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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not pay for my friends' holiday cottage stay

403 replies

Peachyroll · 04/08/2022 20:29

A couple of friends who live abroad are returning to the UK next month to visit family in Devon, and a group of us are going rent a cottage down there for a week to meet up with them and have a cycling/walking holiday.

I can only make the first weekend, Friday to Monday, because I've got another trip booked. However, I have been asked to pay an even split of the whole week's stay at the cottage. One of the other people going said they don't want to pay for an empty bedroom for the rest of the week and it's not their fault I can't make the whole week. They think it's fairer to just do an even split. This is ridiculous right? Aibu to insist I only pay for the nights I'm staying?

OP posts:
MichelleScarn · 04/08/2022 20:30

Please not a reverse!

LaurieFairyCake · 04/08/2022 20:31

Obviously you pay

MichelleScarn · 04/08/2022 20:31

They could pay less and get a smaller cottage for the week and you could book somewhere separately for the weekend?

Chemenger · 04/08/2022 20:32

You should either sleep on the sofa or stay in a B&B if you don’t want to pay for the full week. Why should everyone else pay for a bigger house than they need?

LaurieFairyCake · 04/08/2022 20:32

Or you are responsible for filling the room the rest of the time and gathering the money for that

But you still pay

SweetSakura · 04/08/2022 20:32

Did you not discuss this before it was booked?

TheFlis12345 · 04/08/2022 20:32

Of course you pay! If you weren’t going for the weekend they could get a smaller place that costs less.

MindPalace · 04/08/2022 20:32

It sounds like you and your friends just have different holiday requirements and the dates don’t match, so the holiday shouldn’t go ahead. I can see both sides, I think.

Jollygreen · 04/08/2022 20:33

The price will be based on beds/rooms.

Unless you all book a smaller place and you sleep on the sofa while you're there, you should pay the full amount.

It would cost less to rent a smaller place if you were not going presumably.

Littleraindrop15 · 04/08/2022 20:33

you pay or you let them get a cottage for the amount of people they are and you get a separate place for the days you are staying.

maskersanonymous · 04/08/2022 20:34

a group of us are going rent a cottage down there for a week

If you agreed to rent it for a week, why do you think you should only have to pay for a few days?

exnewwifeproblems · 04/08/2022 20:34

Yeah you need to pay. The price will be based on rooms.

MyBrilliantFriend · 04/08/2022 20:34

They are only getting that extra bedroom for you though so yes you need to pay for the whole week.

Or see if they would mind getting somewhere smaller & letting you sleep on the sofa / an air bed for the weekend for a smaller contribution to costs. Though this could cause issues with the property owners if they find out you are going over numbers.

wishing3 · 04/08/2022 20:34

You pay. They will have no use for room and could have booked somewhere smaller and cheaper.

Bunce1 · 04/08/2022 20:35

YABVU

IncompleteSenten · 04/08/2022 20:35

They have to get a bigger cottage than they would otherwise need. If you can't make the whole week that's not their problem.

WaltzingWaters · 04/08/2022 20:36

I see both sides, but I think you need to either book something for the weekend that fits all of you, then they move to another smaller place when you leave, or they get somewhere for themselves and you stay elsewhere or take an air bed for the nights you’re there. Not fair for them to pay extra for the days you’re not there

Diablocircus · 04/08/2022 20:36

I agree with the other comments so far.

You should both separate accommodation based on length of stay.

Elsiebear90 · 04/08/2022 20:36

I think it depends on what you agreed, if you told them upfront you could only come for a weekend then they should have moved to smaller accommodation after you left or paid for the larger house the rest of the time themselves. If you agreed to a week then changed your mind then you should pay.

ZooMount · 04/08/2022 20:36

Of course you pay - they only need the extra bedroom because of you. Tbh I'd probably come up with a deal where you pay a 3rd or something but I think it's not fair for them to pay for your empty room.

LadyWithLapdog · 04/08/2022 20:36

I can see your POV. I don’t think I’d have the guts to argue if it’s close friends and just pay; but it would rankle a bit.

CanofCant · 04/08/2022 20:36

Reverse reverse reverse.

Quitelikeit · 04/08/2022 20:37

Fgs why on earth do you expect them to cover your room cost when you are not there?

either rent elsewhere for the weekend

or pay up!

this should have all been sorted and agreed in advance

I certainly wouldn’t invite you anywhere else with the approach you take to such things!!!

Merryoldgoat · 04/08/2022 20:37

Do you know why people hate reverses?

Everone gets outraged at the obviously unreasonable party.

Some people call ‘reverse’.

A bunch of newer posters ask what a reverse is.

It becomes a mess of the above three types of posts.

The OP comes on and clarifies.

Everyone gets pissed off.

I wish they’d just ban them.

Riverlee · 04/08/2022 20:38

If you originally said you were going all week, and then changed to weekend only, you pay.

However, if from the onset you said that you only go for the weekend, then that’s different. Can they get another friend to stay the rest of the week?