Real-life MMD: If I'm paying rent, why should I tidy my room? 8 August 2013 at 12:40PM edited 13 August 2013 at 6:49PM in Money Saving Polls 141 replies 20.1K views

Former_MSE_Debs

Money Moral Dilemma: If I'm paying rent, why should I tidy my room?

I'm 24 and just moved back into my parents 4-bed house. I work full time and pay my parents rent, something I suggested and an amount which we all agreed on. I think my room's an organised mess, but my Dad thinks it's a tip, and wants it to meet his standards of cleanliness. Around the rest of the house I abide by my parent's rules, but this is my room and as I'm paying rent I think my dad is being unreasonable. I could rent a small room privately for a little more per week.

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Evilm

I have a lodger who pays rent... and he still needs to keep his room tidy! Admittedly that is more because the boiler is in that room.

However there is a level I don't interfere. I don't expect 'child' tidy. I expect accessible and safe.

martinthebandit

If you don't like it, move

If you don't want to move then keep your room tidy.

It's as simple as that.

allybee13

You pay rent - you don't own the house; therefore you don't make the rules. If you want to live there you should keep your room tidy. If you don't want to keep your room tidy then live elsewhere. It's very simple.

Kite2010

You pay rent, the landlord (your parents) can set any ground-rules they like.

If you don't like it, move elsewhere.

kriss1977

Organised mess doesn't sound like a tip. You are paying rent, your parents should respect your privacy/private area. I rent a room in a shared house; the landlord and other tenants have no right to enter the room without my knowledge when I'm not there and definitely no say in how tidy or messy I keep it. As long as it's not a health and safety hazard, there is no problem.
Your extra rent is probably (?) helping your parents out with their household costs/bills as well as the convenience for both parties in living with people you know/having someone you know living in your house so it's not as though both sides aren't benefitting by you being there and paying rent.
Like you say, if you wanted to could pay a little more and get a small room elsewhere - you need to discuss it with your Father and find out how much of a deal breaker it is for him. If it's a major issue, then you need to weigh up whether knuckling under and just tidying it is more hassle/inconvenience to you than moving out and paying a little more to have more freedom elsewhere. Then you'll have your answer.

beckythemadcow

Cleanliness and tidiness are different. I would say you should meet his standards of cleanliness but your own standards of tidiness (within reasonable H&S constraints!!)

kouloura

You say that the rent you are paying your parents would get you a room somewhere else - although I suspect not as I assume that you get your meals provided or cooked for you and your laundry included if you rented elsewhere these would be on top - think yourself lucky - I too left home and went back aged 24 and from experience I know that it isn't an easy thing to do however if it were your house would you honestly want to see a room in your house being destroyed I wouldn't - have a bit of respect and tidy up your mess!!:j

nearlyrich

Didn't we do this one last week ?

Lolly_Pops

Their house, their rules. If you don't like it, move out. After all it won't cost you much more.

Kite86

One of the disadvantages of living with your parents in their house is that you have to live by their rules; an advantage is that as you say it's cheaper than market rent. You just need to decide what's more important to you.