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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

What's the weirdest house rule you've ever experienced as a house guest?

750 replies

Creativemode · 21/09/2016 14:49

Just that really.

Mine is someone that wouldn't let me flush the toilet incase it woke their children.

Also another wouldn't let me go upstairs to the toilet incase the stairs creaked and woke their children (there was no downstairs toilet).

I had a school friend that wasn't allowed fish and chips in the house because of the smell.

OP posts:
pictish · 21/09/2016 14:51

Fil's place in France. We're not allowed to use the coffee machine after 11am...so if we want coffee after that, we have to go to a local cafe and buy one.

Yes really. Only did holiday there the once.

FlyingElbows · 21/09/2016 14:52

Talking is not allowed in my sister's house after 7 pm. We don't go there any more!

Original poster
Creativemode · 21/09/2016 14:54

My mum swears she had a friend that would allocate an amount of toilet paper. So there was no loo roll and this friend would ask how much you need before you go.

Sorry thy mine are all toilet related.

OP posts:
KC225 · 21/09/2016 14:55

Not to leave the back door open or the seagulls come in trash the place (elderly mother by the seaside)

Excitedforxmas · 21/09/2016 14:55

Another one for no toilet flushing after kids in bed at SIL,s house. Was awful I've got ibs so can't judge loo times. Never went back.

oldlaundbooth · 21/09/2016 14:56

Ex boyfriend's parents did the no flush thing. Uck.

EssentialHummus · 21/09/2016 14:56

Another toilet one - a friend in Cyprus very sadly told us that we'd need to put used loo roll in a little bin near the loo, not down the loo. This is a thing in large parts of Greece - ancient plumbing, basically.

thecatneuterer · 21/09/2016 14:56

pictish Did they give you a rationale (i use the word loosely) for this?

PinkSwimGoggles · 21/09/2016 14:56

kc
at least that is sensible!

EttaJ · 21/09/2016 15:02

MIL - the shower speed and temperature setting and time allowed for shower . Needless to say when we used to stay, I ignored it all totally.

Cousins - absolutely no talking after DC bedtime but no tv either! They sit in silence and read. Not many visitors funny enough. They are the dullest people I've ever met.

pictish · 21/09/2016 15:03

Cat - it is because fil meticulously cleans the machine every morning at 11am. He doesn't trust us to clean it properly. If we use the machine after he has cleaned it, he will have to clean it again, which he doesn't want to do.
Besides, any time after 11am is far too late in the day for coffee anyway. So we are told.

DiegeticMuch · 21/09/2016 15:04

There was a kid at my primary school who wasn't allowed to watch Captain Caveman. However, he was allowed to watch Grange Hill .....and Dallas.

Vixxfacee · 21/09/2016 15:04

Exactly boyfriends house. His mum wouldn't let anyone flush the toilet after 9pm. So you would go to the toilet sometimes and it would be full of wee and tissues. Found it disgusting.

PolterGoose · 21/09/2016 15:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HuskyLover1 · 21/09/2016 15:12

Not exactly a house rule, but I have a friend who I no longer visit. They are really well off, but will not have the heating on, no matter how cold it is! We last visited in December and you could see your breath! Also, food portions were about half what you need to be full. And the wine was never topped up when you were empty. They have no freezer, as everything has to be "healthy". And no chips allowed. Ever.

SapphireStrange · 21/09/2016 15:12

Diegetic, I love that. The specificity and yet arbitrariness of it. Grin

I can't think of any. Must be lucky!

YelloDraw · 21/09/2016 15:13

A childhood friends house.

No flushing the toilet - had to use a bucket, scooped out of water in the bath.. that was saved from rain water buts and carried up to be stored in the bath.

To save money.

YelloDraw · 21/09/2016 15:14

Oh, also they didn't ever have the heating on and the house was so cold and miserable. I think I only stayed the night once. Also turned out later they used to cane the children - which is FUCKED UP. The mother wonders why she doesn't have a relationship with her children now...

biggles50 · 21/09/2016 15:14

Laughing about the seagulls from KC. Well weirdest one was not my experience but a friend who went to a friend's house for a meal with two other couples. After the meal the host said the meal and wine had cost a fortune and asked for donations. My friend didn't have any money on her but wrote an iou which she honoured. Not sure if that's a rule but thought I'd share.

Dapplegrey1 · 21/09/2016 15:15

Essential - the house we stayed in in Greece also had no loo paper down loo rule.
I ignored it, I just couldn't leave loo paper in an open bin, but nothing went wrong with the plumbing despite loo paper going down pipes.

MissHooliesCardigan · 21/09/2016 15:20

It's not a strict 'rule' but MIL gets very upset if anyone enters or leaves the house without splashing themselves with holy water and crossing themselves.

IDreamOfPeace · 21/09/2016 15:23

This is all the same friends house:

Always had to hold a plate under your face if you were eating anything. That included things that couldn't leave crumbs like lollipops and pick and mix.

Not allowed to use their downstairs loo as that was just for the mum of the house Confused

Close every door behind you as you walked around the house so if a fire broke out it wouldn't spread! It was like moving through a prison!

If you made a phone call on the landline you had to sit in the chair next to the phone - no standing around.

Internet access was restricted to no more than 10 minutes each day when you visited (you were there to see their daughter and not their computer!).

Your coat had to be hung on the designated 'visitor peg' and never over their coats.

Every room had a waste paper basket just for used tissues because they were 'filled with germs and not to touch anything else'.

Bizarre! Confused

IDreamOfPeace · 21/09/2016 15:24

Sorry, forgot to say I know I listed more than one rule but they were all equally weird to me!

Oldraver · 21/09/2016 15:24

I used to stay with a friend who had the 'no flushing at night' rule. In a house where there were (when we stayed) 6 DC's and three adults and one loo. I had forgotten about it, until DS mentioned (the other week on a visit to the same city) the scabby full up stinking loo.

OH also has a relative that hates hair and begged us to make sure there was no hair in the shower anywhere..I was so paranoid I'd miss a bit

Sparklesilverglitter · 21/09/2016 15:25

You can't eat after 7pm in my friends house, I only stayed there once got a hotel the next year.

I don't even eat dinner until 8/8:30pm and I like a night time snack with a coffee