Page 3 | £20 a night?

Silverbook · 2023-06-04T07:10:17+00:00

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.

Sisisimone · 04/06/2023 09:05

This can't be real surely 😂. A 15 Yr old will have all of their mates over, and god knows who else when word gets round. Who knows what you would come home to. Just pay for a proper cat sitter/cattery. Is it worth the risk just to scrimp on a few quid for a reliable service?

MrsLiam · 04/06/2023 09:05

I wouldn't have left my own 15 year old at home alone overnight, let alone someone else's for 10 nights.

I personally was first left for a fortnight at age 17 and I shudder to think what we got up to. I did a good clean up job though, and to this day, parents don't know!

XelaM · 04/06/2023 09:07

So on another thread the vast majority of posters were trying to convince OP that it's totally normal for a 15-year-old to drink alcohol and fantasise about or have kinky sex, but on this thread everyone is saying that a 15-year-old can't stay home alone?!? 😂 So not too young for kinky sex and alcohol but too young to stay home and feed a cat? Totally bonkers.

I don't know what teens Mumsnetters have, but the ones I know are all normal and wouldn't have wild sex parties in someone else's house and would be very capable to stay home and feed a cat.

determinedtomakethiswork · 04/06/2023 09:08

There is no way I would let a 15-year-old stay in my house.

xoomer · 04/06/2023 09:09

XelaM · 04/06/2023 08:39

15 is not too young to stay home alone! Mumsnet is crazy. No wonder so many teens suffer with anxiety over every little thing if their parents don't leave them home alone at 15. That's ridiculous. My 13-year-old loves having the house to herself and can cook, walk the dog, get herself on places on public transport etc.

Did you read the post?

Would you let your daughter stay at someone's house alone for 10 days?

Cook for herself every day?

Be responsible for pets and a house?

ThinkOfLove · 04/06/2023 09:10

@XelaM That thread is clearly the work of a group of pervs. It’s disgusting and I hope it’s taken down

A 15 year old can’t stay at your house alone to feed the cat. Find someone local who can pop in and feed the cat or use a proper cat sitter.

mondaytosunday · 04/06/2023 09:11

I also think 15 too young to stay over in their own.
As for payment, if they lived close by I think £10/day to pop in a couple times to feed the cat and pick up the mail is ok, more if they had to cycle or take a bus.
Say they were minimum 16, I'd say £30 to stay overnight. It's £80 around my way for a professional pet sitter (though that includes walking a dog).
I paid a 21 year old £180 for four nights/five days but that was two cats and to walk two dogs too.

XelaM · 04/06/2023 09:11

xoomer · 04/06/2023 09:09

Did you read the post?

Would you let your daughter stay at someone's house alone for 10 days?

Cook for herself every day?

Be responsible for pets and a house?

Show quote history

If she were 15, getting paid for it and wanted to do it - yes. Presumably the OP doesn't live in a war zone with no phone signal.

Dibbydoos · 04/06/2023 09:14

I wouldn't have a 15yo stay over at my house alone for 1 night let alone 10.

The question you should be asking is have I found the right person, not how much should I pay....

Sisisimone · 04/06/2023 09:14

XelaM · 04/06/2023 09:07

So on another thread the vast majority of posters were trying to convince OP that it's totally normal for a 15-year-old to drink alcohol and fantasise about or have kinky sex, but on this thread everyone is saying that a 15-year-old can't stay home alone?!? 😂 So not too young for kinky sex and alcohol but too young to stay home and feed a cat? Totally bonkers.

I don't know what teens Mumsnetters have, but the ones I know are all normal and wouldn't have wild sex parties in someone else's house and would be very capable to stay home and feed a cat.

Well thats the whole point isnt it Yes 15 Yr olds experiment with alcohol. One of the reasons I wouldn't want an unsupervised 15 Yr old in my house for 10 days as they will have all their mates round and likely be all drinking together and it could get out of hand. I don't want my house trashed or for another teen to get into a bad situation under my roof

Yes teens fantasise. Of course we all know that's totally normal. No idea why you would bring that up as it has no relevance to the situation

Original poster

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.

OP posts:

Thelastofbus · 04/06/2023 09:22

I’m adding my voice to the ‘15 is quite young to be alone for 10 days’ group. I’d worry less that they would have wild parties, and more that they would get bored/hungry/lonely/freaked out being by them selves every night, and would want to go home after 5 days.

But if this is what is happening, the I think £20 a night is a fair price. But if there are extra responsibilities, like taking care of the garden, then I think more money is due.

Bonding · 04/06/2023 09:24

I would be happy for a 15 year old to feed the cat and go in a couple of times a day but there is no way I would have them sleeping overnight and it’s not because of them having parties. If their family is 5 mins away why are they not just popping round.

CoffeeBean5 · 04/06/2023 09:24

@Silverbook 15-16 year old is too young to play house for 10 days. They will probably bring friends over which may lead to underage drinking and sex. There’s also the risk of causing a kitchen fire, bathroom flooding or breaking something. Or they could get hurt and no one will know.

I think you should offer them £10-15 a day to feed and play with your cat for an hour. Their parents should be aware of the time their child arrives and leaves your house so there isn’t any worry of them inviting friends over.

TheOldLadyOfThreadneedleStreet · 04/06/2023 09:26

15 is too young.

Sisisimone · 04/06/2023 09:27

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.

Why not just pay them to come in and feed the cats? It seems very young to live alone for 10 days. Also you never really know what teens are getting up to. My mum still doesn't know to this day and I would have been considered one of the mature/responsible ones!

XelaM · 04/06/2023 09:27

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.

OP - I'm totally with you and the teens I know are similarly sensible. The whole "teen will invite all their mates and trash the house" I have only seen in movies. The teens I know are normal and responsible kids who don't have wild parties in people's homes.

Batalax · 04/06/2023 09:27

£20 sounds about right but have they ever stayed alone before?Their vision in their head might not match the reality if it. What’s the back up plan? Is several daily visits ok?

Theunamedcat · 04/06/2023 09:28

Just get a ring doorbell to monitor things I'm sure it will be fine

Motnight · 04/06/2023 09:28

I would get a professional cat sitter to visit twice a day.

UndercoverCop · 04/06/2023 09:29

Why does anyone have to stay overnight? Pay her £10 to pop in and feed the cat, play with it a bit and make sure it has fresh water.

MyAnacondaMight · 04/06/2023 09:30

This has “bad idea” written all over it. But yeah, £20/night sounds about right.

If you are set on it, I would insist that the role is just to arrive late evening, feed the cats, sleep over, feed the cats and then leave again. Gives the cats company overnight, but makes clear that your house isn’t for cooking and entertaining in. That should reduce the party and kitchen fire risks, and just leaves you with doors left open/unlocked and perhaps a tap left running in the bathroom.

Make sure you have cameras at the doors as a minimum.

lifestylevlog · 04/06/2023 09:32

Goodness.

Sorry but no way would I leave a 15 year old in my house.

They may be sensible but they only need to mention it to friends, and then before you know it a houseful of teenagers turn up!

Floralys2 · 04/06/2023 09:33

Why not just use a professional

Having a child go round to your house sounds like a recipe for disaster

anotherside · 04/06/2023 09:33

There’s no real answer. Obviously it’s not work in terms of number of hours, but rather the responsibility. Few adult house sitters would do it for less the less than say £30 a day UNLESS they wanted to stay in that house/area for a holiday, in which case the might not charge at all. If it’s just feeding the cat why does he need to stay in the house overnight?