem to be giving up a good tenant (who are rare gems) for what seems a minor gripe.

However life is short and if it bothers you that much, you should terminate the arrangement amicably, make your excuses and try your luck with a new tenant. Perhaps you willonly get a nose picker next time ?

seefin

Xterminator wrote:

However life is short and if it bothers you that much, you should terminate the arrangement amicably, make your excuses and try your luck with a new tenant. Perhaps you willonly get a nose picker next time ?

I've rented the room plenty of times but this is a deal breaker. ( As would be a nose picker!!) Will talk to him at weekend and just say I need the room as my boyfriend is around at weekends and we need the space. No hurt feelings .

kyogger

Dorothy Gigantic Stapler wrote: »

Are they from Asian?
Chinese and Koreans are notoriously loud eaters, they never chew with their mouths shut!

God its sick!!!

RACIST

J Mysterio

Dorothy Gigantic Stapler wrote: »

Are they from Asian?
Chinese and Koreans are notoriously loud eaters, they never chew with their mouths shut!

God its sick!!!

Malaysians too, it's disgusting.

zig

seefin wrote: »

I've rented the room plenty of times but this is a deal breaker. ( As would be a nose picker!!) Will talk to him at weekend and just say I need the room as my boyfriend is around at weekends and we need the space. No hurt feelings .

I absolutely despise noisy eaters, but this is very harsh and cowardly if you ask me. You're willing to kick the man from his home to spare yourself th awkwardness of being up front with him. Give the guy one chance at least.

Don't get me wrong , it's disgusting and makes me angry but he might be able to do something about it. If it continues after that then fair enough but it's not easy find a place to live these days and he's never gonna learn unless he at least has an inkling.

aqn29swlgbmiu4

kyogger wrote: »

RACIST

I lived in Korea for 2 years sweetheart, it's part of their culture.

It's also part of my culture to be disgusted by it 😊

Eimee90

I don't think you can evict someone for that reason, op

zoobizoo

You could be doing the guy two big favours by bringing it to his attention:

1. so he still has a place to live
2. so he is aware of it and won't do it again

For fear of causing him offence or yourself embarrassment, you are disrupting his life significantly.

kylith

Dorothy Gigantic Stapler wrote: »

Are they from Asian?
Chinese and Koreans are notoriously loud eaters, they never chew with their mouths shut!

God its sick!!!

In some places noisy eating is a sign that you're enjoying the food - it's a compliment to the chef!

elsa21

elsa21 wrote: »

I don't think you can evict someone for that reason, op

The op is renting a room in her house, she can evict for any reason under the sun or no reason at all. She also only has to give "reasonable notice" which could mean move out by the morning (obviously no need for such drastic action in this case though and giving a months notice would be fine).