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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to refuse family use of our home for holidays?

389 replies

SayingNoToFamily · 17/09/2026 01:24

I'm really cross about this and don't know if I'm being unreasonable. Please help me mumsnetters. I have name changed in case this is outing. Sorry, it is long, so as to avoid a drip feed.

Back story, until very recently we owned a holiday house (just sold it this month). Half of the house belonged to me and DH and the other half was owned by DH parents. We bought our half off another relative and have owned our half for a long time, approximately 20 years.

The house is in a holiday location and has been used by DH siblings (and their partners and school aged children) as a holiday home for all of that time. They never offered any money for their stay. We didn't use it very often as we were not living in that country until a couple of years ago.

Unfortunately it appears that DH siblings viewed the house as something they were entitled to use, rather than a privilege. Obviously their parents also owned half of the house, which makes a difference to how they viewed it. On some occasions the house was left dirty after the siblings had used it and when we arrived to use it we had to clean it. They have also used it without asking, as they all have a key.

We now live in a different holiday location, about 3 hours drive away from the house, so don't need to go there for holidays anymore. But more importantly we have never rented the house, so we didn't ever benefit financially, but it cost us money in terms of maintenance. This is the reason for wanting to sell.

DH siblings have had many years of free holidays, at our expense, mainly during school holidays, when accommodation is expensive. Sadly for them with the sale of the house this has now come to an end.

There is a school holiday coming up here very soon. We as a family (me, DH and our DCs) are going overseas for the holidays, meaning our main house (our permanent family home) will be empty. One of DH siblings, who would usually go to the holiday home, has messaged him to say she doesn't know how she's going to entertain her DCs over the holiday and asking if our house is on offer to them.

I am really annoyed about this. It feels like after years and years of having free holidays in the holiday house at our expense, they now want to use our own home as an alternative.

I don't want them to use it. I don't want the stress of having to get our house ready for guests when we we're already preparing for our own trip. I dont like the idea of other people using our home when were not there. But also I think this is really cheeky and they seem to expect us to still be responsible for providing them with a free holiday.

I think allowing them to use our own house now is effectively sending the message to them that this is now their holiday home, as a replacement and sets a precedent that whenever we are away they can use it. AIBU to not want them to use it?

DH does sort of agree with me on this, however instead wants to tell them they can come to ours when we are there for a 'beach holiday'. Whilst I don't have a problem with then coming to stay for a couple of days when we're here, I don't think he should be starting to offer them 'beach holidays ' in our house at this point, being so close to the sale of the holiday house, as in my opinion it's still giving them the impression that we're responsible for providing them with holidays.

Any advice welcome. Thanks for reading!

OP posts:
CombatBarbie · 17/09/2026 20:40

Direct her.to sun £9.50 holidays 👌

Please tell me you and dh made a profit on the holiday house.

Stanthedog15 · 17/09/2026 20:49

Ask your husband if the house caught fire. When you were away.
Would he go to live with his siblings in thier home.?
Also when did opening your home to The whole family, become. The new law. . Why not give them your clothes to. Or furniture.
Just tell him to say No your home is your home.
I wouldn't want them in our Bed. Or going through mail.

Just because you are going on Holiday. Does not mean you have to make sure all siblings have a free wonderful holiday.
I wouldn't lie. I'd simply say Sorry our Home will be locked up .

CompleteMere · 17/09/2026 20:56

SayingNoToFamily · 17/09/2026 13:52

Thanks for all of your comments and advice. I wasn't sure if I was being mean saying no, but it seems I'm not being unreasonable.

I agree I do have DH problem, I think he feels guilty that 'their' holiday home is gone and is trying to compensate, as a poster suggested.

I won't be allowing them to use the house, but probably will make an excuse as to why, even though I'd love to tell them they are CFs, I don't want to fall out with them.

“Oh no, SIL, it would be a shame to miss you. We’re back on the 10th why don’t you come then for a few days and we can entertain the kids together haha. There’s loads of nice places to stay, I’ll have a look and send a few links if you like?”

Tuesdayschild50 · 17/09/2026 21:10

Put your foot down in your own home when you're not there.. tell your husband straight.
There free loaders.

DangerousLesions · 17/09/2026 21:13

Don't do it. It's your home, your sanctuary. And no 'beach holidays' either. It may cause conflict by firmly saying no but I think it will be better for you in the future. I wouldn't make an excuse either (like someone else is staying then) because they'll be on at you again another time.

BrezhnevsLuxuriantEyebrows · 17/09/2026 21:15

rb124 · 17/09/2026 18:28

If you've sold your half of the house, you can't give it to them to use - or did I miss something?

Yes, same here. Not that it's the main issue here, but I was thinking that I must have missed something too.

To whom did you sell your half, OP? Does this now mean that your PILs own half of a holiday home and strangers own the other half... or did you sell it to other family members or friends/acquaintances?

Either way, if your PILs still half-own a holiday home, surely it's up to them and the new owners of the other half to negotiate with the family members who want to use it, if they are in agreement; and to agree the costs of that (presuming the new owners are not close to your (extended) family members, and so will not be willing to let people who, they don't/barely know use their half for free)?

OR if your PILs sold their half at the same time as you sold yours - so presumably to a single purchaser of the whole property - why are the family not now bothering their parents to keep their holiday gravy train going? Why is it only your 'issue' to solve for them? Not that there is any issue, of course: as PP said, there are multiple options for them if they want accommodation in the area... just not free ones. Imagine, eh - people who want to enjoy a holiday expecting to actually pay for it!!

I cannot comprehend their cheek in not only not offering any money at all towards the electricity and wear and tear and also leaving it dirty. Not paying the market rate is one thing; but not offering a single penny and leaving it for you to clean on your holiday is peak chutzpah.

godmum56 · 17/09/2026 21:17

SayingNoToFamily · 17/09/2026 13:52

Thanks for all of your comments and advice. I wasn't sure if I was being mean saying no, but it seems I'm not being unreasonable.

I agree I do have DH problem, I think he feels guilty that 'their' holiday home is gone and is trying to compensate, as a poster suggested.

I won't be allowing them to use the house, but probably will make an excuse as to why, even though I'd love to tell them they are CFs, I don't want to fall out with them.

"I agree I do have DH problem, I think he feels guilty that 'their' holiday home is gone and is trying to compensate, as a poster suggested."

would threatening to geld him with a rusty knife help at all?

AmnesiacsDream · 17/09/2026 21:22

BrezhnevsLuxuriantEyebrows · 17/09/2026 21:15

Yes, same here. Not that it's the main issue here, but I was thinking that I must have missed something too.

To whom did you sell your half, OP? Does this now mean that your PILs own half of a holiday home and strangers own the other half... or did you sell it to other family members or friends/acquaintances?

Either way, if your PILs still half-own a holiday home, surely it's up to them and the new owners of the other half to negotiate with the family members who want to use it, if they are in agreement; and to agree the costs of that (presuming the new owners are not close to your (extended) family members, and so will not be willing to let people who, they don't/barely know use their half for free)?

OR if your PILs sold their half at the same time as you sold yours - so presumably to a single purchaser of the whole property - why are the family not now bothering their parents to keep their holiday gravy train going? Why is it only your 'issue' to solve for them? Not that there is any issue, of course: as PP said, there are multiple options for them if they want accommodation in the area... just not free ones. Imagine, eh - people who want to enjoy a holiday expecting to actually pay for it!!

I cannot comprehend their cheek in not only not offering any money at all towards the electricity and wear and tear and also leaving it dirty. Not paying the market rate is one thing; but not offering a single penny and leaving it for you to clean on your holiday is peak chutzpah.

Edited

Surely the most obvious conclusion from the facts OP has given us, is that when OP and DH sold their parents sold too? Otherwise the holiday house would still be accessible through the parents.

Other scenarios seem pretty unlikely.

parakeet · 17/09/2026 21:23

I dont see that they were having years of free holidays at your expense. Their parents half owned the home and your SIL etc presumably felt their parents were happy to let them stay in the house. You should have addressed any cleaning issues at the time. However re the current request they are out of order and you can say Sorry no that doesnt work for us. And think no more about it.

Jeremiah1944 · 17/09/2026 21:38

Nope nope nope. Your home not a holiday let. Tell them they'll have to start renting somewhere else for their hols. Bloody cheeky. Some people!😡

DryadsRest · 17/09/2026 21:39

SayingNoToFamily · 17/09/2026 13:52

Thanks for all of your comments and advice. I wasn't sure if I was being mean saying no, but it seems I'm not being unreasonable.

I agree I do have DH problem, I think he feels guilty that 'their' holiday home is gone and is trying to compensate, as a poster suggested.

I won't be allowing them to use the house, but probably will make an excuse as to why, even though I'd love to tell them they are CFs, I don't want to fall out with them.

Sounds like a good plan

if you can just stop them from coming this year then hopefully they will be less quick to assume next time!

BrezhnevsLuxuriantEyebrows · 17/09/2026 21:43

AmnesiacsDream · 17/09/2026 21:22

Surely the most obvious conclusion from the facts OP has given us, is that when OP and DH sold their parents sold too? Otherwise the holiday house would still be accessible through the parents.

Other scenarios seem pretty unlikely.

Yes, it wasn't clear but I guess that's the only scenario that really seems to make sense. But if that's the case, why is it now up to OP and DH to replace their free holidays, and not their parents (OP's PIL)? Why are they the bad guys? Who initiated/suggested/demanded the sale in the first place?

Not that the parents should have to bear the responsibility at all, but I'm guessing they're probably quite advanced in years, and likely giving a thought to what will happen to their assets when they're no longer around. If that's the case, I wonder if they will plan to leave the proceeds of their half of the holiday home to OP's DH's siblings only (and none to him) reckoning that he already had half of it - and completely ignoring the fact that he and OP took out a mortgage and paid for that half all by themselves?

AmnesiacsDream · 17/09/2026 21:46

BrezhnevsLuxuriantEyebrows · 17/09/2026 21:43

Yes, it wasn't clear but I guess that's the only scenario that really seems to make sense. But if that's the case, why is it now up to OP and DH to replace their free holidays, and not their parents (OP's PIL)? Why are they the bad guys? Who initiated/suggested/demanded the sale in the first place?

Not that the parents should have to bear the responsibility at all, but I'm guessing they're probably quite advanced in years, and likely giving a thought to what will happen to their assets when they're no longer around. If that's the case, I wonder if they will plan to leave the proceeds of their half of the holiday home to OP's DH's siblings only (and none to him) reckoning that he already had half of it - and completely ignoring the fact that he and OP took out a mortgage and paid for that half all by themselves?

I don't think they are seen as the bad guys, they're seen as the guys with a house near the beach.

Suspect if the parents had a nice house in a holiday-ish destination they'd be getting the calls.

BrezhnevsLuxuriantEyebrows · 17/09/2026 21:47

AmnesiacsDream · 17/09/2026 21:46

I don't think they are seen as the bad guys, they're seen as the guys with a house near the beach.

Suspect if the parents had a nice house in a holiday-ish destination they'd be getting the calls.

Yeah, probably. They don't care WHO provides them with free holidays, as long as somebody does!

Notasbigasithink · 17/09/2026 21:55

SayingNoToFamily · 17/09/2026 01:24

I'm really cross about this and don't know if I'm being unreasonable. Please help me mumsnetters. I have name changed in case this is outing. Sorry, it is long, so as to avoid a drip feed.

Back story, until very recently we owned a holiday house (just sold it this month). Half of the house belonged to me and DH and the other half was owned by DH parents. We bought our half off another relative and have owned our half for a long time, approximately 20 years.

The house is in a holiday location and has been used by DH siblings (and their partners and school aged children) as a holiday home for all of that time. They never offered any money for their stay. We didn't use it very often as we were not living in that country until a couple of years ago.

Unfortunately it appears that DH siblings viewed the house as something they were entitled to use, rather than a privilege. Obviously their parents also owned half of the house, which makes a difference to how they viewed it. On some occasions the house was left dirty after the siblings had used it and when we arrived to use it we had to clean it. They have also used it without asking, as they all have a key.

We now live in a different holiday location, about 3 hours drive away from the house, so don't need to go there for holidays anymore. But more importantly we have never rented the house, so we didn't ever benefit financially, but it cost us money in terms of maintenance. This is the reason for wanting to sell.

DH siblings have had many years of free holidays, at our expense, mainly during school holidays, when accommodation is expensive. Sadly for them with the sale of the house this has now come to an end.

There is a school holiday coming up here very soon. We as a family (me, DH and our DCs) are going overseas for the holidays, meaning our main house (our permanent family home) will be empty. One of DH siblings, who would usually go to the holiday home, has messaged him to say she doesn't know how she's going to entertain her DCs over the holiday and asking if our house is on offer to them.

I am really annoyed about this. It feels like after years and years of having free holidays in the holiday house at our expense, they now want to use our own home as an alternative.

I don't want them to use it. I don't want the stress of having to get our house ready for guests when we we're already preparing for our own trip. I dont like the idea of other people using our home when were not there. But also I think this is really cheeky and they seem to expect us to still be responsible for providing them with a free holiday.

I think allowing them to use our own house now is effectively sending the message to them that this is now their holiday home, as a replacement and sets a precedent that whenever we are away they can use it. AIBU to not want them to use it?

DH does sort of agree with me on this, however instead wants to tell them they can come to ours when we are there for a 'beach holiday'. Whilst I don't have a problem with then coming to stay for a couple of days when we're here, I don't think he should be starting to offer them 'beach holidays ' in our house at this point, being so close to the sale of the holiday house, as in my opinion it's still giving them the impression that we're responsible for providing them with holidays.

Any advice welcome. Thanks for reading!

Make sure that absolutely under no circumstances any of your DHs family members have a key to your home!
I 100% guarantee that if they do they will 'just pop round' whilst you're away.......
Its a complete invasion of your privacy. Thats the only reason you ever need to justify saying no.
Your family home is private, end of!

Hollybollyhughes · 17/09/2026 23:02

Cheeky entitled lazy arse holes. It's our home, not a holiday let which incidentally wouldn't it have been great if you actually acknowledged all the free holidays you've had. Grateful, paid for? Cleaned up, bought a nice thank you? Anything else?

RealLemonDreamer · 17/09/2026 23:14

SayingNoToFamily · 17/09/2026 13:52

Thanks for all of your comments and advice. I wasn't sure if I was being mean saying no, but it seems I'm not being unreasonable.

I agree I do have DH problem, I think he feels guilty that 'their' holiday home is gone and is trying to compensate, as a poster suggested.

I won't be allowing them to use the house, but probably will make an excuse as to why, even though I'd love to tell them they are CFs, I don't want to fall out with them.

If you think he might cave easily then beware he doesn’t slyly give her a key for your home while your away and she ends up with a free holiday while your on your own holiday anyway and you come home to a shitshow/bombshell of a home , also if he does cave and she comes and stays while your there what’s to say he won’t then extend the invitation to other siblings too ? Next thing you know you’re hosting them all in all school holidays and set a president for every single year because how else are they going to entertain the kids ? I would definitely nip this in the bud now and hold down your boundaries. It’s just as much your home as it is your DH and they have had enough free holidays at your expense tell DH just how much it would have cost them over the years they have actually saved and what it’s cost you. Time for it to end good luck 🤞

justasking111 · 18/09/2026 00:03

Our house insurance company doesn't let us loan out our home which is in a tourist area.

SpryCat · 18/09/2026 03:11

I like how your husband has slyly brought in the fact that your side of family come and stay with you all as a reason why you should allow your home to become his family’s new free holiday home when his siiblings had used your holiday home as though it was theirs, left it dirty for you to clean up and sometimes never asked. The bil even expected you to find other accommodation when you went there once as he was using it!
I wouldn’t worry about falling out with them and just tell them straight, no our home is not a holiday let, tell your husband that under no circumstances will you allow that to happen! If he feels that guilty maybe he should pay for his siblings holidays himself if it eases his guilt, that will soon snap him out of any lingering guilt!

99bottlesofkombucha · 18/09/2026 03:29

SpryCat · 18/09/2026 03:11

I like how your husband has slyly brought in the fact that your side of family come and stay with you all as a reason why you should allow your home to become his family’s new free holiday home when his siiblings had used your holiday home as though it was theirs, left it dirty for you to clean up and sometimes never asked. The bil even expected you to find other accommodation when you went there once as he was using it!
I wouldn’t worry about falling out with them and just tell them straight, no our home is not a holiday let, tell your husband that under no circumstances will you allow that to happen! If he feels that guilty maybe he should pay for his siblings holidays himself if it eases his guilt, that will soon snap him out of any lingering guilt!

Edited

Quite - the ops family come and visit them, the dhs family try and boot them out of their own house.

Oopstheregoesanotherhouseplant · 18/09/2026 07:33

Hollybollyhughes · 17/09/2026 23:02

Cheeky entitled lazy arse holes. It's our home, not a holiday let which incidentally wouldn't it have been great if you actually acknowledged all the free holidays you've had. Grateful, paid for? Cleaned up, bought a nice thank you? Anything else?

Yes. It’s so hard to imagine using someone else’s home, that they pay for and maintain, and not;

  1. leaving it spotless - cleaner than it was previously.
  2. thanking them and double checking each time that it’s still ok - being clear that it’s not an expectation and fine to say no.
  3. sending a generous gift to say thanks.
busymomtoone · 18/09/2026 07:52

SayingNoToFamily · 17/09/2026 03:19

They live over an hours drive away and we live in a popular tourist town (near to lots of other tourist towns) so if they were here they would be doing holiday stuff and visiting places they wouldn't normally go to, different walks, parks, cafes etc and we're near to a beach and they are not.

All previous school holidays they have used the holiday house, so that's kept their DC entertained. This is the first school holidays where they haven't had free accommodation, so she's obviously as a loss now. She could always book and pay for accommodation, like most other people have to do.

I agree, its definitely a no forever!

“ over an hour’s drive” is not like the other end of the country! I’m all for helping families put, being kind - but this is absolutely ridiculous. The beach is within driveable distance , your house is your home - not a holiday home or Airbnb. If a parent struggles to occupy their child you can guarantee all your facilities would be fully utilised - kitchen cooking, garden, Netflix etc !! They’ve been extremely fortunate enjoying free breaks up to now - you have absolutely zero obligation to compensate them for the loss of such a perk !

Bitsostuff · 18/09/2026 07:57

Edited: wrong thread

Bettyfromlondon · 18/09/2026 08:12

One advantage of getting older is that if a Cheeky Fucker asks for something totally unreasonable I have perfected a very sharp immediate "Oh, God, no!! No thank you!
It stops them in their tracks and with a curt follow up.or so closes down any attempt to wheedle around to get their way.

Daftypants · 18/09/2026 09:35

Absolutely NO !
it’s disgraceful that they’ve used the home you / DH / your in laws owned for so many years without contributing a penny or even leaving it clean !
If I had the luxury and privilege of using a family owned home in a lovely holiday location I’d offer something towards utility bills , I’d leave it clean or arrange for a cleaner to come in AND I would leave certain food items and toiletries replenished.
If someone was going to be using the home straight after me , I’d leave milk , butter , bread that sort of thing for them to use on arrival.
But I’m not a freeloader .
No way would I agree to them using your home while you’re all overseas , sets a precedent.