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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU- leaving someone in the house?

35 replies

early30smum · 09/05/2017 22:00

We are having something replaced in our flat, and the guy who came to measure up and quote arrived just as I was about to go on the school run. He was from a national company, uniform, I had his contact details and obviously head office of said company would know who they'd sent on the job etc. I said did he mind if I popped out to get the kids for 10 mins while he measured up? All fine. Mentioned this to a friend at pick up (in response to her asking if I wanted to take the kids to the park after school) and she was horrified I'd left him at my house without me?! Confused

Maybe it too trusting, but seriously, what was going to happen? Maybe different if it was someone completely unknown with no traceable contacts e.g. Someone from a buying and selling site e.g. gumtree...

So AIBU to think it was totally fine to leave him?!

OP posts:
Lalunya85 · 09/05/2017 22:02

I think a little bit of trust is a good thing.

Besides you didn't exactly have much of a choice did you?

Yanbu. I would have done the same!

LauraPalmersBodybag · 09/05/2017 22:04

Never my preference but I've done it before. I try to work on the basis that more people are good than bad, more honest than dishonest and it's not backfired yet!

In fact, only time I've ever had something kicked was when a dodgy plumber came round and on his way he took my flatmates tools. We were in and 'supervising' he was obviously quick and probably intent on stealing something.

LauraPalmersBodybag · 09/05/2017 22:05

*nicked

Jupitar · 09/05/2017 22:09

I've done it loads of times when the plumber's been here, what are you supposed to do, ask them to stand outside whilst you're gone 😂

ILoveDolly · 09/05/2017 22:11

Yes you were totally ok to trust him. I hate this attitude that all tradesmen are thieves it's total snobbery

MuffinMaiden · 09/05/2017 22:21

I left a set of my keys with the builder doing work on my house. For a week. It's not like he could have done something without you knowing who it was!

QueenMortificado · 09/05/2017 22:22

WHAT HAPPENS IF HE MASTURBATES IN YOUR KNICKER DRAWER THOUGH????

User48627 · 09/05/2017 22:38

I hate this attitude that all tradesmen are thieves it's total snobbery

DH is a plumber, our old neighbour spoke to him like absolute shite... until she found out he went to private school and then she was his best friend 😂😂😂

You actually saw her attitude change mid-conversation!

Crumbs1 · 09/05/2017 23:20

Can't see a problem with it. I rarely lock the door and postman puts parcels on kitchen table. Most of our tradesmen are regular/local and known around villages. Have left electrician, plumber, upholsterer and never had an issue.

Siwdmae · 09/05/2017 23:20

I've done it before, like a lot. Never had a problem.

SugarnetMum · 09/05/2017 23:55

They're left in peoples houses alone the whole time...I've an uncle who runs an electrician business and he'd be left alone in houses constantly :S not everyone's out to get you...

A lot of people are there to just do their job and have no interest in the contents of your house or belongings IMO and yes I'm sure there are some who would be the opposite...

Shoxfordian · 10/05/2017 06:08

Yeah I think it's fine. I work full time so have often had to be out when the plumber or builder or whoever comes to the flat and my landlord just gives them keys. Nobody has ever stolen from me or anything.

KoalaDownUnder · 10/05/2017 06:10

YANBU. I have done it loads and wouldn't think twice.

esiotrot2015 · 10/05/2017 06:13

I would have done it too

But you could have texted park mum to take them to park & you meet her there when he'd finished I guess

drinkingtea · 10/05/2017 06:13

I do this too - never been a problem. If you trust someone to be in the housewife you and potentially your kids it's not shocking to trust them in an empty house, the worst that could happen would be to stuff not people. As you know who the person is and who they work for the risk is minimal.

drinkingtea · 10/05/2017 06:15

Shock massive autocorrect fail there ShockBlush

In the house 🏠 obviously!

Bohemond · 10/05/2017 06:24

My brother has always had problems getting tradesmen. And then I found out that he gets my retired dad to sit in the house while any are there. 10 working days once while he had a bathroom fitted. I would not want to work under those circumstances!

emmyrose2000 · 10/05/2017 06:54

I'd never leave a stranger alone in my house.

notanevilstepmother · 10/05/2017 07:34

DH is always working in people's homes when they are at work. Some people give him a spare key and that's it. The vast majority of tradesmen are just normal blokes, someone's husband, someone's dad. They just want to get the job done.

PeppaPigTastesLikeBacon · 10/05/2017 07:39

I did it on each occasion I have had work done. Although I did leave my cats with them so it's probably ok Grin

PeppaPigTastesLikeBacon · 10/05/2017 07:42

drinkingtea
GrinGrin

elmo1980 · 10/05/2017 08:07

I always leave workmen to it, I can't relax when they're in the house and spend the whole time worrying if I've made enough cups of tea/ bacon sarnies etc. I tend to get them settled on the first day then I'm out the door! If it's a big job we have given them a key or just leave the back door open to come and go.

They probably prefer being left to it anyway so they can get on with the job. I don't think they're remotely interested in nosying around your house and it's kind of in their professional interest not to rob you.

ZeldaWasMyGransName · 10/05/2017 08:10

Do this all the time. Sometimes you just have to have a bit of faith in human nature. Have had lots of work done on house, everyobe has been trustworthy.

WatchingFromTheWings · 10/05/2017 08:26

If you trust someone to be in the housewife you and potentially your kids it's not shocking to trust them in an empty house

Shock

GrinGrinGrin

dollydaydream114 · 10/05/2017 08:49

I leave people in my house all the time. Let's face it, if they stole something it would pretty bloody obvious who did it and they'd soon get caught, so the chances of them doing that are pretty slim. And in the highly unlikely event that they want to look in the knicker drawer it's not like it's going to bother me if I don't know about it.

I work full time and we just moved so we're having all sorts of work done. I couldn't possibly take days off or work from home every single time, so we just let them in and leave them to it most of the time.