A favour from an unpaid lodger gone wrong

[craxmum]

Hello everyone.
Disclaimer: I am really bad at reading people's emotions and intentions (think Sheldon Cooper level of people skills), thus this topic.
The situation: A good friend asked me to house temporarily her close relatives (a couple), who found themselves in a tough situation and are, for valid reasons, unable to rent anywhere at the moment. I had a free room, so said no problem. The agreement was that they don't pay anything, but will help with minor errands around the house (the girl works occasional cleaning jobs at the moment and the guy works cash in hand at the construction site). I am usually out of my breath with two small children and a full-time job, so I thought it would be great if someone could, say, accept a delivery or unload the dishwasher.
After a month (after no offers from help from their side, and generally being very awkward), I thought I'd make a move and asked the guy if he could hang two shelves for me in the utility room. He said sure, no problem. I showed the approximate level I want them to be at. And then came home to this.
I am not quite how to take this? As "f**k off and don't ask me for favours anymore"? A bit lost. The issue is not with the shelves - I can get a handyman in to fix this - but with the message behind it.

Tell them to move out. They haven't stuck to their end of the deal and just say it isn't working out.

Ask him to redo them, what a weird thing to do

Guess you know now how come they don’t have stuff like proper jobs, housing options, friends to help etc

Get them out

Yep - out they go.
One week's notice and they have to be gone by Sunday next.
Arseholes.

Think I would suggest they find somewhere else to live asap tbh. They are costing you increased gas electric and water so are cheeky fuckers taking the piss. I’d get them out. Their housing situation isn’t your problem and your ‘good friend ‘ can house them if they are so concerned.

I would tell them they have a week (max) to move out. And I'd tell your friend why asap.

Ask him when he will be finishing the shelves. Then say that you need to sit down and agree a list or level of jobs they will be doing in exchange for their free housing.

You do need to lead this and be reasonably firm. If they don’t like it they can move out.

Time for them to pack their bags.

Ask them to leave, give them until Saturday and say it's not w

Working

The next words I'd say to them is
'I need you to move out by the weekend, I have a friend coming to stay and I need the room'

They are taking the piss

You're reading that exactly right. He's told you exactly what he thinks of your kindness and generosity. Kick them out.

They are both working so why can't they pay rent and your friend should never put u in that position by asking u to put them anyway

Oh my. Not sure what to say.

Some people are absolute lazy idoits. Two traits you don't want in your house so serve notice that they've got a week to leave. Hopefully theyve saved up some money for the kind weeks you've put them up. It's not your duty to have them and if they were really in need of having somewhere to stay they would be making more of an effort!!!

He's either incredibly stupid or taking the piss, I suspect it's the latter.

You've been amazing generous with your home but they're not keeping to their end of the bargain. It's time they found someone else to solve their living problems for them.

A week's notice.

You are not misreading this. They are CFs. Give them notice.

Yeah, that’s a big fuck you.

Even if it was an accident, I’m assuming he’s not blind and a decent person would’ve corrected it afterwards. They’re taking the piss.

They’ve not kept to the deal, you have every right to ask them to leave, contact your friend today and tell us everything you have said on here! You work FT and have DC, you don’t need this!

You know what the message is OP, get rid of them

Thank you everyone. I genuinely wanted to check if anyone thinks there can be another explanation apart from pure rudeness.

To answer questions.

It is not that they don't have money, there is an issue with the girl's visa (a genuine admin mistake on the Home Office side, I have been through it myself so kinda sympathetic), and she lost the right to rent, so they are unable to pass the checks anywhere. They are going through an appeal, but until then it is unlikely that they will be able to rent from a for-profit landlord at the moment. My friend cannot house them as she is renting a studio flat with her husband and a child herself. And I owe her a massive favour (morally, not financially) from the old days too.

Kick the pair of them out today. Sod giving them any notice they don't pay you any rent. Cheeky Fuckers indeed!

Your friend is the ultimate CF for asking you to have them to stay, presumably she knew what they were like. And as a PP said up thread, it is very clear why they don’t have any other options. Lazy cheeky fuckers. Give them their notice ASAP, and give your ‘friend’ a wide berth.

I'd ask them to go today. They can go to your friend's. You owe them absolutely nothing, OP. They have sponged off you and haven't fulfilled their side of the bargain.

If you give them a week's notice, nothing will be safe in your home.

So they can afford to contribute but don’t? Sound like CFs

I think that after a month and them not helping you like they were supposed to, you can call the favour repaid.

And I owe her a massive favour (morally, not financially) from the old days too.
I would say after a month of putting these people up, you've almost certainly repaid the favour.