£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:

Chocolatepeanutbuttercupsandicecream · 05/06/2023 20:33

I’m leaving my 16 year old this summer in charge of the house plus pets. I trust him implicitly, but I wouldn’t have done it at 15 as I think it’s iffy on legal grounds. I’m giving him £50 a week for expenses, but obviously it’s his own house so slightly different.

nidgey · 05/06/2023 21:45

The cat doesn't need overnight company. I'd say give a flat rate of c. 120 for the girl to pop in a few times a day to feed the cat/keep them company, but don't do overnights - 15 is too young, the NSPCC even advise not to leave someone under 16 alone overnight.

OP you really really can't predict what a 15 year old will do or how they'll feel being alone at night, no matter how mature and sensible you think they are.

https://www.gov.uk/law-on-leaving-your-child-home-alone#:~:text=The%20National%20Society%20for%20the,not%20be%20left%20alone%20overnight

The law on leaving your child on their own

The law does not say an age when you can leave a child on their own, but it's an offence to leave a child alone if it puts them at risk

https://www.gov.uk/law-on-leaving-your-child-home-alone#:~:text=The%20National%20Society%20for%20the,not%20be%20left%20alone%20overnight

Grrrrdarling · 06/06/2023 12:34

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.

@Silverbook Errrm is it not illegal to leave under 16’s home alone where you live?
Legal for them to pop in check on cat, do litter tray, play with & feed kitty a few times a day & I would pay £20 for that but overnight is a nope for under 16.

Grrrrdarling · 06/06/2023 12:37

Silverbook · 04/06/2023 09:20

Ok, should have added more detail for context. I know their parents, it was them who suggested it and had already posted on social media looking for summer work like house sitting. Their family stay 5 mins away.
Im absolutely not worried about parties etc it’s not that kind of family/teen. They are very mature, responsible and I trust them.
Literally no other responsibilities other than the cat.

@Silverbook If they live 5 mins away they can pop in to see car but legally I’d say no to staying over no-matter how well I knew them or how trustworthy they were.

Moreorlessmentallystable · 06/06/2023 18:50

My kid who is 10 gets £20 a day for 2 visits morning and night to feed and play with the pets. I find it generous of my friend to pay my daughter that, so my daughter is very grateful and she is very thorough and spends a good time playing with the pets. I also help her make sure everything related to the pets is tidied away, and that she locks properly. She loves the job and misses the pets after she is done with the pet sitting. I think if you expect them to stay at yours definitely a bit more than £20 and provide food. I would probably be happier with paying them £20 for a couple of hours a day (morning and night)and they stay at their own home.

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