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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:
Putyoursunscreenon · 22/06/2024 17:14

He asked you if a friend could stay over and you said yes Confused?

You can be too polite and agreeable you know! Just say "no - and piss off while you're at it" 😂).

Steakandwine · 22/06/2024 17:16

He's taking the piss inviting friends over. You definitely have to tell him he needs to move out. I know you feel uneasy but it will only get worse. Remember it's your home after all!

Caroparo52 · 22/06/2024 17:16

I know that your summer plans have changed since we originally spoke about this trip and you staying 2 weeks. Its now 3 and we definitely think it's time for you to move out.. by this weekend. Sorry about the girlfriend etc

Gillypie23 · 22/06/2024 17:17

Be honest but kind when you tell him. Say no to any guests. Give him a date to be gone by.

TheFunSponge · 22/06/2024 17:24

You're more polite than I would be! I would tell him that he is welcome for another 3-4 days at most and to find suitable accommodation elsewhere. I'd also say that as your home is also that of your partner, it is unfair of him to invite guests to your home. He's taking the pee..

Shinyandnew1 · 22/06/2024 17:24

There is talk of further visitors in the middle of next month

That’s just bloody cheeky! You’ve got to say something.

It’s very sad his relationship has broken down but he either needs to go and tour Europe as planned, or go home! You’re not running a doss house for people wanting to stay for free.

Meetingofminds · 22/06/2024 17:24

He is taking full advantage of your generosity! Tell him after the weekend his stay will come to an end.

extrasushiplease · 22/06/2024 17:25

Wile he absolutely should have had the grace to leave already (not to mention bring a host gift/help out), he doesn't, and while it's completely unfair, the ball is now in your court to tell him he needs to be out by _. The only reason he hasn't moved on is because you haven't asked him and it's probably a nice situation for him in a rough time. You've already gone above and beyond as friends, so be kind but firm and let him know that his expiry date is well past.

Needanewname42 · 22/06/2024 17:29

I think you need to be somewhere near honest.
I'd say - you mentioned having friends over - sorry we are not keen to have extra people here.

Surely he must realise it'd not nice to out stay your welcome

Thursdaygirl · 22/06/2024 17:29

Definitely needs nipping in the bud, OP

Meetingofminds · 22/06/2024 17:30

‘ I have loved seeing you dear xx, but we can’t accommodate beyond Monday, but it’s been lovely to have you for an extended stay. Do you need a hand planning your next Euro leg’

CaliMZ · 22/06/2024 17:30

I would just say, we agreed you could say until this date. It is not longer convenient for you to stay as we are beyond that date. You will need to leave by X date.

RosaMoline · 22/06/2024 17:33

I voted YABU because you are unreasonable for putting up with this!

maudelovesharold · 22/06/2024 17:34

Can’t you just tell him that you hadn’t anticipated him staying any longer than a month, and although you’ve loved having him, you and your partner are going to be needing the spare rooms over the summer from (insert date of your choice) to host various other friends and relatives? Invite people (who you know will leave) and make it happen, if you don’t want to lie.

MrsPositivity1 · 22/06/2024 17:37

You need to give him a firm date to leave or that leaves it too open

VJBR · 22/06/2024 17:37

Can’t you arrange for some family to come and stay so he needs to vacate the room. It’s a bit of a cheek. Like having a lodger who isn’t paying rent.

AppleStruddle123 · 22/06/2024 17:39

He might go off and stay elsewhere for a night or two while your guests come to stay and then try and return!!

But still it's a good one. I'd say I've just checked my calendar and realised that on Wednesday we've got my parents coming to stay, (or my cousins or inlaws or whatever) and they'll be staying for a week so you'll need to be gone by Wednesday.

If he's a writer he's a bohemian fly by night by the sounds of things and thinks nothing of bumming around at other people's expense. Awful.

PuggyPuggyPuggy · 22/06/2024 17:41

There is talk of further visitors in the middle of next month

You mean, he is talking about inviting multiple extra people into your house, and they are going to rock up 4 weeks after the date he should have left? How did you manage NOT to blurt out "what the fuck, Dave, you're supposed to have been here for 2 weeks in June, not move in permanently, you must be joking!"?

Hopelesslydevoted2Gu · 22/06/2024 17:45

Was the initial loose plan that he and his girlfriend would be going on European trips but both staying with you in between trips? If so if sounds like he has misunderstood what you were offering. Perhaps he thought they would both be staying with you for much of the summer, whereas you envisaged a few days here and there between trips.

I would let him know you need to have a chat this evening, then sit down and have a calm but firm talk about your expectations. He's had a shock with the breakup but he presumably has money he was planning to use for travel, so he can still travel. He may want to bring his return flight forwards if he doesn't want to travel solo all summer. Give him a date to move on by and he needs to decide what to book then go.

MadzG1471 · 22/06/2024 17:46

Putyoursunscreenon · 22/06/2024 17:14

He asked you if a friend could stay over and you said yes Confused?

You can be too polite and agreeable you know! Just say "no - and piss off while you're at it" 😂).

Well, sort of. He has a friend who I know too, who was going to a conference nearby. We're in a rural area and the venue was all booked up, so he asked nicely if she could stay and offered to sort the sheets and stuff. It wasn't dickishly done and it was good to see her. But that's definitely the limit of plus-ones I am willing to accept

OP posts:
pizzaHeart · 22/06/2024 17:48

mbosnz · 22/06/2024 15:45

I'd be upfront with him.

Something along the lines of how sorry I am that his relationship broke up, and his plans went up in smoke, but everyone's lives go on, and unfortunately you need him to be making tracks, so you can get on with yours. It was lovely to see him, sad about the circumstances, but now he needs to make plans for his accommodation and entertainment that do not include you and your home. Can he please plan to be out in two nights time.

This^

whynotwhatknot · 22/06/2024 17:49

arrange guests for next month? hesnot even meant to be therenext month cheeky fuk!

JuneShowers24 · 22/06/2024 17:50

I bet his GF couldn’t get rid of him either and that’s why she waited until he was elsewhere to dump him.

Shinyandnew1 · 22/06/2024 17:53

MadzG1471 · 22/06/2024 17:46

Well, sort of. He has a friend who I know too, who was going to a conference nearby. We're in a rural area and the venue was all booked up, so he asked nicely if she could stay and offered to sort the sheets and stuff. It wasn't dickishly done and it was good to see her. But that's definitely the limit of plus-ones I am willing to accept

So, what did you say when he suggested the other house guests for next month?

Normallynumb · 22/06/2024 17:54

It's actually very rude of him to assume his stay is now open ended
It's unfortunate his relationship broke up and his plans changed, but he's an adult staying in a friends home who planned( but not said outright) for 2 weeks
Your DP is obviously kind and tolerant!
I think I would say " I don't want to upset you, but I pencilled in your stay for a fortnight as we have other guests due, that I don't want to cancel.
When would you be able to leave?
It's more polite than telling him to piss off( many would!)

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