The prosecution: Kyle

It’s ridiculous. We share everything, so taking the air-fryer and blender is unfair – and weird

When I moved into my flat-share with my mate, Ronan, 18 months ago, we were broke art students. The flat came with basic furniture, like a bed and a sofa, but no appliances, so we invested in some.

I found a few bits secondhand on Facebook Marketplace. I got a really good deal from someone throwing out a brand-name toaster, microwave and kettle set, while Ronan bought a new blender and air-fryer.

However, he’s now planning on going travelling for a few months this winter, and wants to take them with him. I find that a bit weird.

I’m going to miss the air-fryer the most. We put everything from meat to potatoes in there

We both use everything in the flat and it was sort of an unspoken agreement that we co-own all the furniture and appliances. But now Ronan says that as he bought the blender and air-fryer, he can take them with him.

I think it’s ridiculous. We both use the blender for smoothies and juices. Though I’m going to miss the air-fryer even more. We have dinners together and put everything from meat to potatoes in there. It’s become a staple.

Ronan is doing the digital-nomad thing for the winter and he says he needs these appliances to live well in his new place, but what about the place we currently share? I have agreed to let a mutual friend stay in his room while he’s away, so Ronan can have his room back when he returns. I think that’s a kind gesture on my part – and this is how he repays me.

In the meantime, I’m just supposed to buy more appliances or suddenly change my way of cooking. It doesn’t make any sense. If I were going away on a trip, I wouldn’t take the kettle and the microwave. It’s selfish. I also buy a lot of the cleaning products and soaps in our flat, and I can’t see myself ever being so pedantic that I’d start claiming them when it’s convenient.

We never split hairs over the cost of things 18 months ago, so why start doing it now? We both have decent jobs now and Ronan says I can afford to replace the appliances, but when he gets back, we would have two of each.

The defence: Ronan

It’s not as if I’m taking the oven and the microwave. Besides, I’ll be back in March. Kyle will survive

Kyle is making me sound really horrible, but I did spend a lot on new appliances when we moved in, while he bought all his stuff secondhand. The blender cost me about £50 and the air-fryer was £45. In total, I probably spent £70 more than Kyle on kitchen appliances.

When we found the flat, there was a lot to buy. So we bought our own stuff for our rooms and split the cost of a sofa, table and chairs. I’m not sure  why we didn’t do that with the appliances, too. It was just a case of: you go and buy something we need, and I’ll go and buy something we need. I had a blender and air-fryer at my old place, so I took it upon myself to get them for the flat.

Maybe I see the air-fryer and blender as more ‘mine’ because they were my idea

To be fair, we didn’t say “that’s yours and this is mine” at the time of purchase, and we do both use pretty much everything in the flat. I can see why Kyle is annoyed, but I really need to take the appliances with me. Maybe I see the air-fryer and blender as more “mine” because they were my idea. I also cook quite a lot.

Kyle has got used to having them, so now it’s time for me to take them abroad for a bit, he is annoyed. If we had split the cost of the appliances equally, the fairest way to sort this out would be to buy Kyle out by giving him back what he paid, and then take the items with me. But because I invested more at the start, I think I’m within my rights to take the air-fryer and blender whenever I want.

He is also welcome to take the appliances he bought if he wants to move out or go travelling. It’s not like this works one-way. Also, I won’t be travelling for ever. I’m going to live abroad for a few months for winter and taking the appliances with me because I want to eat healthily while I’m away, but I’ll be back in March. Kyle says: “What am I supposed to do in the meantime?” But it’s not as though I’m removing the oven and the microwave. He can still make meals and live normally. If anything, I’m taking the non-essential appliances. He’ll survive. It will be fine.

The jury of Guardian readers

Should Ronan leave all the shared kitchen appliances in the flat?

Ronan is acting selfishly by breaking their “unspoken agreement”. If the appliances are really non-essential, why does Ronan need them? Surely it is impractical to take an air-fryer and a blender abroad! Whatever happened to travelling light? To smooth things over, Kyle could offer some money for his share in the appliances.
Margaret, 65

It seems to be less about eating healthily and more about what happens when the appliances are damaged. Perhaps Kyle and Ronan can belatedly split the costs of the kitchen appliances, as they’ve done for everything else.
Jayoung, 42

If Ronan were permanently moving out, there might be a case for him taking his appliances, but it’s a bit much to ask Kyle to double up on everything. While Ronan is technically within his rights to take them, it goes against housemate etiquette – the appliances were split, if not entirely equally, at least in spirit.
Charlie, 26

It appears Kyle is wedded to his past reality, ignoring the present. Are you really making this much of a kerfuffle over small appliances when you can now afford to buy new ones?
Sean, 65

It’s really petty of Ronan to take the appliances with him. Who needs a portable air-fryer? Both these boys should stop emoting via fraught tussles with the kitchenware. Ronan should say: “You are stingy.” And maybe Kyle should say: “Don’t go! I will miss you!”
Molly, 32

Now you be the judge

In our online poll, tell us: should Ronan leave the air-fryer and blender behind?

The poll closes on Wednesday 11 December at 4pm GMT (a day earlier than usual)

Last week’s result

We asked whether Annabelle should change her last name after marrying Teddy, as he doesn’t want to double-barrel their names.

90% of you said no, Teddy is guilty
10% of you said yes, Teddy is innocent