Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Money owed: how to remind without falling out

72 replies

Goldie82 · 13/09/2024 09:12

We have a small annexe attached to our house that we rent out on AirBNB Apr- September and then generally use for family and friends out of season. A friend of a friend needed somewhere to stay for her work (self-employed) a few nights a week for a few months so I agreed to let her stay in the annexe.
We agreed that she would pay me weekly just for the nights she is there at a 65% discount on normal rates. She has been there 3 weeks and has not paid anything yet.
I sent a friendly reminder and she said she would pay the following day but she didn’t.
I would call her an acquaintance rather than a friend but don’t want to upset her because of our mutual friend.
As she plans to stay for a few months I want to get the weekly payment thing established. I hate confrontation and am bad at cheery but assertive messages.
We’re about to go away for a week so I want to send a message before we leave. What should I say? She doesn’t appear to have any financial problems.

OP posts:
MrsElijahMikaelson1 · 18/09/2024 08:03

Hi Jo, despite the reminder, we still haven’t received the rent. This is payable in full, including this week’s rent tomorrow.

if she doesn’t pay send her a vacate notice and whilst she returns home this weekend change the locks and send her a text saying as she hasn’t paid, you are terminating the agreement and she has to look elsewhere.

buttonsB4 · 18/09/2024 08:11

I'd tell her that you've had an enquiry from someone willing to pay the full rate next week and because she hasn't paid you anything yet (after three weeks) your finances dictate that she's going to have to leave to make way for a paying guest.

Can she either transfer the money owed immediately or be out by Friday, explain that you'd love to be a charity and let people stay for free but you just can't afford to.

Don't allow her to stay any longer without paying as it will just get more complicated.

Undisclosedlocation · 18/09/2024 08:15

Well she certainly doesn’t mind upsetting you does she? Mutual friend or not!

she will continue to walk all over you until you put a stop to it, so like it or not, it’s time to get tough

MarkWithaC · 18/09/2024 08:16

I wouldn't message, I'd go to see her.
I don't know what sort of formal agreement you have, if any, but make sure you're in the clear re her rights and yours before you speak to her.

Harvestfestivalknickers · 18/09/2024 08:24

Hi X,
I've had another enquiry to rent the annex in October. If we don't receive the rental payment by Friday, I will have to ask you to leave. To confirm my bank details are xxxx.

Rubydoobydoobydoo · 18/09/2024 08:25

Did you spell all this out in writing or is this a cash-in-hand, no need to trouble HMRC situation, in which you verbally agreed something that she can pretend you never said? If you have some form of written agreement then:

Hi Amy, I've had an enquiry regarding a winter let from someone able to pay the full rent on the annexe. As you've stayed with us for three weeks and haven't paid any rent at all (despite requests to do so) you'll understand that it makes far more sense for me to rent to him than to you. We have a contract — that you pay X amount each week in advance. So far you haven't paid a penny. This is your last opportunity to sort this out. Please pay me the full amount you owe so far (£XY) and (£QZ) for the next week in advance by noon on Friday. After that I will need you to pay in advance for the following week every Friday. If this doesn't suit you let me know and I'll tell the new tenant he can move in next week.

If it's just a verbal agreement I'd turn off the water, electricity and wifi and when she comes round to complain say that when she's paid (as above) you'll turn them on again.

FlatWhiteExtraHot · 18/09/2024 08:38

PenelopePitStrop · 18/09/2024 07:48

Hi X,
Thanks for agreeing to pay the current balance the other day, but it does not seem to have reached my account. Could you sort this out today please?

As this property is usually part of our AirBnB business, perhaps you could set up a Standing Order for the weekly payment? This would be much appreciated.

Thank you

Edited

“Perhaps you can set up a standing order”??

Jeez there’s no wonder so many people on here get taken advantage of.

gmgnts · 18/09/2024 08:49

A 65% discount for an acquaintance is exceptionally generous! She owes you money, so you need to be more insistent and more formal and send her an invoice with a note saying that it must be settled at once.

Bollindger · 18/09/2024 08:53

You can block her devices from your wifi.
If you find her laptop block that, so her phone still finds the Wi-Fi.

Then claim to know nothing.
Then tell her you need her rent to pay for having the Wi-Fi fixed.

You could also check before hand if she is online and trip the electric.... lol.

Last resort is the prawns... you hide some in the rental. They will start to smell... remove when bad tenant has gone....

Sandy8765 · 18/09/2024 08:58

You should have got her to sign a contract and pay 2 months upfront, one for a months rent upfront and one for a months rent as deposit, i would say she pays today or shes out by tomorrow and do it and change the lock when she goes out...she thinks shes staying there for free and if she ignors you you will give in, also as has already been said change the wifi code

Winter2020 · 18/09/2024 08:59

She has had 100% discount so far.

I expect the friend that recommended her will be mortified that she hasn't paid. I agree with everyone. Ask her to pay the three weeks that she has had and one week in advance or the agreement terminates.

If she doesn't sort the rent out or strops off I would be straight in touch with mutual friend to put a flea in her ear.

Winter2020 · 18/09/2024 09:02

You have said that this person is only using the annexe 3 nights each week - so she fully vacates in between - if so she doesn't come back in until she is paid up!

EllieOllyAndy · 18/09/2024 09:03

How long have you been using your annexe in this way? You could be storing up more problems than you might realise if you don’t have planning permission.

Using the annexe for family and friends - Ok
Renting it out for Air BnB or friend of a friend - (most likely) not ok from a Planning point of view

Blondeshavemorefun · 18/09/2024 09:06

That's a massive discount esp if staying a few months

Why such a big one

Shoxfordian · 18/09/2024 09:07

Hi x
Where's my money? Pay up or get out

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 18/09/2024 09:08

You’re going to fall out anyway tbh- she’s not paying and you need to confront it

Bjorkdidit · 18/09/2024 09:15

Blondeshavemorefun · 18/09/2024 09:06

That's a massive discount esp if staying a few months

Why such a big one

Especially as she's only charging for the nights she stays. So if she stays a couple of nights a week, she'll hardly be paying anything and if the OP wants to let it to anyone else in between, either friends and family, or a paying customer, she'll need to clean the annex and change the bedding.

OP I'd ask them to pay up the agreed amount so far and then in future they need to pay in advance or they can't stay again in the following week. Plus rethink the discount strategy, especially as if they're there over winter they'll presumably have the heating on so that will need paying for at the very least.

But I don't know why you're concerned about upsetting your friend because you want to be paid for the service you're providing as agreed. If anything they should feel embarrassed because their friend has proved such a flake by not paying.

Awfeck · 18/09/2024 09:17

This would make me so angry. There's no way she would still be there if I was going away.

Don't be dragging it out, by being nice. Turn off the power and heat and lock the door.

Moveoverdarlin · 18/09/2024 09:20

Knock on the door. Hi Jane! All ok? Going to need that money by close of play today. Cash or transfer is fine. If late payments are going to be a regular thing, it may be best to move on and find something else, I’ve given you the mates rates because of Sarah and the fact the rent was paid weekly. If you want to stay the full three months, it works out at £1225, if you want to pay that in full now, I won’t have to badger you.’

See what she says. If she doesn’t pay by close of play, I’d knock again tomorrow and say Hi Jane, this is not working for us, we need tenants who actually pay.

Welshmonster · 18/09/2024 09:22

She’s not your friend. Why would your mutual friend be upset that she is getting a free ride and you’re not?? She should be outraged for you and if not then she’s not that good a friend for you

payment or out. You need to be careful that she doesn’t start claiming squatters rights. You need to check on your insurance etc if you are allowed long term lets if you said it’s for Airbnb.

send a letter asking for money paid by x date and money upfront from now on. If not paid then write a letter saying it’s going to small claims.

once they are out then don’t let them back in but say they can book via usual rate on Airbnb as then you will get a bit more protection. Change the code to the lock box for the key

Seas164 · 18/09/2024 09:32

Why are you at such great pains not to fall out with a) someone who is happy to withhold payment that they owe you or b) a "friend" who would back them and not you in this situation?

Deal with it immediately. I'd be tempted to view this as as a business loss due to a bad decision, and a learning curve. Tell her that there's an issue been uncovered with the electricity to the property and urgent work is going to need doing on xx date before you go on holiday. You'll need her out by then for safety reasons, hand her an invoice. If she pays it will be a bonus. She probably won't.

You can then enjoy your holiday knowing she's not there when you get back, don't fall down this trap again by trying to people please, it won't be the last time it happens unless you get comfortable with standing your ground.

godmum56 · 18/09/2024 09:33

Bollindger · 18/09/2024 08:53

You can block her devices from your wifi.
If you find her laptop block that, so her phone still finds the Wi-Fi.

Then claim to know nothing.
Then tell her you need her rent to pay for having the Wi-Fi fixed.

You could also check before hand if she is online and trip the electric.... lol.

Last resort is the prawns... you hide some in the rental. They will start to smell... remove when bad tenant has gone....

why tit around like that?

Ohnobackagain · 18/09/2024 09:38

@Goldie82 can she get in your house? I’d have none of this. Talk face to face and say she needs to find the money now AND pay in advance going forwards BEFORE you go away. But to be honest, I’d be changing my mind about the whole thing. She’s a CF.

Viviennemary · 18/09/2024 09:40

She is bring really cheeky. I'd be tempted to chuck her out and cut my losses. I certainly wouldn't let her stay longer than another week.

Ohnobackagain · 18/09/2024 09:41

@Goldie82 let your friend know this is going on as well, not blaming them but just keeping them up
to date.

Swipe left for the next trending thread