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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

£20 a night?

255 replies

Silverbook · 04/06/2023 08:10

How much would you pay for a school pupil to stay in your house while you were away on holiday? Main responsibility is to feed the cat. What’s reasonable?
We were thinking £15-20 but it’s divided the room with half thinking that’s too much and the other thinking not enough.
I’m reaching out the the MN wisdom and the decision here will be final.

OP posts:
DontBePassiveAggresive · 04/06/2023 08:11

How old are they?

BronnauMawrion · 04/06/2023 08:14

You are asking a school child to house sit & feed the cat?
Depends how old they are, and how long you're away for.

Decorhate · 04/06/2023 08:15

I pay a local teen £10 a day just to pop in twice a day to feed our cats when away. So I would say £20 at least and provide food.

Original poster
Silverbook · 04/06/2023 08:18

15 and it’s for 10 days. We’d always leave food. It’s to stay in the house and feed the cat.

OP posts:
DisplayPurposesOnly · 04/06/2023 08:19

A professional pet sitter with insurance etc is c£40 a night round here.

£20 seems reasonable. Make sure they know how to spot if cat is unwell and are able to get to vets if necessary - accidents can happen.

I'm assuming the school pupil is over 16, in which case you'd be better off describing them as a sixth former.

RichardsGear · 04/06/2023 08:19

How well do you know this kid?! I'd be thinking,
a) party central,
b) gf/bf around every night with the lure of an empty house and big bed,
and/or
c) them rootling through all our stuff and having a good nose round.

Maybe I'm just cynical.

KweenCnut · 04/06/2023 08:21

On their own at 15? That's too young.

PinkFootstool · 04/06/2023 08:21

We paid my very sensible 16yo neighbour £45 per 24hrs to house and dogsit last summer. We'd have had to pay nearly double for a private service for the dogs in a kennel or someone's home etc.

Make sure you supply the WiFi code and give access to any tv subscriptions! Also permission to take and animals to the vets in an emergency. I left her a big list of emergency contacts, and gave permission for her boyfriend to stay over.

Mothership4two · 04/06/2023 08:22

So they are staying overnight in your house and feeding the cat while you are on holiday? Assuming an older teen? What are the babysitting rates in your area to compare? To me £20 per night seems reasonable, but I may be out of touch now, I would check first with them that they are happy with that amount.

RichardsGear · 04/06/2023 08:23

Yes, just seen they're only 15. I think that's also a bit young to leave them playing house for ten days.

Findyourneutralspace · 04/06/2023 08:23

I think 15 is a bit young to be left for 10 days!

User1328745 · 04/06/2023 08:24

I guess it is someone that OP knows and their parents will be aware that they are doing it so would be just a phone call away. It probably about the right amount to pay

JMSA · 04/06/2023 08:24

Way too young!

dunroamingfornow · 04/06/2023 08:24

Can you leave a 15 year old alone in your house without any adult supervision for 10 days ? I'd be really worried about insurance cover and them bringing friends over? Will they not get lonely by themselves ?

ODFODeary · 04/06/2023 08:25

Are their parents happy for them to do this ? Why have you asked them and not a professional house sitter ?
Does your insurance cover it ?
Odd set up all round imo

namechange1986 · 04/06/2023 08:26

Too young!

User1328745 · 04/06/2023 08:26

How well do you know the teen, is the family very local to you

UnsolicitedOpinions · 04/06/2023 08:27

I’ve never left my own 15 year old in her own house alone overnight, and she is very sensible! Ten days living on their own in someone else’s house is ridiculous.

Mothership4two · 04/06/2023 08:27

I wouldn't be comfortable with a 15 yo housesitting for all the reasons already listed and when DC were 15 I wouldn't have let them.

Justhereforthechristmasthreads · 04/06/2023 08:27

Why do they need to stay?

User1328745 · 04/06/2023 08:27

It could be the NDN or relative, we need more details of the relationship to you

Cashycashy · 04/06/2023 08:27

Too young.

Cosycover · 04/06/2023 08:28

I know exactly what I would have done if I had a house for 10 days aged 15! Are you sure you want to allow this?

MajesticWhine · 04/06/2023 08:28

I think £20 sounds about right. Provided there are no other responsibilities- only feeding the cat.

Lastqueenofscotland2 · 04/06/2023 08:29

I wouldn’t let a 15 year old stay in my house for 10 days while we were away…

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