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??

Say no. We have a villa near sorrento and one in majorca and have learned the hard way not to let to strangers - we only let our son use it

@Seniorcitizen1 now you're just trying to wind Ethel up, aren't you?

@Seniorcitizen1 oooh lovely 😊 I love sorrento I’ll swap you for a week 🤣🤣

But I’m not insured 😆

Oh, give over, Ethel. Virtue signalling nonsense. Honestly just tell her no, OP. I'm agog at all these threads by such spineless people who see honesty and telling the truth as some big drama or 'confrontation' or cause for angst and then posters tying themselves in knots making up ridiculous excuses.

'Unfortunately that won't be possible. It's jointly owned for family use only. It's not insured otherwise. Sorry.'

The end. No need to offer alternatives or anything.

@Mummylife2018 I couldn't really give a shit tbh. I don't think anyone should be allowed to own a home that is left empty for weeks/months at a time. I hope the OP gets squatters.

As for those suggesting I open my home to homeless people, I'd love to but I don't have the room. Living in one home with just enough room means there's very little space to spare. I'm not under-occupying.

However, there are thousands of unoccupied properties around. Where I live there are whole blocks of flats which are almost empty from October to May.
I don't care if my point seems petty or if some of you don't like it, it still shouldn't be allowed.

Let's put aside homelessness for a moment. What about those that grow up in an area, have family and a community but are then forced to move out because they can't afford somewhere to rent/buy because BTL landlords and second home owners have over-inflated the housing market?

I couldn't really give a shit tbh. I don't think anyone should be allowed to own a home that is left empty for weeks/months at a time. I hope the OP gets squatters.

Are you Nigel Farage?

Squatting in residential buildings is now illegal in England, it's a crime, so now you can ring the police to get the scumbags out.

I'm sure there's room on your floor, Ethel.

😄 I can't imagine the very wealthy Nigel Farage giving much thought to it tbh, he doesn't strike me as particularly worried about inequality. Isn't he more bothered about foreigners and lying about stuff on buses?

Ok, Ethel, no room in your house, but how about lending out some of your clothes while you aren't personally occupying them? Seems fair. The least you could do, etc., etc.

Seriously, though, thanks for the laugh.

Do you feel even slightly guilty that you have a property sitting empty while families are stuck in b&bs and people are dying on the streets?

Those families aren't generally in the Lake District though, are they? I have some sympathy with what you're saying Ethel but I don't think this is the thread for it. There's a greater systemic problem with second home ownership, but it's not something the OP can solve.

Besides, populations have dwindled in rural areas and were often greater in the 19th century than they are now. This means there are actually properties which would be empty anyway. Second home owners who move into the area, do up properties and then spend money in the area are not necessarily a bad thing. if they buy produce locally and employ people locally there are worse things they can be doing. I have more of a grumble about rents and landlords in urban areas but again, this thread isn't about that.

@thebaronetofcockburn Interesting that you think sleeping on floors and sofa surfing (this is still homelessness) is a better solution than filling empty/unoccupied buildings. If you say so.

I don't know why you all feel so threatened by the idea that homes are for living in and not leaving empty or making money from.

It's hardly a revolutionary concept is it?!

Isn't he more bothered about foreigners and lying about stuff on buses?

Probably but I didn't want to ask if you were Jacob Rees Mogg

@Belenus Thanks and you're right that this is also a major issue in urban areas but actually some rural communities are really suffering.

If a town or village has a very high proportion of holiday homes then that community dies come autumn as no-one is spending money there and businesses can't continue. And if you're born in a village where rents and house prices are inflated by huge demand by Londoners wanting a bolt hole for the odd weekend then they're forced out too.

It's a real problem.

@brizzledrizzle You seem to be a bit confused about the politics of right wingers. They're probably the ones with the second/third/fourth homes. What's next, Boris?

It's not a very Tory view to have so I'm not sure what you're getting at.

Your friend is being a CF suggesting that you donate a week at your holiday home. We've got a 2nd home in Spain, and Ethel80 if you find that repulsive tough tit! It was purchased with our hard earned money, and provides a bit of respite for my disabled DH. We did initially let people use the property, but I'm a bit of a clean freak and found it annoying when it was left in a mucky state and I had to spend a day scrubbing before I could relax and enjoy my holiday. So any requests are now answered with NO. I'm happy for it to lie empty.

Interesting that you think sleeping on floors and sofa surfing (this is still homelessness) is a better solution than filling empty/unoccupied buildings. If you say so.

I think since you're the one claiming to have the issue of homelessness at heart, why not start with first opening up your own home to them. The OP's home is not unoccupied or empty or abandoned, it's not occupied all the time, but that's not empty and abandoned. I'm sometimes not in the home I own. We use up our holiday allowance abroad and are out of it about 4 weeks out of the year.

It's not a very Tory view to have so I'm not sure what you're getting at.

I'm just having a laugh..

We have a holiday cottage that we have just started letting. Not only do you need specialist insurance but also fire plan, fire extinguisher equipment, everything has to have certificates, plus evidence of testing the smoke alarm etc etc. Not worth it for a one off.

Ethel, with the greatest of respect this isn’t the place to get into a debate about housing in this country - if you want to have a bun fight about it (which is certainly sounds like you’re spoiling for), then create a thread about homelessness and debate there.

This post is about something entirely different. OP isn’t BU about not wanting to give the home for free to people she probably doesn’t know. Say it’s about insurance, end of story.

Your friend is a massively CF.

Even if you had everything in place to allow strangers to stay there, you would have all the work before and after for no financial reward. In fact you would lose whatever you could charge for letting the house, presumably we are talking hundreds of pounds?

We have a similar set up, my DB and I share a holiday cottage. We very, very rarely let other people use it. We need to be completely sure that they will know how everything works (most crucially how to turn the central heating off) and that they will treat our property with respect. TBH DB is even a little uncertain about my family using it because my DC are inclined to be heavy handed and messy, and I own half of it.

The main problem with it being a prize is that you have no control at all over who might win the prize. I would hope that most people would be careful and respectful, but people have different standards so even being careful to their standards might still damage your property. Worst case would be cheeky fuckers who turn it into a party house for the week, leaving you with cigarette burns and a smokey smell and spilled beer and wine over your rugs and sofas.

The insurance thing is an excellent get out.

@Ethel80 I presume if you were in the position to buy a second property that you would hand it over to the homeless for free??? The Lake District is a seasonal area yes but we spend time there ALL year round so therefore we actually spend money in the area quite a bit. We know many locals and none of them have ever had a problem with our being there!! Quite the contrary actually!!!

@BlackAmericanoNoSugar yes that is what happened in the past. We arrived after 2 weeks of being empty to find BILS friend had left the heating on full 😫 and then had the audacity to tell us that one of the beds was very uncomfortable 😣 so we had an earful and a fine bill!! 😫😭

just tell them you are not insured