So, you know how me and my wife have been renting out our flat, right? Well, now our mates have caught wind of it and suddenly they want to move in. How do we explain we dont fancy renting to friends? Its always trickier when its people you know.
After we got married, things between me and the missus were brilliant. We tied the knot thinking wed live with her parents for a bit. At the time, my mum and dad were relocating to the coast, and they sold their placesplit the money between me and my sister. With that cash and a bit extra from my father-in-law, we managed to buy a decent one-bed flat in London. We put up a partition to make it two rooms, thinking one would be for a kid someday but it never happened.
First, we just werent ready, then our careers took off and we never found the time. Then, well, it just didnt work outmy wife didnt want to see a doctor, and I wasnt exactly pushing for it either. We were happy as we were, neither of us stressing too much about whod bring us a cup of tea in our old age. Plus, seeing our mates drowning in debt and misery with their kids sort of sealed the deal. We figured if that was “happiness,” wed pass.
When we hit thirty-three, we took a gamble and invested in a new-build apartment. It wasnt a huge amount, so we went for it, even though loads of people told us not to. By thirty-seven, the place was readyjust needed a quick spruce-up to make it perfect. My wife called it our “insurance policy”either for kids, if they ever came along, or for our nieces and nephews if they didnt.
For now, we decided to rent it out. Thought wed handle it ourselves, skip the estate agents. Mentioned it to a few mates, just to get tips on where else to advertise and suddenly, there it wasthe awkward ask. Could they move in? Theyve been stuck in dodgy rentals for years, and heres this shiny new place, freshly done up, and they reckon they deserve a “mates rate.”
Big mistake telling them, honestly. Never crossed our minds theyd actually ask.
“Theres only one bedroom, and youve got a whole family,” my wife tried.
“So what? Were in a one-bed now. Your place looks bigger from the photos!”
“But its brand-new, and youve got kids and a dog.”
“Oh, so now were scruffy? You think wed wreck it?”
We said wed think about it, though I already knew my answer. Been round theirsplace was a tip. In the end, my wife made me call and say no, fobbing them off with some rubbish excuse.
What we got back?
“Youve got a second flat, your parents will leave you theirs one day, and still youre greedy! Youll sit there with your properties, grow old with no kids, no mates, no joy in your lives!”
Seriously? We dont owe them anything. Not our fault they had kids without a proper place or family support. Everyone makes their choiceswhy shouldnt we rent to strangers at full price instead of doing favours for friends?
