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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To charge for electricity when lending house to neighbours?

124 replies

Frenchkippy · 16/12/2017 02:29

We will be away over Christmas period and neighbour has hinted that her house will be overflowing. We are happy to help her out in lending rooms to her guests but can we ask for contributions toward heating etc? Heating will need to be on for the two weeks that we are not there (when it would otherwise be switched off). Without sounding mean to neighbour how can we ask that they or their family pay for it?

OP posts:

Pikachuwithyourmouthclosed · 16/12/2017 04:00

I don't think it's odd at all to offer your house to help out your neighbour. I would do the same. I also think it's fine to ask for a set amount to cover heating.

Timetogetup0630 · 16/12/2017 04:08

I would do the same. Rather have my house inhabited than standing empty for two weeks in the winter.
And yes to asking politely for a donation towards fuel costs.

Battleax · 16/12/2017 04:10

And it’s so funny to be debating this cos the film us the highly esoteric Blades of Glory

Make it Ingmar Bergman next time. Not much of joker, older Ingmar, mind

Mummyoflittledragon · 16/12/2017 04:14

It’s a bit like doing air bnb, isn’t it? So charge the extras such as amendments to insurance and bills. As well as cleaning?? That’s a lot of washing. What about eating your food? You’re just not asking for rent.

Coyoacan · 16/12/2017 04:20

No advice, but you sound like a lovely neighbour.

MoreCheerfulMonica · 16/12/2017 04:22

I'm a bit surprised by the people going overboard on the strangers will trash your house angle. Clearly your neighbour is a nice person who you trust or you wouldn't be contemplating this, far less wandering into the bear pit of AIBU.

Speak to your insurers and then think of a sum that realistically covers your actual costs. You can then say to neighbour that you're not going to charge her family Airbnb rates but you'd be grateful if she'd reimburse your costs (but bear in mind too that having the house occupied might in some way reduce your costs).

Melony6 · 16/12/2017 04:30

Well work out what two weeks of leccy (in winter) and ask them to launder the sheets.

LellyMcKelly · 16/12/2017 04:32

I would happily let people borrow it. It’s better for the house to be inhabited over Christmas than not, and it sounds like you’re close friends with their neighbour. Next time she hints, just say ‘well, if they don’t mind contributing towards the cost of electricity and insurance they could borrow our house). Lock away any valuables or things you want to keep private. Your neighbour and her family will have a much nicer time with a bit more space.

Battleax · 16/12/2017 04:36

Personally, I think I'm absolutely delightful and I've never done anything close to "trashing my house" (did anyone say that or did you make that up?) BUT over the years, I've put an iron burn on my own brand new carpet, locked myself out of my house four times, broken two windows getting back in, spilt more coffee and wine than I care to think about, accidentally smashed quite a few breakables, caused a minor candle fire, boiled dry a few pans and knocked over a glass fronted bookcase. I don't even think I'm particularly accident prone

Oh and I've been burgled twice.

BikeRunSki · 16/12/2017 04:45

DMs neighbour has let our family use her house over Christmas in the past. DM sleeps there, guests sleep at DM’s. This avoids the issue of “strangers in your house” .

MoreCheerfulMonica · 16/12/2017 04:58

Opinions may differ, Battleax, but it seems to be that some of the initial posts on this thread, taken as a group, could be summarised in five words as strangers will trash your house. So yes, people did say it and told OP that she shouldn't even countenance the idea.

EssentialHummus · 16/12/2017 04:59

Oh and I've been burgled twice

This is an argument for rather than against isn’t it? Rather have the house occupied?

I’d ask them for some money and agree that they need to pay for any damage (and please don’t use the x, y or z). But yes, get on well with neighbour, we’re very honest with one another, I’d trust her. And if things went wrong I’d trust her to sort it out.

MoreCheerfulMonica · 16/12/2017 04:59

PS. If we're bandying crime stats, opportunistic burglars prefer empty homes, so having the neighbours' family as housesitters probably reduces the risk.

Battleax · 16/12/2017 05:03

This is an argument for rather than against isn’t it? Rather have the house occupied?

Yes probably. Just wandered off down memory lane

EmmaGrundyForPM · 16/12/2017 05:05

OP you say you have cats. Will the house guests be feed g the cats whilst you're away, thus saving you a fortune in cattery fees? If so.then I wouldn't charge for electricity.

I would request that the sheets and towels are laundered at the end of their stay and the house is left clean and tidy

shouldwestayorshouldwego · 16/12/2017 05:40

Like BikeRunSki I wiuld suggest that the neighbour stays in your house rather than her guests. That way the neighbour is likely to spend less time there - i.e. she won't just hang out there, she probably will go home to cook etc. Your cats get a familiar face to curl up with and strangers aren't using your house. I probably wouldn't charge electricity unless it is extortionate as this time of the year I would leave some heating on anyway due to pipes and I expect she will spend most of the daytime at home because she won't think of it as 'holiday home next to mums' but rather spare extra bedroom to sleep in at night.

shouldwestayorshouldwego · 16/12/2017 05:42

Although to be fair my cats turn into complete flirts with whoever comes in to feed them so they probably won't care if it is a familiar face .

Charolais · 16/12/2017 06:03

OtterInDisgrace I got the Blades of Glory reference right away because I use ‘mind bottles’ myself.

OP It's jolly nice of you to offer up the use of your house. I wouldn’t ask for money for the bills though. I think the favor will be repaid in other ways by your neighbor and maybe her US relatives.

The world would be a better place if more people were like you and your neighbor.

Dutch1e · 16/12/2017 09:22

I would definitely offer the use of our house in this situation, although we have Airbnb'd our place and all the guests were great so the idea of having strangers in our house isn't uncomfortable.

But yes, I would tackle the utilities issue head on, likely on a per-day amount that covered costs for the number of people staying.

specialsubject · 16/12/2017 09:25

Whoever it is needs a guided tour and instructions - where stopcocks are, how the heating works, hints on any tricky locks and so on. Also Americans pay buttons for energy and probably have different phone arrangements, so expect a big bill and if you have a landline, hide it.

Twofishfingers · 16/12/2017 09:29

I would have absolutely no problem with having my neighbour using my house if we are not here, actually it's safer for us to have people in the house than leaving it empty.

I would be honest and direct, and say simply you can have my house but pay a contribution for heating, gas etc, so it would be £30 a night, bring your own sheets and towels, (or whatever you think is right). Just speak to them honestly about it, say if they break anything they have to replace or pay, and please don't use the (precious tea set, champagne glasses which are a wedding present, whatever). I would have absolutely no issue with that.

We rent out our house through airBNB when we go away, and we do house exchanges with families we have never met. It doesn't bother me one bit. Have been doing it for 8 years and never had any problems except the occasional Ikea mug broken (and replaced!).

dudsville · 16/12/2017 09:30

OMG no, These are longstanding friendly neighbours. If you offer to let them use your house for their overflow then do it with grace and goodwill.

catwoozle · 16/12/2017 09:34

just one of those things you say between friends

Fair enough. But on an internet forum most people won't get the private joke or slightly obscure film reference.

NoSquirrels · 16/12/2017 09:38

Do they feed you cats for free? That’s £10 a day right there.

My DPs have “borrowed” a neighbour’s house before for overflow guests at Christmas. They offered a nominal amount & the expectation was the guests were just sleeping there really - all meals except breakfast cereal stuff & late night cups of cocoa were withmy DPs, and no one “hung out” there in the day.

Go for it, OP. I expect they’ll offer you some money but if not you can mention the extra heating.

CatastropheKate · 16/12/2017 09:39

I like the idea of letting your neighbour stay so that her house can be used for the guests. Your cat will be happier with a familiar face, and fewer children in your house can only be a good thing. Also I would guess that she'd spend less time in your house than her guests would if they slept there. Just offer it as a 'room for you to sleep in'.

I wouldn't charge anything though. It's a favour for a friend.

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