Me selfish???

[Rustyhinge]

I have a holiday home which is half mine and half my brothers.
We made a policy that we would not rent it out as no possibility of caretakers and also we have it just as we like it and want to keep it that way.
A couple of days ago I got a text from a friend to ask if friends of theirs could use our house for some time this summer.
This is a longstanding friendship and I am indebted to her in ways which I cannot specify here.
She is also friendly with my brother btw
I just feel so put on the spot, I don’t want to fall out with her but I really don’t want random strangers staying in our house plus we may want to use it ourselves over the summer
Question is should I make up excuses or risk the friendship and tell the truth that we do not ever want to get into these scena4ios?

Don't apologise or explain-it really isn't their business what you do or don't do.

Just say no-anything else gives them a chance to "discuss".

‘Sorry love, we don’t rent it it’

Job done x

*it out

So she will either have to ask again or read the silence as a reply!

Having thought about it, she might actually read the silence as a yes. So she tells her friend " I've not heard back yet but I'm sure Rustyhinge won't mind". And then you're left with a really awkward situation in a few months where the friend of the friend has booked annual leave and paid for their travel, and your friend is fuming at you for never having replied and you are fuming at your friend for assuming that that meant yes.

Just reply and be clear.

Having thought about it, she might actually read the silence as a yes. So she tells her friend " I've not heard back yet but I'm sure Rustyhinge won't mind". And then you're left with a really awkward situation in a few months where the friend of the friend has booked annual leave and paid for their travel, and your friend is fuming at you for never having replied and you are fuming at your friend for assuming that that meant yes.*

Yup-totally agree! They are cheeky enough to ask, so assume nothing!

I really don't think you should ignore the text. That is unnecessary and I am pretty sure she will just ask again. You need to close this down and I wouldn't just say it is in use this Summer as she may well come back and ask about another holiday at some other time.

The agreement you and your brother have is a good one and I defiantly would not feel obliged just because she is a good friend.

"Thank you for your message. The house is being used all Summer by us. For lots of reasons, (brother's name) and I decided right at the beginning that we wouldn't rent the house out and it would only be used by our families. So I'm sorry but we wouldn't be able to accommodate your request anyway. I really hope your friend finds something else"

You are making a drama out of nothing by not replying. Just say no. It is not a big deal.

I agree. This is the type of issue that I wouldn't agonize over for a moment. Not replying is silly. You've had lots of good suggestions as to replies on this thread.

Not replying just leads to a huge fuss with people claiming that you agreed since you never said no.