Lockdown: Empty parents house used as a getaway

[byecovidbye]

Our elderly parents house is empty due to them being abroad. It's 5 mins away from all of us. Sister, husband and kids keep going over every now and again to hang out out there or for "a change of scene" and kids play in the garden, as well as WFH there.

But also BIL, his wife and kids are doing exactly the same because their kids are bored and need to get out of the house. Also occasionally WFH there. They both have houses and gardens of their own, even though BIL's is tiny. (Going on different days).

AIBU in thinking that this is a risk to them and the kids? They are still going to supermarkets which still pose a risk so could potentially be contaminating the house and each other's families.

The house is generally secure with a car parked outside, an alarm, a Ring doorbell and great neighbours.

Your BIL? How is he and his wife connected to your parents?

It doesn’t sound like a huge risk, but I seem to be on the liberal side of their lockdown spectrum.

By guidance rules, they shouldn't be. But if they are opening windows, airing it through when they get there, there's no infection risk.

The households aren't mixing, so why do you think it's an issue?

But if they are opening windows, airing it through when they get there, there's no infection risk.

Corona lives on most surfaces for multiple days, so there is a risk. Airing won't help with that.

It is a risk if they are staying within 72 hours of each other and not washing bedding and surfaces when they arrive.

Good hand hygiene would also have to be in place to reduce risk.

It's not quite in the spirit of the thing but if it's only 5 min away, it's hardly putting additional pressure on local services.

It's just a bit odd, I'm not sure why anyone would bother but not one for you to waste energy on imo.

Its a fairly simple case of 'the rules don't apply to me/us'.

The law outlines reasons to go out and about. Going to your parents' empty house for a change of scenery isn't one.

I think it sounds fine. We all have to be sensible about this.

@Ponoka7 you do not understand how this works. You can’t ‘air’ a virus off a surface.

Yes they’re taking a risk, but it’s not a huge one in the grand scheme of things

I think the risk is very low but would be happier if two separate families weren’t doing it. In any case, I wouldn’t get too worked up about this. If it provides a nice distraction for them all then I think that is very valuable in itself.

Aside from all the corona virus issues they could well be invalidating the house insurance if they are sleeping overnight there.

They've assessed the risk, they feel it's acceptable.

If there's one thing lockdown has taught me it's that there's a reasonable range of acceptable risk but a particularly large number of people ready to criticise those whose level of acceptable is different from their own.

Also elderly parents abroad - they ain’t getting back anytime soon so hardly worth worrying about the virus surviving for 72 hours. Am sure a clean before they finally do return will be sufficient. Common sense needs to be applied in these situations

Crikey u never new my house insurance would be invalidated if I let someone sleep in it without me there 🤔

I not u

By guidance rules, they shouldn't be. But if they are opening windows, airing it through when they get there, there's no infection risk.

Pray tell us about this method of infection control

I would understand it, if say your own house had no garden or a very tiny one. If they had a massive garden, then it would be tempting.

@Stompythedinosaur
@BuffaloCauliflower
I took it for granted that they would be cleaning and being sensible. There's no huge risk.

TemoraryUsername it stays in the air. As said i took it for granted that the cleaning that we all now do when coming back from the supermarket is being done. So the other part of infection control is airing the place out.

I'm not taking it lightly, i know five people who've died from it and two who have been on oxygen in hospital because of it. But we've got to be sensible about what does and doesn't put us at risk of transmission.

Hmm, that house insurance thing sounds complete bobbins to me..

It's stupid imo and if I was your parents I wouldn't want everyone using my house like a hotel....also why is your bil getting his head in?

My parents used to spend a few months each winter abroad, it was a condition of their house insurance that nobody used the house when they were away. I asked about staying there between house sale and purchase and the insurance company wouldn't agree to it.

so many ignorant people coming out of the wood work, stay at home is exactly what needs to be done by EVERYONE including your idiotic relatives.

If your parents don't mind.

And you aren't bothered because you are staying at home.

Then why is it a problem for you?

If you want to go too, but can't because they are there, then discuss that with them. Otherwise, not your business.

It seems clear cut to me. Firstly, this is not one of the allowed exceptions for which we can leave our homes. Secondly, they are increasing the risk of viral spread by both using the same house and garden as the virus could be in the air and on surfaces - in a sense they are mixing their two households by doing this. I understand the temptation but it's a no from me.

YANBU

Well sure there will be a risk but it’s not a particularly big risk given that it’s only two households. There’s no more risk here than in cases where children travel between two households due to shared custody agreements.