'My live-in landlord makes me keep door open when I'm asleep - it creeps me out'
A woman has asked for advice after finding herself in a situation where her pushy landlady is making her feel uncomfortable with her actions and her demands, including leaving her door open at night. The landlady also turns off the heating at night no matter the temperature of the house and has refused to give her lodger a key to lock her own room.
The 24-year-old has now reached out to fellow users on Reddit for advice on how to deal with the situation as she has only been in the house for a week but now wants to either resolve the situation or leave, despite having signed a contract for six months. The lodger said that she has valuables in her room she wants to protect and that the landlady has a cat that likes to scratch things.
The woman said that her 53-year-old landlady is always complaining that she is going through menopause and gets very hot at night, which is why she wants the heating off and because she is also a sensitive sleeper, wants her lodger to keep her door open at night so she won't be woken by it opening.
The woman said: "I go on quite a few business trips so I would like a key to lock the room, especially because landlord has a cat, a very cute gorgeous cat, but the cat loves to scratch things and I've found the cat in my room numerous times in this last week alone. It's still winter weather despite it being February and I am freezing, wrapping myself in multiple throws just to sleep. I pay a decent amount in rent so I wish she would just keep the heating on longer.
"This morning the strangest conversation happened as I was leaving for a week-long business trip. Landlord suddenly comes up to me as I'm about to walk through the door, stopping me and saying she can hear my door opening when I need to go the bathroom in the night, and then says she hasn't slept for two nights in a row because she is a sensitive sleeper.
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"I mention that I notice she sleeps with her door open so if she closed it she wouldn't hear me leaving my room, and I joke that if I don't get out of bed to pee at night I would wet myself (she didn't laugh). She then goes on a serious rant about menopause and how she is very hot and she needs her door open for airflow and to let her lonely cat into her room for cuddles.
"After saying this she then demands I keep my door open while I sleep so she doesn't have to hear the sound of my door opening if I need to go to the bathroom. She then shoves a plushy into my hand and says 'this will be your door stopper'. I've only known her for a week and a bit and the idea of the door open while I'm sleeping is just crossing a boundary. It feels like she wants to live alone and have me act like a ghost and it's making me uncomfortable. What should I do?"
Other users of the site said that she should see if she can be released from the contract as her landlady's behaviour is completely unacceptable. One said: "This sounds terrible. Based on what you've said about your landlord, I don't think any amount of discussion will help things become more comfortable for you. I would be seeking other arrangements. You are an adult and deserve freedom and peace of mind."
And another added: "Nope, she doesn't get to turn off heat and not let you lock/keep door closed and maintain the contract. Please collect evidence of these things before leaving," while a third person said: "No, this is not normal at all. If she's hot, she can open her window. If she sleeps poorly, she can use earplugs. She's absolutely pushing boundaries seeing how far you'll let her walk. You deserve privacy and she must provide the key for you. Reach out to a legal aid to see your options, because if she's not providing the basics to you, you will be able to leave without losing a deposit."
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