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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:
Original poster
Silverbook · 04/06/2023 11:47

User63847484848 · 04/06/2023 11:40

My 15yo is super sensible but wouldn’t want to sleep somewhere alone at night

Presumably your child has offered themselves as a house sitter to your friend though which makes a big difference. This teen and their family. Have offered. They can walk home in less than 5 mins any time they want. I’m happy with the arrangement, just looking for guidance on price.

OP posts:
EmeraldFox · 04/06/2023 11:47

DS would have happily done this at 15 for £20 a day. They could go home for dinner, I assume you have WiFi? It's not being left alone for 10 days. DS wouldn't have had parties either, he's had sleepovers at 16 when I've been away and the house is tidy when I've returned, some teens just talk and game.

Original poster
Silverbook · 04/06/2023 11:51

EmeraldFox · 04/06/2023 11:47

DS would have happily done this at 15 for £20 a day. They could go home for dinner, I assume you have WiFi? It's not being left alone for 10 days. DS wouldn't have had parties either, he's had sleepovers at 16 when I've been away and the house is tidy when I've returned, some teens just talk and game.

yes to WiFi!

Some of these posters (not you @EmeraldFox ) must think I’m inviting a vulnerable child into an unknown war zone.
Its a fully furnished, well equipped house 5 mins from their own home where they can come and go as they please.

OP posts:
Sisisimone · 04/06/2023 12:07

I think people just don't understand why he has to stay in your house or why you wouldn't pay a fully insured responsible adult/cattery the same amount to take care of your pets. If you're happy with it though just crack on.
I don't think there's many people that would do this though.

CoffeeBean5 · 04/06/2023 12:11

@Silverbook aren't you concerned that they will bring friends over for underage drinking and sex? What if they have an accident and no one knows? You say they’re responsible but I remember girls at school who acted like butter wouldn’t melt in front of their strict parents but they lied about what they were up to (I was open with my parents about drinking with friends and who I was staying with).

Just pay them £10-15 a day to nip into your house to feed and play with your cat for an hour. No need for them to stay all day and overnight.

Sisisimone · 04/06/2023 12:13

OP are you going to answer why they have stay in your house rather than just feed the cats?

KarmaStar · 04/06/2023 12:17

Never mind the money!there is no way I would leave a fifteen year old alone in my home.
Not old enough for responsibility.
Open to other teens coming round doing all sorts
non driver in case cat needs get
Not old enough to deal with any house hold emergencies
other teens will turn up,even one o r two,will be making your home theirs.
whether it not you'll drop feed that parents are next door and all long term friends,at 15 they are a child.
Pay for an experienced and insured professional.

MrsSkylerWhite · 04/06/2023 12:17

Far too much responsibility for a 15 year old. Pay for a professional or use a relative/kennels.

KarmaStar · 04/06/2023 12:18

Vet

Original poster
Silverbook · 04/06/2023 12:19

They don’t HAVE to stay. Their parents suggested it as the teen is looking for extra income over the summer.

I trust the teen and their family implicitly. I have absolutely no concerns about drinking, parties etc.

OP posts:
Original poster
Silverbook · 04/06/2023 12:20

KarmaStar · 04/06/2023 12:18

Vet

Ask my vet? That’s the most barking mad suggestion yet.

OP posts:
XelaM · 04/06/2023 12:22

OP - £20 a day for what sounds like minimal work is perfect. My daughter earns that mucking out stables (so much harder job).

Sisisimone · 04/06/2023 12:23

What benefit is it to you though to have a 15 year old living in your house instead of just popping in to feed the cats? Sounds like they think you are a bit of an easy touch. I wouldnt trust my animals or my house with a young teen and when we go on holiday we factor in the cost of appropriate care for them.

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 04/06/2023 12:25

My main concern would be insurance - would you be covered if something happened and they found out you'd let a 15yo stay in your home unattended while you went out of the country?

At least a professional would be insured and have liability insurance in case of an emergency.

Turquoisesea · 04/06/2023 12:26

I have a 15 year old DD and there is no way I would leave her home alone as she would definitely invite friends over, flood the bathroom when she showered, leave wet towels all over the place and eat all the food in the house but wouldn’t think of tidying up / washing up. I know not all teenagers are like my DD but even so it’s a big responsibility for 10 days staying in someone else’s house. It’s absolutely fine to pop over a couple of times a day, feed the cats, watch a bit of tv etc but I think staying over at that age is too much. 15 year olds are still very much children, even if they are sensible.

EmeraldFox · 04/06/2023 12:26

Assuming the benefit is that these are sociable cats? My cats like having people around, and they are popular when DS has had friends over. Ten days is a long time for some cats with someone only visiting to feed them.

Turquoisesea · 04/06/2023 12:27

If they want to earn the money just pay them 20 a day to come in twice a day but not stay over.

Maireas · 04/06/2023 12:33

The parents of the teen want them to stay over.
Interesting.....

electriclight · 04/06/2023 12:34

I'd be asking them to pop in twice a day and paying less than £20 per day.

They can care for pets, water plants, pick up post, but bins out etc in two half hour visits.

But if you've got plenty of money and are basically doing it as charity for a friend's kid, then £20 to stay overnight is probably about right but I'd feel obliged to buy food too, and prepare for a pricey energy bill if they have several long showers like mine!

nutbrownhare15 · 04/06/2023 12:40

I'm.not sure why you prefer someone there. Is it to deter burglars? If so I don't think it's ok to ask a 15 year old to do this. What if a burglar did break in? I really don't understand why you can't pay her £20 a day to feed the cat twice a day and maybe open and close curtains, put lights on and off etc.

Tighginn · 04/06/2023 12:41

Does your home insurance cover this scenario? 😂

midsomermurderess · 04/06/2023 12:45

Typical Mumsnet replies, hardly any to the question asked. Off they scatter to all possible points, like bewildered sheep stuck in a gate: why do they have to stay; would they have a party; I wouldn’t leave my 15-year old. Just wanting for ‘what’s a cat?’ God bloody help us. Who are there people?

Tina221 · 04/06/2023 12:48

£20 sounds about right.

Fruitjellies · 04/06/2023 12:52

Bizarre everyone saying 15 is too young. They could be days away from 16 and legally able to live on their own. Why does MN infantilise teens?

When I was 15 I looked after a house full of several dogs, cats and horses for a week. No problem. And yes I had a 'party' with permission of the householder.

£15-20 is not enough for that time though. I'd be looking more like £70+

Fleetheart · 04/06/2023 12:54

love the way everyone misses the point and gets obsessed with the age of the teen etc. why don’t people realise that OP is obviously perfectly capable of assessing this herself?