To say no to this??

[Yesornono]

Basically we own a property in the Lake District (uk) which we use throughout the year (we co own with BIL&SIL) and they obvs use it too. We used to let friends use it for a minimal fee but to be honest it was being abused (mostly by BILS friends) so we put an end to it.

A good friend of mine is doing a charity fundraiser (an auction of sorts) and has asked would we give the property over for a week as one of the prizes. I didn’t answer there and then I just said I would have to double check with BIL/SIL but if I’m being honest I already know that my answer is no. I just don’t want the hassle of someone I don’t know using it 🙈 and I don’t want to set a precedent now as such. AIBU??

'We dont let it out anymore. Its full of our personal belongings now. We couldn't let anyone use it.'

"No Thankyou. ...
We'll buy some raffle tickets as our donation."

Job done. You don't owe anyone, and certainly not this charity auction, a stay at your family holiday home.

Ps. You can't vet who would win it, they might bring a dog or toddlers, or use it for teenage party, and trash your place. It's very cheeky of the charity organiser to suggest you "donate" this. I'd be more pissed off at presumption of their suggestion than worried about offending them by saying No.

No, it's for family only. People who haven't paid to stay there are less likely to respect it.

Oh crikey no - that could open up a whole can of worms. At least if you say friends can stay there, you can choose who can go, but total strangers winning a raffle prize?

That's a "No" from me.

OP, I just did a quick google - you have to have public liability insurance if you are letting other people stay there so you can blame the insurance company.

It all depends. Are the people who asked you your masters? Do you have to maintain complete obedience to them?

If so I’m afraid you have to do everything they say.

The insurance reason is good. Use that.

@brizzledrizzle perfect I’ll go with that and give ILs the heads up!

Your friend clearly has no idea what would be involved. She probably thinks some strangers turn up, stay and then leave. That's it.

Just say no. Insurance is a good reason - if you need one.

I also immediately thought about the insurance aspect. It's a very valid reason.

Your friend isn't necessarily cheeky just because she asked you to donate a week. If she has never had to sell or rent for general public, it wouldn't even cross her mind what kind of pitfalls this donation has. If she's nice, she probably just assumes everybody will be as nice as her and that one week's rental wouldn't impact you.

A world of no.
Not even for a really really good cause.
And if she argues when you tell her no, she's a CF.

When you say you use the property throughout the year, is it left unoccupied a lot of the time?
I think it's really tight that you won't allow it tbh. Maybe you could find another solution for when the property is unoccupied. Homeless people or families who have been priced out of their area by second home owners could use it for a couple of weeks each maybe?

@Ethel80 yes we use it quite a bit but it can be left occupied for weeks at a time. No I won’t be renting it out to others during the unoccupied times (that would be awkward to manage anyway) giving a homeless family a week or two in a cottage and then chucking them out??🙄 and I’m not being funny but we purchased it because we were using holiday rentals all the time up there (which there are A LOT of) so we thought why not 🤷‍♀️

I think it's really tight that you won't allow it tbh.

You should move some homeless people into your home, I'm sure you could squeeze them in if you really tried.

^Justgivemesomepeace's* point re personal possessions everywhere is what struck me immediately as well.

@Juells I don't own one home let alone two.

Ethel80 Perhaps vent your repulsion rk the Politicians who 'flip' their houses like coins and get the taxpayer to fund it before setting on the owner of a SHARED holiday home in the Lake District.

@KC225 Don't worry I do. The OP chose to start a thread about her 'problem' and I chose to respond. I am allowed to do that aren't I?

Oh do pack it in Ethel80. Do you invite homeless people into your home?

Maybe leave the thread Ethel if it's upsetting you

@Ethel80 no I don’t feel guilty at all I was purchased with our hard earned money so we can do what we like with it. We pay council tax etc on the property also so it comes with its costs.

@Ethel80 Ok the. What happens when the homeless people refuse to leave? 3 months waiting for a court date and several thousands of pounds later in court fees and bailiff fees etc. Meanwhile, the house is being trashed causing thousands of pounds worth of damage?!

Are you going to pay that Ethel?!

Are you going to pay that Ethel?!

No, she's just sprinkling some guilt around, while virtue signalling.

Ethel80 stop being an idiot.

Presumably you don’t have homeless people sleeping on your floor every night? If not, why not? Surely you can squeeze in a few?