When renting property from a landlord, it is of the utmost importance that we abide by their rules.
Even if some of them might be frustrating, we nonetheless agreed to this living situation, and must follow suit.
However, it is important that our landlords respect the agreement settled upon as well.
As they must also understand that even if their tenants don’t own their property, where they are living is, for all intents and purposes, their home for the time being.
Redditor Mountain_Giraffe_255 recently began renting a room as he attended college.
For the most part, the original poster (OP) was happy with his landlords.
However, a recent request from them left the OP feeling more than a little uneasy.
With the OP feeling more than inclined to deny this request.
Wondering if they were being unreasonable, the OP took to the subReddit “Would I Be The A**hole” (WIBTA), where he asked fellow Redditors:
“WIBTA to lock my roommates out of my bedroom from their religious ceremonies?”
The OP shared why their landlords left him feeling more than a little confused:
I (18M) am a college student renting a room. It’s one room in the basement of a townhouse and the family I live with (parents early 30s with a 1 year old) also own the house.”
“They are nice enough people but I generally like to keep to myself so I don’t tend to interact with them very much and most of our communication is done through a group chat with the three of us.”
“Earlier this week I texted them about something unrelated and at the end of the conversation they informed me that they are going to have a priest over on the 13th to ‘bless’ the house and that they will be opening all of the doors in the house to do so.”
“I didn’t respond to the text because I wasn’t really sure what to say. I don’t care that they’re going to be blessing the house, but I don’t want them going into my bedroom to do it.”
“That also happens to be my birthday weekend (I’m not technically 18 yet) so part of me just wants to visit my family for the weekend and lock my door and say something about forgetting about their plans.”
“That sounds pretty d*ckish but I am not comfortable with having them in my room.”
“It feels like a violation of privacy and I’m not sure what to do.”
“WIBTA?”
Fellow Redditors weighed in on where they believed the OP fell in this particular situation, by declaring:
- NTA – Not The A**hole
- YTA – You’re The A**hole
- NAH – No A**holes Here
- ESH – Everyone Sucks Here
The Reddit community was in agreement that the OP would not be the a**hole if they refused their landlord to enter their apartment.
Just about everyone understood why the OP was uncomfortable with this situation, even though many pointed out that he should speak directly to his landlords about this. Others pointed out that, as they are his landlords, they would likely have access with or without his permission:
“NTA.”
“But be prepared to find a new place because they’re not going to be renewing your lease.”- HoneyWyne
“NTA.”
“But even if you lock the doors they can still get in.”
“They’re the landlords which means they’ll have a copy of the your keys.”
“It sucks.”- kinkyrebelution
“NTA.”
“But it might be smart to do it to keep the peace for a cheap room.”
“Ask how often blessings happen.”
“If it’s once a year, I’d suck it up as a pseudo inspection.”- PirateReject
“LOL, you live in their house.”
“Not sure locking your door is going to do anything that they can’t just open with their own key anyways.”
“If they seem like nice enough people, and this is like a once a year thing, then why not just go with the flow?”
“I would, however, put away (or take with you) any very important things that you want privacy on like personal bills, letters, and valuables.”
“Go talk with them, and find out how much they would be doing exactly.”
“Maybe they are not even stepping into your room, or barely stepping into your room briefly.”
“If that is the case, then they can re-lock the room when done.”
“NTA for wanting privacy though.”- 3xlduck
“NTA.”
“But in life you have to learn to pick your battles and I don’t think this is the one.”
“As a devout atheist myself I would just let them do it, roll my eyes behind their backs, and move on with my life.”- MeInSC40
“NTA.”
“But pick your battles my dude.”
“This is not worth a fight over.”- DarkHorseAsh111
“NTA.”
“Your lease entitles you to privacy in this situation.”
“I would ask them to clarify whether they would just be opening the door to your room, as well as all others in the house, while the Priest does his thing out of your room; or if they will come inside your room.”
“I suspect it’s the former, but if it’s the latter, tell them you are not comfortable with having people in your room and point out that the lease says they can only enter for necessary repairs.”
“You also might just want to suck it up if you’re planning on living there for a long time.”
“Even if the priest goes into every room, he’s probably just going to say a sentence, wave a bible, and leave.”- wrongclown
“This would fit better on legal.”
“Most people are going to give the advice you need.”
“NTA.”- camebacklate
“NTA.”
“Did they specifically say that they want your door open?”
“If not they might not be expecting you to do that.”
“From your post it sort of sound sounds like they are just telling you that a priest will be walking around.”
“You can just say you don’t want people you don’t know in your room, especially when you’re away.”
“I’m sure they’ll understand.”
“Also as a Christian, a closed door won’t ruin a blessing.”
“If you are worried that your different world view will upset them don’t.”
“They are renting the room to you so they are aware that you may not posses their beliefs.”
“Just tell them the truth that you are going to keep the door shut because you don’t want someone you don’t know in your room.”
“Doing this will communicate to them that you have certain boundaries, that these things are not something you’re interested in.”
“The priest will just bless the door if at all.”- TheMiddleShogun
“NTA.”
“But personally I’d just let them do their thing.”
“It won’t take long, you won’t even be there, and it’ll help keep the peace where you live.”
“If anything you can ask for clarification of what specifically will happen in regards to your room just so you have an understanding but it seems pretty harmless.”- Bittybellie
“NTA.”
“I worked for a property management company and the only times we could go into the homes was for property inspections (like the annual inspections), repairs (like a water heater repair) or lease agreement violation (like a pet they werent supposed have).”
“All needed 24 hours’ notice.”
“As a tenant, they should not have access to the place you are renting.”
“They gave up the right to it when they decided to rent the room.”- Positive-Fondant5897
“I’m going with NTA for now as you have a right to privacy and setting boundaries.”
“Have you spoken with them about not wanting your room ‘blessed’?”- TableNo8832
“You are NTA for wanting your privacy, but I’d be shocked if your rental agreement didn’t include something that states your landlord can access all parts of the home.”
“They should have to give you warning of course, but they are probably within their rights.”-Any_Cicada2210
‘This isn’t about AITA, this is about legal entitlement.”
“Depending on where you live and what agreement you have with them, they may be fully entitled to enter that space as they please as it is in their house and they live there.”
“What matters is how well you protected yourself when you moved in.”
“Did you sign a rental agreement?”
“A lease?”
“Whatever documentation you have of your contract, carefully go over it and see if there’s anything that allows them to do this, or anything that restricts it.”
“They will likely know what they had you sign very well, and may already know they are entitled to do this.”
“If you are on a rental agreement, I’d move ASAP.”
“A lease locks you in until it’s over or you find someone to take it over.”
“As far as not wanting your room to be blessed, NTA.”- symbionica
There were also those who felt that there were no a**holes in this particular situation, understanding the OP’s apprehensions, but acknowledging his landlord’s rights as well:
“NAH.”
“But do think about the consequences of allowing it or not allowing it.”
“If you’re happy there and you’d like to renew your lease, it might be in your best interests to allow it – on a day that you are at home to ‘supervise’.”- Moose-Live
The OP later returned with an update, shining a bit more light on his agreement with his landlords:
“I went looking through my lease as many of you suggested and the only things it talks about are for repairs.”
“There is nothing about being able to come in for any other reason so I am not sure what that means for me.”
What the OP seems to be in need of is clarity.
Clarity regarding what his landlords can and can not do when it comes to his rented space.
As well as clarity as to what exactly this “blessing”, that requires every door in the house to be open, will entail.
Hopefully, a civil conversation with his landlords might get the OP the clarity he needs.