To not want guests staying again

[Sunandsurf]

We live in a very popular seaside town and have a self-contained annexe. We use it as a WFH space when not in the office and it's useful for close family to stay in. This year we've had two different sets of guests come to stay and both times they've stayed much longer than I expected (a month and two weeks). The last guest didn't even leave a bottle of wine/chocs to say thanks. Nothing. I'm expecting another request to stay soon and I just don't want to do it any more. Am I being a grump?

Cancel all the guests you don’t want to stay. Just say that it’s your office and you need the space for work. Give them the names of local hotels.

Only accept your nearest and dearest.

Everyone else : sorry, we’re needing it as a f/t office space so not really taking guests any more.

So rude in these days of sky high energy bills to use your electricity and hot water for weeks and not make a contribution.

Say no, as it’s not working for you.

Just as my mum said to me, I tell my kids that they need to be ‘good’ guests ie be someone people want to have around/ to stay and that you have to make an effort, as your host certainly will.

I ended a 20 year friendship. Not even a bunch of daffs for £1, whilst I had fed her/ driven her and the kids around/ paid entry to places etc. For about the third time. I felt like a complete mug when I realised.

save your energy for the people who actually add to your life, not those who make it harder.

You need it for work

Its your place, YOU set the rules and terms.

I'd say cost of living crisis means we're renting the space out now.
It's £500/week payable in advance (I've given you mates rates)
Let me know your dates so I can see if it's free then.

Just say that you're renting it out commercially, even if you're not, or that you're planning to and getting it refurbished.

followed by "and did you know, we'll be making £££ a week" 😁

If it were me, I’d need to agree length of stay before they even arrive. TBH I’d have thought that would be a given in your circumstances.

Just say NO.

Don't give them excuses that they can argue against.

No is a complete sentence...

Say you have started using it as an Airbnb and it's fully booked.

Is it possible to add it to airbnb then block out all the dates for like 3 years! Incase they look for it on there!

Or go with the rent it out line for whatever money. You won't hear from them again!

You'll only need to say no once.

Then they'll drop you like a hot potato knowing there's no chance of a free holiday anymore and you won't hear from them again.

You sound lovely OP but your kindness has let people walk all over you. You don't need excuses - just say you are not having any guests. No need to justify yourself and if they ask them tell the truth - people were using you as a free holiday.

Just say no as you are sick of hosting. That is all the reason you need!

A month? That’s ridiculous. Just say you can’t let guests use the annex anymore as you need or more for home working

Either say you're working more from home now so need the space,or if they ask again,mail them a price list Inc water, electric,rent etc and I bet you won't see them again. Some people really do take the pee 😞

Just say you’ve decided to keep it for your own use.

It’s your home. You’re not landlords or hoteliers, you (presumably) don’t want to run a hospitality service. IME cheap holidays for other people mean a whole lot of expense and hassle for the host. A bottle of wine at the end of their stay doesn’t cut it.

And they know we only use it for work. Another friend used to use it regularly and pretty much dropped me when she no longer needed it. It's the hassle of making sure it's presentable in the middle of really busy work weeks too. Laundry, cleaning it, making up the bed and stripping it

You can just say it's not convenient and you have a lot of work on, and this space is also your office, so No, you can't accommodate them.

These people are not your friends. Gosh, I take flowers & at least 2 bottles of wine any time I stay at friends of family, even if just for one night!

No! Your guests have taken shocking advantage.
Don't invite them back.

Sorry if someone already suggested this, but say with the cost of living crisis you’re going to have to charge [however much] a day to cover energy costs. I let out my annexe long-term to a great fella who minds how much energy he uses, but the people there before him spent £80 a week on electricity! And that was BEFORE the out-of-control prices!

a few more days is basically them saying hey what we spending on gas and electric in our own house keeps us in spending money down here by the sea, no brainer for them! no wonder they keep extending.
totally taking the piss on your good nature and can't even give u a small token of thanks is rude as fk, u really have to tell folk now that the annex is off limits and just be honest and say it's used for work more now and we need access to it every day so sorry it's now out of bounds. really some folk just spoil a good thing for a bit of greed

Ugh I feel your pain. A month is a complete piss take. We've got a similar setup and have learned over many many years: 1) no more than three nights, and 2) do not let people come the same dates in any holiday two years in a row, even if you absolutely love and adore them and they are the best guests in the world. If you do, by year 3 they will just write to you to inform you they'll be staying on "their" weekend and you become the bad guy if it doesn't work for you and you have to say no, and you risk falling out. ("But we always come third week of July...")

I can't believe your post. WTF? Cheeky fuckers.
Seriously just say no I'm not having guests to stay any longer. We need the space for ourselves.
I rent out accommodation and once you're in the swing of things it's a great income .
I find it hard to have guests in my personal space as I'm not used to it a misetable anti social person.

"Oh gosh no, we got fed up of being used by people so we are using it full time as an office now.