An Australian tenant sparked a furious online debate after a housemate told him he had to pay an extra week’s rent for his partner to stay over.
In a Reddit post titled “Is this allowed?”, the tenant explained that the man who makes the most money is “a primary tenant and not a landlord.”
They also published the WhatsApp message that the man sent and that sparked the entire debate. “For partners, two days is the rule,” the man wrote.
‘Third day? You pay weekly rent, pay additional weekly rent. I hope you understand that it cost me money,’ a screenshot of the message read.
Reddit users were quick to express their views on the situation, some supporting the tenant with the partner, but more supporting the one who apparently didn’t have one.
One thought it was “ridiculous to ask someone to pay a week’s rent because their partner stayed two nights in a row.”
But another commenter was more reflective of the general tone, writing that “subleases are based more on ‘don’t be advertising**’ than actual rules.”
“You pay to rent a percentage of the shared accommodation, bringing more people means taking more than your share, which negatively affects others.”
The subtenant shared a message sent to him by his ‘main tenant’ asking for another full week’s rent because his partner had stayed more than two days.
In a Reddit post titled “Is this allowed?”, the tenant explained that the person making the most money is “a primary tenant and not a landlord.” stock image
“I don’t know the rules but it’s very unfair and annoying when roommates have their partners every day,” another wrote.
‘Like getting your own apartment if you can’t live without each other. In my home it’s 2-3 days maximum, unless there is something special that can be discussed.’
Some pointed out that these were basic economic issues and said the disgruntled housemate “is right.”
‘Having your partner be there for more than 2 days increases the electricity/water/utility bills, etc.’ That comes out of the tenants’ pockets. It is not their responsibility to bear the cost.
Another added that it was inconvenient to have “another person on the shower rotation, using the bathroom when necessary, hanging around the living room, kitchen, etc.”
Others wrote about their own experiences in similar house-sharing situations.
“I once rented from a guy who had his girlfriend around quite often. That was cool,” one wrote.
Then he left for a couple of weeks to work. He thought it was okay to let her stay there. It’s not right.’
An Australian tenant sparked a furious online debate after a housemate told him he had to pay an extra week’s rent for his partner to stay over. stock image
Another wrote that “our housemates’ rule was not to spend more than three sleepovers a week, the partners are only there when the tenant is there and no keys are handed over.”
One poster wrote that “the OP (original poster) was hoping for support lmaoooo (laughed out loud).”
Backing that up, another wrote that ‘I didn’t sign up to live with other people’s partners. You want to stay the night, go sleep at his house. One week’s rent is fair.
A little less and people start to go further. You want to have them there for half the week, every week, and then you pay 50% extra on your end.’