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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Houseguest who won't leave

293 replies

MadzG1471 · 22/06/2024 15:41

I am getting quite annoyed with a houseguest who just won't leave. This is a friend from America, who was planning to be in the UK for a few weeks this summer. I offered him a room at my partner's and my home. We initially spoke – in admittedly quite vague terms – about him staying for two weeks at the beginning of June, after which he was going off on European trips with his girlfriend. It sounded very much like I was going to see a fair bit of them but they wouldn't be here all the time.
However, while he was staying with us, his girlfriend broke up with him and their summer plans fell through. It's now been over three weeks. Although he doesn't expect to be fed and watered, and is self-sufficient, he often mooches around the house and has shown no sign of leaving. He has started doing his laundry in the washing machine. Today I asked when he was planning to go and he said that he felt guilty for imposing on us but mentioned that his summer plans were up in the air because of the break-up and didn't offer a specific date. I feel too awkward to ask him again. He is a writer whose work can be done anywhere, so I worry that this is turning into an open-ended thing and we now have not a guest but a lodger we didn't ask for.
I am trying to be as nice as I can and feel guilty turfing out a friend who is very unhappy about this break-up. He is obviously heartbroken and depressed. But I am getting increasingly vexed with his presence and that he hasn't offered to help in other ways, e.g. with chores, buying groceries etc. He didn't bring a thank-you gift which I was surprised by. There was also a couple of days where he asked if a friend could stay over, who we put in the guest-room. Again, I feel like I didn't sign up for this! There is talk of further visitors in the middle of next month (!) It's all so hideously awkward.
AIBU, and how on earth do I get him to leave without being mean? (And also creating bad blood with a friend who I do like, in spite of my increasing passive-aggression towards him.)

OP posts:
PaulineMccormack · 30/06/2024 12:28

Exactly 💯

Dinkydo12 · 30/06/2024 15:23

Happened to me. You can be too kind and considerate. Best to say you need the spare room for family who are visiting. Find a hostel or cheap B& B and send him on his way.

ScarlettWebb · 01/07/2024 07:33

Oh dear! I fear that as a writer who can work / live anywhere, it’s suspicious that he doesn’t already have a base. Think about the initial conversation, did he suggest that he stay with you rather than be invited? I wonder if he engineers this ‘staying with friends’ in order to gain free lodgings..
For sure, his not buying food shopping / helping with chores / contributing financially and especially inviting a friend are all red flags.
I feel that he has perhaps manipulated the entire situation and at this point wonder if the heartbreak is not just another way to prolong the situation, true or not.
I would not be inclined to say relatives / other friends are coming to stay as he has already laid down the invitation to come back next month I feel he will just re invite himself afterwards.
I feel that you do not feel comfortable with confrontation but he is not a true friend in need, he is I am sure a grifter who is taking advantage of your kindness and needs to know now that he has burnt that bridge lest you may have a long term problem that escalates.
Invite a relative, friend or recruit your husband, have a stiff drink and tell him straight you now need your house back. Wish him well with his future and do not be tempted to allow him back. Don’t allow any more excuses, he is taking advantage of you and feigning a friendship to suit himself. He will no doubt have a back up plan as he is intelligent and self serving. Offer to drive him to the nearest station!

Would be my advise.

Ilikeadrink14 · 01/07/2024 09:54

For gods sake…..he’s long gone!! Why are people still offering advice about this? I give up!

Shittification · 01/07/2024 10:30

@ScarlettWebb

He. Has. Gone.

6 days ago

Lampzade · 01/07/2024 11:48

You have to tell him to leave
When dh and I were first married his childhood friend ( who lived in Spain) asked to stay with us for two weeks as he had a job as a chef in London and accommodation was going to be provided.
He told dh that his wife and four kids were going to remain in Spain until he had settled.
Anyway he came over and after four weeks he hadn’t made any mention of leaving.
In addition, he only attended work sporadically.
One day I overheard him speaking to his wife on the phone in Spanish( dh is from Spain and I am English). He told his wife that there was enough room for herself and the kids to come.
He even had the nerve to start allocating the rooms .
when dh got home I simply told dh that his friend had to be out of our house in two days or I would leave . I didn’t want friend’s wife and kids to come and stay because I wouldn’t be able to turf the kids out .
Dh simply told him that he had to leave as we had only just got married and needed space
So called friend left the very next day but spread nasty lies about me. One of them being that I was cheating on dh.
We do not see this man anymore
Sometimes , one just had to be blunt

Lampzade · 01/07/2024 11:58

Susu54 · 30/06/2024 09:42

Well blame notifications from Mumsnet! I got notified yesterday of this post...hence why I replied. So get off your high horse & don't be so rude!!

I agree
I only just received the notification too.
Some posters get a kick out of being rude.

Shittification · 01/07/2024 13:17

It's not rude.

There is a date at the top of the thread and there is the option to just look at the OPs updates (plus several other comments making it clear that the situation has been resolved).

Not our fault if you need to be notified about which threads to read and have no interest in reading anything other than the (days old) opening post.

Ilikeadrink14 · 01/07/2024 14:36

Lampzade · 01/07/2024 11:48

You have to tell him to leave
When dh and I were first married his childhood friend ( who lived in Spain) asked to stay with us for two weeks as he had a job as a chef in London and accommodation was going to be provided.
He told dh that his wife and four kids were going to remain in Spain until he had settled.
Anyway he came over and after four weeks he hadn’t made any mention of leaving.
In addition, he only attended work sporadically.
One day I overheard him speaking to his wife on the phone in Spanish( dh is from Spain and I am English). He told his wife that there was enough room for herself and the kids to come.
He even had the nerve to start allocating the rooms .
when dh got home I simply told dh that his friend had to be out of our house in two days or I would leave . I didn’t want friend’s wife and kids to come and stay because I wouldn’t be able to turf the kids out .
Dh simply told him that he had to leave as we had only just got married and needed space
So called friend left the very next day but spread nasty lies about me. One of them being that I was cheating on dh.
We do not see this man anymore
Sometimes , one just had to be blunt

HE HAS GONE. Ages ago!

womanlywimmin · 01/07/2024 15:44

Rcgc · 29/06/2024 23:34

This kind of situation gets my goat. Considering I have been that guy, offered a place to stay when traveling. Stayed longer than expected due to events outside of my control. Heard the offers of stay as long as you need and then felt the pain of passive aggressive behaviour. If you didn’t want him to have a friend stay, why did you say he could. When he suggested other friends staying why didn’t you object? Why are you lying to him? Why are you acting like it’s ok when it’s not? Why does he have to read between the lines? Most likely he would not take offence he may well be oblivious to the issue, as it’s been a week longer than mentioned and you seem chill with it. If he does take offence then that’s a him problem. Speak your mind. Be kind no need to be rude unless you get push back.

Although it's been sorted now - see OP's update - I agree about people saying things and not meaning them. I'm going to annoy some people here by saying this but it seems to - mainly, though not entirely - be a thing with Southerners. They're just not direct and rarely make their true feelings known. If you don't mean "as long as you'd like", don't say "as long as you'd like". Say "a few days" or "until [ insert date ]".

Sweetenuf · 01/07/2024 16:03

womanlywimmin · 01/07/2024 15:44

Although it's been sorted now - see OP's update - I agree about people saying things and not meaning them. I'm going to annoy some people here by saying this but it seems to - mainly, though not entirely - be a thing with Southerners. They're just not direct and rarely make their true feelings known. If you don't mean "as long as you'd like", don't say "as long as you'd like". Say "a few days" or "until [ insert date ]".

I agree , and as someone who is ND it feels particularly tasking to try and read between the lines and figure out what people really mean.

I was invited to stay at a friends house once over Christmas when I was going to be alone otherwise, and I was very careful to get arrivals and departure dates confirmed 🤭 It was so kind of them and they’re absolutely lovely, but just in case I wanted to make sure I wasn’t later discussed for having over stayed my welcome.

While I’d say certain regions and cultures are less direct, and more guilty of this I’ve actually experienced or witnessed this behaviour from people from all cultures in the past, including my mums family in her home country which is known for being relatively direct compared to most western countries.

Lampzade · 01/07/2024 19:35

Ilikeadrink14 · 01/07/2024 14:36

HE HAS GONE. Ages ago!

Calm down ffs

Ilikeadrink14 · 02/07/2024 16:04

Lampzade · 01/07/2024 19:35

Calm down ffs

Excuse me!!

Ilikeadrink14 · 28/04/2025 19:03

Susu54 · 30/06/2024 09:42

Well blame notifications from Mumsnet! I got notified yesterday of this post...hence why I replied. So get off your high horse & don't be so rude!!

I’’m being rude? And you’re not! Give me strength. That’s the trouble with MN, there are always some people who think they can say ‘don’t be rude’ when they are very rude themselves! Please just pick on someone else. You are wasted on me!

POTC · 28/04/2025 19:12

Ilikeadrink14 · 28/04/2025 19:03

I’’m being rude? And you’re not! Give me strength. That’s the trouble with MN, there are always some people who think they can say ‘don’t be rude’ when they are very rude themselves! Please just pick on someone else. You are wasted on me!

You're being a bit of an idiot now tbf, coming back 10 months later to have a go at someone

loropianalover · 28/04/2025 20:14

POTC · 28/04/2025 19:12

You're being a bit of an idiot now tbf, coming back 10 months later to have a go at someone

‘Like a drink’ indeed 🤣

ThisIsMyYearToFindMyself · 28/04/2025 21:23

POTC · 28/04/2025 19:12

You're being a bit of an idiot now tbf, coming back 10 months later to have a go at someone

I searched the name, thinking this is maybe the first time she’s been back here since July but no, she’s posted hundreds of times in-between!

YerArseInParsley · 08/05/2025 21:31

I won't tag anyone but it tickles me when people rage about old posts being revived 🤣

Welcome back to the chat!🤣

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