To be hacked off with lodger?

[winkywinkola]

So we're on holiday right now. Ten days left.

We arranged with our lodger to feed our cats and let out and lock up our chickens every day.

He's just paid his rent into my account less the sum we agreed to pay him for this chores.

Aibu to be really cheesed off about this? He hasn't completed the work and rent and payment for this work are two separate issues.

perhaps he didnt have enough money for the rent and knew he was getting a rebate so to speak. thought it was more sensible.
perhaps he didnt want to wait for the rebate

I do dog sitting and I certainly don't get paid upfront.

How on earth do you jump to the conclusion that I wasn't going to pay him the agreed amount upon my return?? Very odd.

I would have been happy to get a house sitter but he's happy to earn the extra money.

I really don't see the problem.

I think paying someone upfront for tasks like that is common, though. There's nothing to say your way is more correct, and you have to remember that as he is the lodger, he is already in a difficult position when you ask him to do something. So he may feel a bit aggrieved you never bothered to pay him upfront before.

I also, frankly, don't follow why you wouldn't pay him upfront? I mean, this isn't some randomer you picked off the street - he lives with you.

I've always had to pay catsitters upfront. Makes sense to me he'd do it this way.

I thought you were going to say that the lodger had been siting on your patio. There's a lot of lodger bother on here this week. 🤔

Not worth getting het up about. He lives with you and you trust him with your animals. You sound a bit paranoid that the whole world is trying to pull a fast one on you, and a bit brittle for someone who is meant to be on holiday.

Has the lesser amount of rent caused you a problem such as your account going into the red as not enough to cover a direct debit? If so, explain to the lodger that he can't make a unilateral decision to do this in future. But you'd be cutting off your nose to spite your face if you made a huge fuss when no real harm done.

Isn't that just easier and actually quite sensible? I'd be happy, they've saved you a job.

You're looking for a problem. He did what makes sense. He lives with you, hardly going to pull a fast one is he?

I agree, dont sweat the small stuff. In the long run it doesn't really matter, you are both square.

It's slightly cheeky, but unless you think he might not do the work, not really something to get upset about.

i do dog sitting and it always confuses me how they pay me half before and then the remainder afterwards.
what i am going to do? stop looking after the dog halfway through

I thought you were going to say he left the front door wide open all night, or repeatedly flooded the bathroom.

I actually think it shows initiative - he probably thinks he's done you a favour.

Don't sweat the small stuff.

Chill out and enjoy your holiday, yeah he should've asked but you should've stated how you wanted it to work if that's how you wanted it done - he's not a mind reader and what he's done is just practical

I don't think YABU however, you're on holiday, so mention it when you get back, smoke the peace pipe & enjoy your holiday

Em, he is your lodger not some bloke who has run off and left your chickens to die. I agree it is reasonable to expect the same payment as before i.e. afterwards but is sounds as though there was no specific agreement and it is simpler for him to deduct from rent. He may imagine you trust him to do it. Chill out and enjoy your holiday.

I have to pay my cat sitter up front. To be honest if I came home and she'd not fed the cat the loss of the money wouldn't even register on the list of things to be upset about!

Sounds like OP was expecting the full amount for holiday spends or something.
If you don't trust him enough to be able to pay him before it's completed then you should have hired a professional.
I can't see an issue with what he's done

Really can't see the problem myself.

Like others I pay my catsitter in full before I go away. I don't know of any that don't want upfront payment.

Not sure why it bothers you so much, is there some other niggle that is impacting on this?

Presumably he pays his rent upfront?

The reason I wondered if you were going to try and pay him less than the full amount is because that's usually how you pay tradespeople for whom you might make deductions if the work is not up to standard.

Even in my salaried job I'm paid 2 weeks upfront and 2 weeks in arrears.

I can't see the problem at all, don't even mention t to him as you will cause problems where there shouldn't be any.

Lodger lives with you and you trust him with you animals, you agreed to path in for looking after them, why not just met it off?

You really need to be a bit more relaxed and nicer about people living with you.

What a ridiculous problem.

How much is the rent and how much are you paying him? Is this a case of you hoping to have all his rent money to spend on holiday and then waiting for a more financially convenient time to pay him?

If I was the lodger, and you complained to me about this, I would in future tell you to find someone else to feed your animals.

Petty in the extreme