The ultimate incentive proposed! Buying a house, a wedding, and staying debt free.

Cinny91

Sorry to hear about the whole rent thing CMD Sounds like you were being seriously generous to your 'friends' and they're taking you for a ride.
Personally, I'd ask for that 1k back and go to your Landlord, explain how you and your OH are moving and offer them 1k with termination of the contract. Then tell your 'friends' to get out. I'm not sure if that's above board or whatever, but I know my Dad and Uncle would bite your hand off if you did that. Have to say I'm kind of shocked by your OH, he's giving in way too easily! He should be thinking how he has a kid on the way and how much that money would help, not worrying it will make playing in a band difficult if he doesn't! Hope you get it sorted though x

Dinah + Tete - How was your class?

Not much news from my end! I'm really confused though and think it's Tuesday. I have no idea what that's about! Best get some work done I suppose

Tete_en_l'Air

Aww CMD! Had to read that post a couple of times and make notes! I don't understand the situation with the deposit - surely it's the landlord who has that and you'll get it back from him?

As for the other part ... yes they did you a favour by staying on in the flat but you've also done them a huge favour by letting them have it - the arrangement was only for 12 weeks so they would have had to move out and find a place (and all the money involved in that) much sooner. From the sound of your email they were happy to do this even without the £250-a-month gesture from you, and a very kind thing I think that was too.

If they're quibbling about 14 days - surely this should be half of £250 anyway so £125?

I know that you were in the wrong subletting but it was win-win for both of you and I really really don't think they have the moral right to be demanding any more money from you. I'd be very very reluctant to give them anything at all and to be honest I don't know if any friendship of mine would withstand something like this, all trust and respect would be gone.

If you can do as Cinny says and terminate the contract that would be ideal I think. Please try not to let it stress you though, you have far more important things to think about at the moment.

Cinny, glad you found a non-dodgy hug smiley!! Always nice to think it's earlier in the week than it really is! Class was good I thought, better than last week at any rate and I feel all raring to go again. Woke up at 4.30 with head full of thoughts of buttons, fabric and trims! Shattered now!
Can I have some opinions? I'm doing a gathered sort of skirt with a wide band around the bottom in contrasting material. I'm thinking of a plain navy fabric with either white with navy spots, or navy with white spots. But don't know which will look best, with the spotty one as the band, or as the main part of the skirt? Does that make sense? Can you visualise it?

This is the pattern I have, I'm going to do the top left one.

Lara44

clearmydebts wrote: »

I am so upset and angry and want someone with a clear head to give me some advice.

Basically we were moving to a 2 bed flat in June (renting). 2 of our friends approached us and asked us if we would sub-let a room to them for 12 weeks as my OH had no job and they were between flats. We agreed and it was all grand.

My OH got a job and we have to relocate. We were locked into an 8 month contract (with 4 months remaining) so we asked them if they wanted to stay for the rest of the contract and we would give them £250 per month towards the rent, so £1000 in total. I thought we were being very generous. We also said that we would keep the deposit (£900) in a holding account as they don't have much money.

We gave them a cheque for the amount and now they have approached us and said that we owe them about 14 days rent (approx £240). It is true, as there is an overlap but we stupidly thought that as we were giving them £1000 they would overlook that and include it. Stupid us

Anyway I am fuming as I can't believe that we have given another couple £1000 for nothing, only for them to ask for another £240. OH wants to give it back to them as he is in a band with them and feels that it will sour things if we don't. We are also afraid that if we don't they will tell the landlord that we were sub-letting.

I have agreed that we can give them the money (approx £240) but I want my deposit back, as I don't trust them. I also don't want to go for a drink with them on Friday like we were meant to, as I can't stand the sight of them. OH thinks I am being petty asking for the deposit back. I don't think I am at all. I don't trust them. OH also thinks I should hold my head high and go for a drink with them on Fri night. I think why should I pretend that everything is alright.

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks

Hey CMD, sorry to hear about that. if I were you I would probably hard face it, and say politely that the 14 days was always included in the deal and that's why you gave them the £1000! If they didn't realise it then that's their problem. In this way you can put it back onto them. I would also explain - you are expecting a baby and paying off debt, money is tight. There is no money for this request as you have to prepare for the baby coming which should also make them feel bad.

clearmydebts

Hi all,

Thanks everyone for the advice. They are just about to sign the lease with the landlord so we can't terminate the lease now.

I think I might go with your suggestion. How about if I email something like:

Dear .......

......... was telling me that you are looking for the difference in rent from the 22nd Oct to the 5th Nov. Maybe I should have made it clearer, but I presumed you knew that this was included in the £1k we gave you towards the rent.

If I didn't make this clear then I am sorry but I think £1k is more than enough to give you to subsidise the rent. If you take it away from the 1k is still amounts to about £180 per month towards your rent.

Unfortunately this seems to have turned into a business transaction rather than an agreement between friends, and I am disappointed that you are looking for money. As we are looking at it now from a financial and business angle I am going to suggest that if your not happy with this you return the money to us, we will return you the agency fee you paid (£150) and we will take our chances with finding new tenants.

We had checkec out re-advertising the flat and it would have cost far less than giving you£1000 and keeping the deposit in a holding account. We we just trying to help friends out but I suppose that's why they say never mix business with pleasure.

Let me know what you think. I am not involving ...... because I don't want tensions in the band but I am seriously hurt and disappointed that you both have come looking for more money. Money is also tight for us, with ..... only getting a job after 2 years, and with the baby coming along.

What do you all think?

Flower08

Morning everyone.

Sorry to hear about your 'friends' CMD, i definitely wouldnt give in and give that money, you have already done them a huge favour!

On money making front, just got my £5 voucher through from bingoport, i am over 17,000 on dooyoo so hoping that by tomorrow at the latest i will be at the 20,000 mark.

Oh and i have joined ciao so we will see how that one goes.

Flower08

I think thats really good CMD, explains everything exactly and i think its more than reasonable.

clearmydebts

OH is going mad about the potential email and says we should give them the money.

I can't believe he is acting like this

Flower08

I definitely dont think you should give them the money, you have been more than generous and £250 is a lot of money when you've got a baby on the way.

Tete_en_l'Air

No, CMD if you start giving them money now you never know where it'll stop, you don't want them to think you're a soft touch. To be honest I can't believe they've had the gall to ask in the first place. Your email looks good to me and states your case without being nasty, and offers them an alternative as well.

Dinah93

clearmydebts wrote: »

I think I might email her tomorrow and say how disappointed I feel about the whole thing and how I assumed (which is true) that the extra rent they paid was included in this, or else why would we have collected it from them?

At first I read the scenario and I could see both sides, but then I saw the email you sent them and I think you are completely right, they're trying it on.

Cinny91 wrote: »

Dinah + Tete - How was your class?

Less scary than last week, although we were supposed to have fabric for our garment, which hardly anyone had!

Tete_en_l'Air wrote: »

Can I have some opinions? I'm doing a gathered sort of skirt with a wide band around the bottom in contrasting material. I'm thinking of a plain navy fabric with either white with navy spots, or navy with white spots. But don't know which will look best, with the spotty one as the band, or as the main part of the skirt? Does that make sense? Can you visualise it?

This is the pattern I have, I'm going to do the top left one.

Wanting a summer or winter skirt? If summer go with the lighter spotty material for the main with the navy band, if a winter one go with navy with the lighter spotty band as a highlight.

Can I just say AAAARRRGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!

Yesterday was an appauling day. Work was rubbish. I forgot the parcels we were already late in sending, I had a splitting headache all day, I managed to leave my notebook at work along with my bit of board for my mood board, I forgot fabric for sewing class, then to round matters off, I went to meet my womens group leader from church and she casually tells me NIM and I can't get married at the church as we live together! Why did no one tell us this when we booked (or thought we booked!) the church?! Do we need to find a new church now?! I'm tearing out my hair. NIM is calling the pastor we asked to do the wedding at lunchtime to find out if the head pastor really has said no to us. ARGH! Anyone know how I find out which churches I'm in the parish of to get married at?!