There's a difference between a landlord and a warden. Priya, 28, is starting to think she accidentally signed a lease with the latter.
When she moved into a room in a large shared house in Leeds, her landlady Margaret offered her £700 a month, bills included. Priya works from home, so she was upfront about it, told Margaret straight away that her electricity usage would probably be higher than average. She even offered an extra £40 a month as a goodwill gesture, and said she was happy to pay more if the bills showed she owed it, as long as Margaret could produce the receipts.
Simple enough, right?
Except when the tenancy agreement arrived, it listed the rent as £740, without utilities included. Priya refused to sign until they agreed on something clear. Margaret said they'd wait for the first bills to come in and work it out then.
That never happened. Instead, a list of rules did.
No using the washing machine for underwear or socks, those had to be washed by hand. No queen-size sheets because the drum was "too small." No waffle maker. No hairdryer or straighteners because of the electric bill. And the real kicker? Margaret suggested Priya shower at the gym after her morning workouts rather than at home.
Priya showers once a day. Before work. At home. Like a normal person.
Then, last month, Margaret announced she wanted to raise the rent to £850, no explanation, no bills, no breakdown. Priya asked to see the utility statements so they could work out a fair figure together. Margaret refused.
On rent day, when Margaret chased the £850, Priya asked again for the bills. Margaret said no again. So Priya told her she'd be moving out.
Now Margaret is furious, apparently Priya is the problem here.
Was Priya out of order, or was she completely right to walk? Drop your verdict below 👇