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Original poster

To ask this about housesitting etiquette

364 replies

libertybonds · 23/08/2024 17:37

We are looking after a variety of plants and animals for friends of friends while staying in their (very nice) property.

They have asked us to contribute to the cleaner, which is £100/week

They would probably have the cleaner come anyway as they want to maintain the relationship. But it's true that the cleaner will be tidying up the house while we are there creating a normal level of dirtiness from showering, kitchen use, etc.

Would you contribute? How much?

OP posts:
Barney16 · 23/08/2024 18:37

Shouldn't they be paying you?

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 23/08/2024 18:33

Boxina · 23/08/2024 18:28

The basic plan on here is £119 so if they want half of the cleaner costs they owe you £69. I'd tell them that.

https://www.trustedhousesitters.com/pricing/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=GoogleAds_Direct_Search_Brand+Non-Brand_UK_Acquisitions&utm_content=HO_HouseSitterUK&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw5qC2BhB8EiwAvqa41rmFwfsgXktOL2Qb9VcangABiGSFf2dQZBwL7-sRKvg8fEPmXV4tQRoCPcMQAvD_BwE

Edited

I used these and it worked brilliantly - much more cost effective than paying an actual housesitter, especially if you've got a lot of pets (or one bloody awkward one, like I've got).

Secondguess · 23/08/2024 18:30

Portfun24 · 23/08/2024 18:08

Absolutely fucking not, I just paid 450 pounds for my cat and dog to be cared for and was happy house was also safe and filled the fridge too. I'd reply and say "Having thought about it, seems a bit silly us being out of pocket by doing a favour, we will just stay home where we dont require a cleaner, so will leave you to employ a professional pet/house sitter, enjoy your holiday."

This is the answer

BowlOfNoodles · 23/08/2024 18:29

Ponderingwindow · 23/08/2024 18:26

Unless there is a massive drip feed coming about how you needed to be in the area and they are doing you a favor by letting you stay there, this is ludicrous. Live in pet-sitters get paid, not charged.

See now I think If it's a stunning cottage in the cotswold or a big mannor house on the jurassic coast then you getting a real holiday for feeding some cats 🐈 and they owe you nothing but if it's a house in barking no beach no rivers, no mountains then piss off lol

Zanatdy · 23/08/2024 18:28

Wow. They are paying zero for animal care and have the cheek to ask you to contribute to cleaning cost? I mean absolutely not. They should be paying you, and sucking up the cleaning cost themselves. I can’t believe the cheek of some people, it’s shocking

Silver777 · 23/08/2024 18:27

Depends what you agreed on, is it like a free holiday somewhere nice & just pay cleaner/, pet sit, how much would comparable Airbnb cost for example

Ponderingwindow · 23/08/2024 18:26

Unless there is a massive drip feed coming about how you needed to be in the area and they are doing you a favor by letting you stay there, this is ludicrous. Live in pet-sitters get paid, not charged.

Fathercrispness · 23/08/2024 18:25

I would just say ‘oh yes, the cleaner. You can cancel the cleaner that week, we will clean up after ourselves.’ And if they say that the cancelling is not possible say ‘so you would be paying for it anyway?’

AlohaRose · 23/08/2024 18:25

Are you already there? Trickier to say no if they have left on holiday and you are in their house, you can't exactly abandon the animals and plants. However, I would cost up how much it would be if they had to pay professional pet sitters or kennels etc to look after their animals and offset that against the cost of the cleaner. I think you'll find that on that basis they owe YOU plenty!

OneTC · 23/08/2024 18:24

I'm currently flat sitting for someone, we do it for a few months a year and they have a weekly cleaner. We don't pay anything towards the cleaning because the person we're looking after the flat for isn't an arsehole.

There's a weekly laundry service and we do pay for that but we could just pause it

Lordofmyflies · 23/08/2024 18:23

You are being taking for a ride OP. We pay our house sitter £75 a day to stay in our lovely home in Cornwall and leave her with a fully stocked fridge.
We cancel our cleaner so she's not disturbed and pay the cleaner to come in after the house sitter has left.

rookiemere · 23/08/2024 18:23

I would ask them to cancel the cleaner and see what they say to that.
You are doing them a huge favour and they are being beyond cheeky.

CowTown · 23/08/2024 18:23

I’ve never paid someone to be their house sitter.

Jeannie88 · 23/08/2024 18:21

I wouldn't ask a housesitter to contribute, that's preposterous! Xx

Crazykefir · 23/08/2024 18:19

It's a shame this wasn't agreed before they went away.
when did they ask for the money and how many hours does the cleaner do?

KreedKafer · 23/08/2024 18:18

No I would bloody not contribute! You’re doing these people a bloody favour, the cheeky fuckers!

LlamaNoDrama · 23/08/2024 18:16

Errr what! No you shouldn't contribute and who the hell pays a £100 a week for a clean!?! Hope you don't have a naked cleaner turn up op 😂

RawBloomers · 23/08/2024 18:14

I would not be paying towards the cleaner. I’d probably say something like: “Oh, I thought we were doing you a favour. Don’t worry. We’ll just stay home.”

And I would mean it. I wouldn’t want that sort of responsibility for people who can’t immediately see what a huge favour it is and are trying to get you to cover some of their costs. God knows what their attitude would be like if something went wrong.

purpleme12 · 23/08/2024 18:12

Erm this is so beyond the realms of being reasonable that half of me is thinking 'is this real'
Obviously you shouldn't be contributing towards a cleaner.

Arconialiving · 23/08/2024 18:12

How many / what kind of animals?

They obviously think you're getting a free holiday, hence asking for a contribution for the cleaner so I'd pay £50 per week for the cleaner but charge whatever the going rate is for the pet sitting.

BowlOfNoodles · 23/08/2024 18:10

libertybonds · 23/08/2024 17:37

We are looking after a variety of plants and animals for friends of friends while staying in their (very nice) property.

They have asked us to contribute to the cleaner, which is £100/week

They would probably have the cleaner come anyway as they want to maintain the relationship. But it's true that the cleaner will be tidying up the house while we are there creating a normal level of dirtiness from showering, kitchen use, etc.

Would you contribute? How much?

Is this in an area that is become a holiday home for the week? Let's say cotswolds for example?

abbey44 · 23/08/2024 18:09

CF of the highest order! I’ve got someone coming to housesit for me soon to look after my dog and although they don’t want paying I will be paying their petrol, leaving a full fridge (and wine), and a cash float to cover coffees and treats. I’ll also be paying for my regular cleaner and dog-walker — it wouldn’t occur to me not to.

They’re definitely taking the piss, and I’d be deleting them from my Christmas card list if I were you. The arrogance and entitlement of some people never fails to surprise me.

Andwegoroundagain · 23/08/2024 18:09

Portfun24 · 23/08/2024 18:08

Absolutely fucking not, I just paid 450 pounds for my cat and dog to be cared for and was happy house was also safe and filled the fridge too. I'd reply and say "Having thought about it, seems a bit silly us being out of pocket by doing a favour, we will just stay home where we dont require a cleaner, so will leave you to employ a professional pet/house sitter, enjoy your holiday."

This is a brilliant response !

buttonsB4 · 23/08/2024 18:08

So you've moved into their house to look after their animals and their plants for free and they want you to pay for their cleaner??

WTAF?

Tell them you've changed your mind and you're going back home, they can pay for a pet sitter and a house sitter and the cleaner themselves.

CFs.