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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:
Whinesalot · 16/12/2017 10:38

They've saved you money for catteries up till now so I think it would be nice to not charge. Having said that if you can't afford it then I'm sure your neighbor would understand. I bet she really appreciates your gesture.

NotLola60 · 16/12/2017 10:39

Surely she would have already made arrangements for her family from the US, thats a long way to come without already having anywhere to stay.

raisinsarenottheonlyfruit · 16/12/2017 10:39

Wow the milk of human kindness is flowing on this thread Hmm

Lending someone you like your house is a perfectly normal thing to do.

You don't have to do it yourself but please don't have a go at people who have more humanity and generosity of spirit than you.

LakieLady · 16/12/2017 10:39

My friend "borrows" his neighbour's house nearly every Christmas.

The 2 houses are a pair of adjoining cottages, they are tiny, and they have a gate between their gardens because they all get on very well. He does a fair bit of work in their garden, because they're not gardeners and he's brilliant at it.

His guests stay there and he uses their kitchen as well as his own because the kitchens are so tiny. He not only gives them some money towards the cost of fuel, he makes sure that it is immaculately clean when they get back - he even clean their windows, ffs! He also makes sure that there is milk, bread etc for when they return and looks after their cat.

They also bring him back booze and a gift to say "thank you" for housesitting. It works out really well for both parties and I think it's a really nice thing to do.

Crumbs1 · 16/12/2017 10:41

We’ve done it and wouldn’t charge. I suspect she’ll offer payment though.

Olympiathequeen · 16/12/2017 10:41

Are you crazy?
Loaning out your house for two weeks to strangers?

pinkbraces · 16/12/2017 10:43

There are some very paranoid people on this thread, probably the same kind of people who dont answer the door after 4 pm and think old ladies who touch their babies should be shot Grin

OP I don’t think I would charge can you just keep your heating very low and show your neighbours how to turn it up.

Layla8 · 16/12/2017 10:45

You sound lovely, but check your house insurance. They are so strict, be sure your cover isn’t invalidated.

welshgirlwannabe · 16/12/2017 10:52

I've done this for neighbours and friends - surely it's a normal thing to do?

The normal reciprocal gesture in my experience is a thank you card left on the kitchen table with £50 or whatever to cover leccy and a bottle of wine or a flowers or a book (possibly as anyone who stays at my house will soon realise I'm a book worm).

It's just a nice normal thing to do. Why would anyone abuse your hospitality? I'm sure it will be fine.

Chrys2017 · 16/12/2017 10:52

That's a great thing to do and very neighbourly. I would imagine your neighbour will ask to make a contribution to bills without being prompted. Do check with your household insurers though about having guests to stay when you aren't there.

flumpybear · 16/12/2017 10:58

I'd tell them to use the house but her to stay there, not strangers. Also yes I'd ask for contribution to gas and electricity

Originalfoogirl · 16/12/2017 11:01

I would do this for a nice neighbour. A neighbour who will obviously make sure the place is well looked after. And, really, if you can afford to head off for two weeks on holiday at Christmas, a few quid for heat and light isn’t going to break the bank.

Thymeout · 16/12/2017 11:04

I don't see why your insurance would be invalidated. These aren't random strangers. They're relatives of friends. Insurance companies are more concerned about houses being unoccupied - burglars, burst pipes.

I'm not sure about asking for money for heating, but that's because I'd be leaving mine on, v low, at this time of the year for the cat, let alone the pipes. A freezing cold house for 2 weeks will be ice on the inside of the windows temperature. And they would surely only be there overnight to sleep?

But, if you think it would be substantially more, then it's a bigger favour than feeding the cat, which doesn't cost them money, and it would be fine to ask if they minded paying the extra.

Abra1d · 16/12/2017 11:06

I would trust some of my neighbours and friends to make sure their family look d after my house.

mindutopia · 16/12/2017 11:09

I think that's fine. I would just ask them contribute a bit to heating and electric use. Depending on the number of days, etc. and for use of supplies, toilet roll, dish soap, etc. 10 quid a day? I would feel pretty cheeky staying in a stranger's house for free and would expect to pay my way and wouldn't be offended by that.

caffelatte100 · 16/12/2017 11:13

Yes, it would be a lovely thing to do and I would do the same...
I'm sure they'll offer to help with the heating, how much would it be anyway?

caffelatte100 · 16/12/2017 11:13

We should trust each other more in myho

greendale17 · 16/12/2017 11:19

They've saved you money for catteries up till now so I think it would be nice to not charge

^Completely agree with this

PricillaQueenOfTheDesert · 16/12/2017 11:21

Fuck that for a game of soldiers. No matter how nice your neighbour is, do you even know the people who will be in your house?

If they destroy the place I doubt insurance will cover it for being occupied by random strangers.

Have you even seen the mess people make in places that are not their own, like hotels, Airbnb or even the gatecrashers that wreck a party venue.

I think you must be certified mental if you think this is ever a good idea.

KnowItNo · 16/12/2017 11:22

I've stayed in the next door neighbours house when visiting family en masse. It's our family members neighbour - as if we'd take the piss by messing up their house? We paid for the cleaner to come round to remove all trace of us except the thank you gift, and know family member would have offered financial contribution for utilities but don't know if neighbours accepted or not.

BarchesterFlowers · 16/12/2017 11:27

I would let them stay without hesitation and I would just suck up the costs in return for your car feeding favours. Your neighbour sounds more like a fairly good friend than a neighbour.

We have loads of people stay here that we barely know, friends of friends on a long journey, people we have never met from a bike forum when they have got a bit stuck. A dutch cycle tourist put his tent up in our garden a couple of months ago, DH found him with a major bike problem at the side of the road. He put his bike on the car, brought him home, sorted out the parts he needed and invited him to stay, he insisted on camping which was fine, just came in to eat and have a drink with us in the evening/have a shower (we a toilet in a barn!).

Most folk are decent and respect other people’s property.

expatinscotland · 16/12/2017 11:30

' feel I should offer the rooms to our neighbour who we have lovely relationship with as she has No room at hers. '

Does she live in a bedsit? She has three people over from the States and she's overflowing? What would worry me is having a baby in the home if it's toddling, our house is far from toddler-proof these days.

Don't think you can charge, they're effectively house sitting, and especially not if they are feeding the cat.

You can tell the neighbour to only sleep there, but how would you police it?

Joinourclub · 16/12/2017 11:32

I think it's a nice thing to do. It wouldn't occur to me to charge as favours are always repaid in other ways, i.e. Looking after the cats! But if you are hard up then asking for a contribution towards the bills is fair enough. I'd be happier with my place being used as somewhere to sleep, rather than a place to hang out/cook dinner etc. Especially if it's kids as they are more likely to have accidents! So I'd just make that clear.

missdom123 · 16/12/2017 11:35

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

pisacake · 16/12/2017 11:42

mmm, gold dust. i use it to decorate my christmas cake.

festive crap

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