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Original poster

Annoying guests thread

326 replies

qwertyuiop098 · 08/12/2020 14:29

Inspired by the absolutely cracking annoying things about other people's homes threads, what annoys you about guests at your home?

I'll start - when people stay over because they live too far to travel home after a night out/late dinner...but then overstay their welcome the next day lying in until the afternoon or not taking the hint to get going.

When people leave the toilet seat up.

Making snide comments about my home e.g. MIL "ugh why do you not have any normal milk? I don't like that oat milk!"

Not bringing anything/saying thank you/returning the invitation.

OP posts:
Willfiasco · 09/12/2020 19:32

@LasagneLady

I also think it's not unreasonable to get in a pint of ordinary milk if you have guests. You can't assume they will like oat milk, and really how much does it cost just to buy a pint?
Agreed- we’re plant based and I find myself buying milk once every few months. I’ll ask my parents to bring their own if they’re visiting, but for houseguests and builders I’ll get in a bottle.
Willfiasco · 09/12/2020 19:34

The stripping bed- ask please. At least one of the mattresses is a bit grim, I might not be washing the sheets immediately (rain or backlog) or you might be back in a fortnight- in which case you’re having the same sheets.

Nobeautysleep · 09/12/2020 19:49

The ones who say I don’t mind to anything then complain about the choices.
We had guests once who went on and on about going to a particular Lebanese restaurant. We booked it and drove 20 miles to get there, meaning I couldn’t have wine, then they made a big show of how it wasn’t all that nice after all (FYI it was tasty but would have been nicer with wine!)

Anotherlovelybitofsquirrel · 09/12/2020 20:09

@howsicklyarsekissy omg that's gross. You're a nicer person than I am , that would have been the end of the friendship 

@Catflapkitkat why have them stay over? They are clearly fucking awful people!

@TheOrchidKiller that would " disappear" 

@DingDongDenny One guest who loudly shooed my cat off the seat it was sitting in - there were other seats and she lives here!

Ooh yes, fucking with any of our pets would be an instant request to leave!

I love reading these but seriously, some of you need to tell you guests to fuck off! Stop letting these twats get away with their shit! Grrrrr Grin

blackkitty1234 · 09/12/2020 20:18

@LasagneLady

I also think it's not unreasonable to get in a pint of ordinary milk if you have guests. You can't assume they will like oat milk, and really how much does it cost just to buy a pint?
We’re vegan. I won’t support the dairy industry by giving them my money, but guests are welcome to bring their own and use our fridge. I think that’s reasonable.
Catflapkitkat · 09/12/2020 20:35

Anotherlovelybitofsquirrel. My DH has known him since they were very young and wants to keep in touch. Because we live near cheap easyJet flights and village skiing (pre Covid) I have so many more (fun and grateful) visitors than DH.

veeeeh · 09/12/2020 20:44

Never have overnighters. Just help those in a pickle like my friends son whose flat wasn't ready for Uni which is near me. When the parents asked, I thought they were looking for him to lodge here for the term. I explained that I would not be able to take that on, sorry, but would gladly allow him to stay for a week or so.. of course I got wrong end of stick, he just needed somewhere to sleep for a week and had no intention of staying term time with a landlady, lol..

He was a great guest.

When Dad died RIP, I was nearest the hospital, and it was 2am. Put up the family overnight. No problems as they needed to get home and sort themselves out next day.

But freeloaders can go to hell. NOPE.

I honestly prefer to stay at a local hotel when visiting friends here or abroad.. I am uncomfortable invading their space.

But that's just me.

People can and do visit for the day though, and I will make them all very welcome, but there is a Cinderella Taxi waiting for you lol. We have to speak up and say what we like IN OUR OWN HOMES!

1Morewineplease · 09/12/2020 20:51

I feel pretty sure that some folk get irked if the seat is left down too.

PandemicAtTheDisco · 09/12/2020 21:06

My friend's two children were both in nappies. She would come with her partner, they'd both do nothing to look after them and I kept having to tell them to change vile smelling, saggy, dirty nappies.

Her mum mostly does everything for them at home - cooks, cleans, childcare etc. They hardly see them as they are both at work.

TuMeke · 09/12/2020 21:54

When guests flush the loo with the lid open 🤢 and then swan off, leaving it open, despite having found the lid closed when they arrived in my bathroom.
If you go to use the loo and find it with the lid closed, surely you assume that’s what the house norms are?? And why wouldn’t you just leave it as you found it?

Also, people who leave their shoes on indoors. Grim.

Sundaypolodog · 09/12/2020 22:05

People that tell you how tired they are because they've driven two hours to get to you (not a big deal to me or DH) then spend their time sitting around doing nothing and expecting you to run around after them and their brat kids all weekend

Magnoliasstreet · 10/12/2020 06:22

@TheOrchidKiller

Shock of recognition & sympathy for the posters who have been subjected to the Spanish Inquisition over personal appointments on the house calender, & the washing of incredibly manky items no longer wanted & thrown in the bin. It is not ok to do this.

"While I’m seeing to the baby MIL cleans my house in secret"

Why is that a problem? Does she have lower standards than you? Or does she move stuff around?
It's a problem when your own house is not dirty or untidy, & when you have spent a day making it clean & tidy before guests arrive it is actually hurtful. It isn't helping to move your host's stuff so they have to put it back later.

Yes thank you! You explain it better than me. I have a high standard so coming in and finding things to clean is insulting!
farnworth · 10/12/2020 06:43

Years ago when I was younger, and more tolerant, my DH had invited his DS and very self-important DBIL for the weekend. They arrived with nothing but drank copiously, expected to be waited upon hand and foot, plus both droned on and on about themselves. Monday morning arrived, to my relief.My DH went off to work early; our guests knew I didn’t work that day but they were supposedly meant to be off early as they had things to do..... Midmorning they were settled on the sofa asking for another cuppa and still droning in about themselves, with the air of people installed for the day. I discreetly slipped off and put a book, bottle of water and chocolate bar in my handbag, then sat down again. Five minutes later I sprang up and “remembered” the car was due for a lengthy service. I grabbed handbag and car keys, and as I dashed out the door, apologising, I said goodbye and told them to let themselves out and shut the door behind themselves.
I drove to a quiet back street and had a few blissful hours reading before slowly driving back to our street to see if their car had gone..... I didn’t ever tell my DH🤭

Lessons learned - don’t ever take Monday off for weekend guests you aren’t sure about. Don’t wait upon people now that you don’t choose to! Keep an emergency book and rations in the car for “remembered” appointments when hosting in-laws....

catterwaul · 10/12/2020 06:44

I won’t support the dairy industry by giving them my money, but guests are welcome to bring their own and use our fridge. I think that’s reasonable.

Ooh tough one. I wouldn’t go somewhere to stay where I was forced to bring my own milk because the host refused to cater to my basic diet.

HalfBakedReview · 10/12/2020 07:01

I'd be okay with it, but I was vegan for years and DH ia vegetarian and so I would not think twice about providing my own dairy milk- or just having the oat milk.

sbhydrogen · 10/12/2020 07:05

I have a friend that 'tidies up' my stuff when she comes over, and it's really annoying. It's not like the table has got loads of stuff on it and you're sitting at it, it's on the side. Please do not do that, I'm just going to put it back, and also, it's MY house. Don't move my things!

ouchmyfeet · 10/12/2020 07:28

When you're the one hosting, you have to rely on them NOT hanging around until 5pm the next day.

This! I love to have guests, it's great to see people and have them stay, but it drives me bonkers when people hang around for the whole day. When I stay away somewhere I wake up wanting to go home.

Also people judging my housekeeping (yes MIL, I'm looking at you). My house is perfectly clean and tidy, not everyone is as anally retentive as you. Lighten up you old bat.

ouchmyfeet · 10/12/2020 07:31

Also the faff about shoes. Taking them off OUTSIDE. Just come into the house and take them off in the hall if you must.

ouchmyfeet · 10/12/2020 07:33

@Catflapkitkat

I love having people to stay. Love hosting but one couple arrrggghhhh. Old friends of DH turn up for a weekend (up to three days) empty handed with the 'we never know what to bring as you don't drink'. Okay - but YOU both drink and expect us to provide all the wine, beers and nightcaps which we do because we are hosting. Worst still the husband makes snarky comments about the wine like 'I can tell you don't drink'. 'I didn't even know they still made this'. 'This is for chips' Still manages to drain the bottles though.

One time I thought I called their bluff by saying well there's chocolates, flowers, a plant, nice biscuits, sweets for the kids, a candle, were not fussy. The wife said 'Great ideas for next time'. But turned up empty handed every time afterwards. It's even wearing thin with DH now. It's just rude.

Same couple without my knowledge knocked on the neighbours we barely knew to borrow ski equipment because they were too tight to hire it from the local place.

He has also suggested I make them all a packed lunch and flasks to take skiing as it will be cheaper. Cheaper for who? We are providing all the meals and snacks. I actually refused this one and said the ski slope is a struggling family run business and their very reasonably priced cafe is a way we can support them. He stomped off making Mutley type grumblings.

These people are not friends, they are just using you.
blackkitty1234 · 10/12/2020 09:41

@catterwaul

I won’t support the dairy industry by giving them my money, but guests are welcome to bring their own and use our fridge. I think that’s reasonable.

Ooh tough one. I wouldn’t go somewhere to stay where I was forced to bring my own milk because the host refused to cater to my basic diet.

If we’re staying with family we always bring our own soy milk. I don’t want people to feel like they have to get stuff in for us especially. If they chose to then thats nice, but they don’t have to.
airoportoventura · 10/12/2020 13:18

we had friends (the husband is a bit of a CF) and they asked themselves down and another couple we had never met to stay with us one summer because there was a sporting event nearby they wanted to spectate at.

We said yes (although tbh I was reluctant). Our friends told us that, while THEY were going out on the Friday night, they 'suggested' that I make a welcoming dinner for their two other friends (the ones I did not know) as it would, apparently, be a 'nice gesture'.

I told them that as i was coming off a night shift and hosting them for the whole weekend that perhaps he could instead take his own friends out to dinner.

thecatsthecats · 10/12/2020 13:29

My best friend rearranges my stuff.

Like, she'll move a cushion, pat it into its new position then smile at me as if to say "fixed it for you". As if I put it in the wrong place. She does it for ornaments, where I keep things in cupboards etc...

It's amazing that I haven't brained her.

MoltenLasagne · 10/12/2020 14:13

I love having people to stay but BIL and family will say they're arriving for early dinner (for the kids so 4pm-ish) and then arrive at noon when they haven't had their lunch so suddenly we're rushing around like blue arsed flies.

They're also the type who arrive as guests and expect not to do anything, including toileting their own children, because "they've been so excited about spending time with Auntie Molten". After 7 years of this I've got the kids pretty well trained at helping me put together impromptu lunches, or finishing changing bedding!

ttigerlilly · 10/12/2020 14:24

Asking for food or drink but then having one sip/bite and leaving the rest, despite having asked for it.

Rudeness - For example, I personally think it's really rude to tell your host that you don't like what they've cooked for you, when you've spent money and time making it for them.

Overstaying welcome.

Going to "look at the baby" when he is asleep, and usually making noise as if intentionally trying to wake him up.

Sitting on your phone the entire time and not making any conversation.

I could go on but I realise I probably sound very uptight haha Smile

LightDrizzle · 10/12/2020 15:05
  • People who hover while I’m busy cooking despite me saying jovially “Sit down! I’ll be with you in a bit, DH will get you a drink!”
  • people who smoke in the bedroom with the window open a crack in my strictly no-smoking house [late DM and a 16 year old “non-smoking” language school student we hosted]
  • people who are up really early and are chatty first thing! I know this is unreasonable of me but I need at least one cup of tea in silence before I’m human.
  • people who when offered a long, varied list of possible breakfast options, respond “Have you got almond croissants?” - “Yes I have! But I didn’t list them because it’s a big SECRET and they’re not for eating.”