Leaving contractors/people to do work in your home alone

The cleaner colleague came yesterday and you were in.

So… what was with lining your sister up and then reluctantly having to cancel her?

I’m quite chill about this, I gave our landscapers a key when we went away mid job so they could access the bathroom. Granted we have security cameras all around the outside of our house 😂 but I generally tend to see the good in people.

We would always be in the house. You just never know. Many many years ago I had an who used to work in other people's houses. He and his mates all used to nick stuff, like a habit, mostly petty stuff but could have been of sentimental value. I was totally shocked as it was so out of character and they were all so chilled about it. One of the reasons why we split.

There are four of us living in the house while this is going on. We move from room to rooms as different areas are started/completed. As @rainbowunicorn mentioned, most people can’t afford a rental on top of a mortgage and renovation costs.

I’m confused

So you and the colleague were able to reschedule so that you were home.

and you “reluctantly” cancelled your sister

why? You are home 😵‍💫

If anything did go wrong you wouldn’t be insured either

I always have work down at home when I’m not in. Never massively thought too much into it to be honest. If it’s a short job like boiler service, had some people out to fix a wall then I would be in. If it’s a long job like when I had bathroom redone or rooms plastered I went to work

What are you on about? Most people dont have the luxury of moving out for a complete renovation. We had loft conversion, kitchen, bathroom, downstairs toilet, new flooring throughout and al decorating done while living in the house (2 adults and 2 children). It just meant decanting from room to room but we were still living there. We didn't have any choice.

@AlastheDaffodils I once asked my mum to stay in our house while we were doing some electric work. She caught one of the two guys emptying the dust bag of his vacuum in our hallway. Honestly, I don't have a simple answer to your question but I guess it may be a combo of tight project management and coordination, taking turns to take time off work, asking relatives to help etc but I would not leave people alone in my house especially on a big project. Might be just me though.

We've done it. We had our bathroom fitted whilst we were away for a month, and then had the whole house painted when we were away for two weeks last year. We live in a small cottage and it would just not have been feasible for us to be there whilst we had trades in, especially (in the bathroom case) as we only have one WC.

On both occasions we used trusted tradesmen who had been recommended by other trades in our village. Our local trades are very close knit, and it would soon get around if someone had done a bad job, or anything untoward had happened.

On a personal security note we took steps to make sure anything private or valuable was tucked away. My decent and sentimental jewellery and DH's watches were looked after by our friends who live in the village, and any important papers etc were put in a box in our loft room (and it would be a brave man to go searching up there. It's like the Room of Requirement in Harry Potter).

Our friends also have a key for our house and they popped round whilst we were away to make sure all was well. We will be doing the same for them whilst they have decorators in when they are away soon. Again, local trades are doing the work (actually it's the chap across the road from us) so it will soon get around if anything does go wrong.

Surely you can see the huge difference in scenarios? OP’s entire family are currently living in the property and all their belongings are there. Your house is a demolition site and therefore it’s not likely all of your belongings are left unattended nor is it likely that you’re living through the mess. In a complete renovation, your house is a blank canvas as opposed to an established home. He’s only cleaning the carpet!

I've had some work done while I wasn't there. I do not recommend this.

The first time, we got the house rewired. My parents stayed over and were impressed. A good while later, I discovered that the Scottish Power workmen had removed a bit of flooring in the spare room and hadn't replaced it - they'd put the carpet back and placed some storage boxes over it.

The second time, I was aware of the problem immediately, but in no fit state to deal with it. DH had a stroke the day the last bit of work was to be done.

He was in the local acute stroke ward; I was at work (5 minutes away from the hospital.) He was out of danger by then.

The quote said 'plastering not included, but may not be needed'. I assumed (like an idiot) that I'd be told if plastering was needed and charged extra.

I got home to a new kitchen and walls like moon craters.

Exactly! Pre covid we both worked full time in offices, and would never have been able to get anything done.

To everyone saying you wouldn’t do this - what would you do if you had a big project? We currently have three workmen in our house doing a complete renovation and they’ll be there eight hours a day five days a week till January. It’s just not feasible to be in all of that time - we have to go to work!

I’d ensure any valuables weren’t on show I.e jewelry etc but I’d not care given your DH knows the person.

Surely your sister being in a house alone with a strange to you man is statistically a far greater risk to her than the risk of him doing anything to your house?

I prefer not to be there

I've left people in my house to do work in fine with it I feel odd just sitting there with them working so I prefer to be out my landlord has the keys anyway and will give them to the trade person it's easier and the work gets done quicker

I’m still not 100% comfortable of having someone who’s essentially a virtual stranger (to me) left alone in my house to carry out work. It’s not that I’m assuming he’s capable of anything bad, it’s more to do with me wanting to protect my home and taking due diligence due to not truly knowing him.

I am not comfortable with it either and it isn't just that they might do anything. A stranger is a stranger. I know a lot of people feel relaxed about it but I don't. Let's say something happened while they are carrying out the work and you are not in. Theoretically speaking, they can just leave your house when done or not done and they are not responsible for it. As a result, if anything happens, your insurance company may not pay for the consequences because really they don't expect you to leave your own house in the hands of strangers. Because they are not responsible for anything is the exact reason why you shouldn't leave your home while they are alone. It isn't their house. They have no responsibility or accountability for anything that happens in it while you aren't there.

For example, my kitchen fitter told me he once hired a pair of handymen to assist him with a job. Both youngsters. The owner left the house to them with the keys while he was away, and the fitter once asked one of the assistants to lock up. Next day, he comes in and all his tools are gone. The youngsters said someone must have broken in because the window was open. The fitter suspected that they deliberately left the window open and faked the theft because the tools are expensive. I don't know what happened there and who is responsible. Don't want to blame anyone but you see what I mean!

I'm with you, OP. I have left workmen in the house before when I've not had any choice, but I always feel uncomfortable about it. It's not that I think they're going to pinch the teaspoons, more that I'm worried about them taking the opportunity to rummage through my knicker drawer (or worse, the laundry basket!). Or even something like going to the toilet, not washing their hands, and then making themselves a cuppa and leaving germs all over the fridge door, kettle handle etc! I really hate the thought of it!

The only time we have ever left workmen in the house alone was many years ago when the house our flat was in was underpinned. All five flats had internal repair work and decorating carried out after the external work was completed and we all trusted the main contractor with our keys when we were at work, and presumably they passed them on to subcontractors. About a week after the work was finished, all five flats were burgled, and there was no sign of forced entry to any of the flats. We’ve never left anyone in any property we’ve owned since then and have never left our keys with anyone apart from very close friends or relatives.

I think your approach is understandable, and sensible. I wouldn't be comfortable either.

Would i leave my children with my husband's friend?
Yes

Unless your husband's friend is a complete halfwit, I'm sure that he can close the door on the way out. He can probably turn a key if asked.

It is not a healthy level of discretion.