To charge friends for using this cottage.

[TitaniasAss]

We are relocating to a different part of the country (Wales). We found and bought the perfect cottage, quiet location but close to lots of amenities in the next town. It's by the coast with a sea view. DH will be working from home and I will be fairly local but my job is very flexible.

Our buyers for our current house on England have pulled out today (for very genuine reasons). We got the keys to our cottage last week so we now have two houses, which we were going to take the hit for a month before moving up.

So we've been talking today about renting the cottage out for the next few months to help us. I was having lunch with two friends today who both said that they would like to use the cottage for a holiday and did a kind of 'yay free holidays' high five which totally shocked me. I did explain that we would be renting it out be we wouldn't be able to do it for free. They both seem to think that this is totally unreasonable but I think it's really rude to assume. Am I being a tight arse?

I wouldn't be letting them stay there at all with that attitude!

Do they not realise that their "free" holiday would be costing you money?!

YANBU. They are.

But the only reason you’re renting it out is to lessen the financial impact?? Your friends are a bit dim witted and selfish - it’s not free you would be essentially paying for them to stay.

Don’t rent it to them, pair of cheeky fuckers. They sound like they might not pay you!

Cheeky twats.

You are definitely not being unreasonable, what absolute CF! Even more so in the circumstances you find yourself. If you had a holiday home you didn’t let out and it was empty for long periods I can understand a little more but even then I’d expect to pay a cleaning fee. I’d cool off that friendship for a bit.

Yanbu! You’d literally be losing money to let them stay there rent free. I’d just tell them it’s all booked up with paying guests and make it clear you need the money.

I might offer friends and family a slightly reduced rate, but certainly not for free. If you do rent it to these friends, I get the money up front.

Of course you charge them. They are being very cheeky. Look on line for similar properties in the same area and if you are feeling generous offer to your friends for a £50 discount, but warn them the cottage will not be scrubbed clean and they will need to take their own bed linen and towels.

YANBU - just say you need to rent it out. Then they can choose to rent or not.

Say you'll charge them 'mates rates' so they think they're getting something out of you ... then don't disclose how much the true rent is and just charge them anyway. CF's !

This. Presumably you need the money from renting it out, otherwise you wouldn’t be doing it?!

They are either very cheeky or not very bright

They're cheeky fuckers. You wouldn't be renting it if you didn't need to generate some extra income so not sure why they would think you'd sacrifice some of that income to give them a free holiday. I wouldn't let them stay there at all they seem quite entitled and it will inevitably cause you problems.

I presume you’re thinking holiday lets? Unless the cottage is in perfect condition I suspect that you find by the time you do all the small repairs, buy everything you need etc to bring to holiday cottage standard, pay an agency, pay for cleaning etc you will probably find it doesn’t stack up financially. Also if you bought with a mortgage you will probably be restricted.

Cheeky sods. Tell em they'll get mates rates and that's it!!

We absolutely do need the money. I would give them 'mates rates' but they both meant going separately with their partners for a couple of weeks so that would potentially be 4 weeks. They both seemed to think I was being out of order and I felt shit when I came home.

They're cheeky fuckers.
That income will keep your families heads above water.

Don’t feel shit. They are being really awful friends-I hope they read this.

Oh that’s actually quite sad. Are these proper friends or just people you are superficially friendly with? Because it’s the former, they are being not only cheeky but hurtful too. I certainly wouldn’t be interested in continuing the friendships when you move.

God no don't rent it out. Well not until you see the changes in the rules re kicking a tenant out. It's going to be a nightmare. Check out Welsh government

gov.wales/housing-law-changing-renting-homes

Not at all. Your so called friends are being very presumptuous,

If they want to go on holidays to your cottage they could at least contribute to the energy/cleaning/etc. costs of their stay.

TBH I often have people stay in my little abode abroad, but they pay an amount for community charge, electric (air conditioning costs a whack), and the end of stay cleaner. All happy.

Do not worry what people think. I don't.

Wow… yeah I wouldn’t want them in my new home before me in any case, although having said that how are you going to rent it out if -I’m assuming-all your furnishings are in your current home?

@justasking111 - that’s for longer term rentals, not holiday lets.

Missed the season now. OP should look at Airbnb for the area and see the occupancy rates for next month onwards it's on the floor. A lot are selling up

They do realise this is going to be your home and that you'll have two mortgages to cover whilst you wait for your house to sell? Your friends ABU

I wouldn't let them stay given their attitude , listening to you discuss a huge financial worry and then thinking how can we get something for free which will cost OP money?!!!