I rented a flat, and my aunt turned out to be a house rule fanatic

I rented a room in a house to be close to work, and when I posted the ad, the woman spoke quite warmly, saying it would feel comfortable like girl talk. The first week was fine, but then she started making comments like no guests allowed, don’t take a shower after a certain time, the kitchen closes at this hour, and not to lounge around in shorts in the living room because it would cause a stir in the building. On one hand, I’m experiencing living without family for the first time, and I don’t want to go back, but on the other hand, it really feels like I’m paying to be monitored. I’m afraid if I speak too harshly she’ll tell me to vacate the place, especially since I barely managed to come up with the deposit and I don’t want to spend an hour commuting after work.

I’m very close to the subject; I’ve been living apart from my family for years, and I’ve often come across people like this. While trying to maintain my own space without pressure, there are always those who act in a ā€œI know bestā€ mode. The cleanest approach is to be the one who is friendly and preserves boundaries when meeting at home, but also to not let them walk all over you. As they said, ā€˜I see you as my daughter,’ that’s always a trap.

I definitely disagree, but let me ask: didn’t the woman tell you these rules at the beginning? Was everything she said when she said ā€œyou’ll be comfortableā€ really this?

@uykuarasi at first didn’t say anything, it really felt like ā€˜no worries, I can chill too’. Later on, they started, and in the meantime, I already paid the deposit. Now if I say I’m leaving, I don’t even know when I’ll gather the deposit for the new place.

@camkenari I agree with the whole ā€˜I see you as my daughter’ thing. Usually, it’s just an excuse to add new rules, then comes the phrase ā€˜I’m saying this for your own good.’ Am I a tenant or do the rules get updated?

@pazardandondum I think you shouldn’t be so pessimistic. What if the woman is really well-intentioned? I mean, if it were a complaint about the apartment, I would understand. There have been people in my life that I saw as ā€˜like my daughter’; nobody messes around with traps.

In practice, renting doesn’t just mean the ā€˜landlord rule’; it also means ā€˜personal space’ at the same time. However, in such cases, written contracts actually determine things. If these rules aren’t stated in the contract, it becomes more like imposition. Explain politely that you’re uncomfortable, and don’t be afraid of eviction, Snoopy.

shut up, it won’t work like this.