To ask this about housesitting etiquette

[libertybonds]

We are looking after a variety of plants and animals for friends of friends while staying in their (very nice) property.

They have asked us to contribute to the cleaner, which is £100/week

They would probably have the cleaner come anyway as they want to maintain the relationship. But it's true that the cleaner will be tidying up the house while we are there creating a normal level of dirtiness from showering, kitchen use, etc.

Would you contribute? How much?

What we said when ambushed was that we would pay for the cleaner to come while we are there. It was presented as a question like, would you enjoy the benefit of the cleaner?

We are now being asked ex post facto to give the house owners money for the cleaner for the day after we go.

So we didn't actually agree this, but I take the point that we may have no choice if we want to keep the peace.

Just tell them to deduct from your house and pet sitting fee. Pretty sure they’ll quickly drop it.

I'm just trying to understand clearly, did they have you turn up to house-sit and only then ask you to pay for the cleaner? If so, I would just say that was not the arrangement, so as a goodwill gesture you will pay the cleaner on their next arrival and immediately vacate the house. They can arrange replacement house-sitters but you would advise them to make any charges clear in advance as usually it is the other way round where house-sitters are paid for their services.

You'll be there with a bad taste in your mouth. And if it doesn't all go perfectly it will only get more awkward.
I'd quit while I was ahead if i was you.

Oh you should of said no we've got it under control! And then just payed for a final leaving clean.

Why would you want to keep the peace? Presumably the friend who introduced you knows that you don’t live in a midden and won’t have left this house in a state? It she wouldn’t also be horrified at her friends’ cheek, then shame on her.

Obviously these house owners think it’s a big honour for you to be allowed to step away from your own lives and stay in their house. I think it’s time they were disabused of this notion.🤣

@BowlOfNoodles - why should OP be paying for any form of clean?

We are already here

They didn't ask about the cleaner till we already committed to the housesitting

I think it’s fine if basically you are getting an almost free holiday and they are getting per care. Depends if it’s something that is giving you benefit really? But I wouldn’t ask for anything in their shoes. But I would pay in yours.

Because they've stayed there as a mutual favour
You feed the animals/plants and you get a free holiday. These people employ cleaners so quite possibly think most people don't wanna get their hands dirty. This is where assertiveness comes in ah thank you but honestly cancel the cleaner we've got everything under control we've pooped some fresh milk in the fridge for your arrival thank you card on the counter adios.

Maybe just say “nice idea but we’d prefer to just clean ourselves since we’re doing this to help you we haven’t budgeted for a cleaner”

This is easy to fix, send them an invoice for pet sitting fees for the same amount as the cleaner's fees.

When/if they respond just say it's easier not to exchange money as both invoices cancel each other out.

Good luck and don't pet sit or do any favour for them ever again. They're cheeky fucker users.

Absolutely not, tell them to deduct it from your house/pet sitting fee! What utter CFs!

They're not there for a holiday! They shouldn't be paying a bean.

This still isn't clear. Had you arrived to house-sit? If you only "committed", i.e. said you would do it, but they changed the terms then just say "The unexpected extra costs to do you a favour doesn't work for us, so we'll cancel the arrangement and let you find someone it suits."

Clearly the owners aren't bothered about keeping the peace, so why would you? They know exactly what they're doing.

Don't be a doormat. As suggested by others, say you'll substract it from your pet & house-sitting fee.

Find out market prices. Most petsitters charge at least £40 for 1 night, with additional costs for anything more than breakfast/dinner e.g. walks. You said it's hard work, do they have more difficult pets like dogs & horses?

Just say asking to pay for the cleaners makes you feel unhappy so you are leaving to go home today. Ask what they want done with the keys so someone can come feed the pets.

I bet they will change their mind about you having to pay

Can't you ask them to deduct it from what they were going to pay you?And yes they should offer to pay you. You've not been on holiday in their home, you've been working. You've saved them a huge amount of money and stress.

Either way, I wouldn't pay for that final clean.

We are now being asked ex post facto to give the house owners money for the cleaner for the day after we go.

As I said, this isn't 'unreasonable' in the context of your agreement to pay for the cleaner for the duration of your stay if the timing is such that this visit will be cleaning a week's worth of your use of the house.

If the cleaner comes on say Friday, you leave Saturday, and they want you to pay for the cleaner again on Sunday you'd have good reason to say bollocks to that politely decline.

If however the cleaner comes on Monday, you leave the following Sunday and she's in on Monday again it makes you look a bit unreasonable when she's doing a week's worth of housework you've 'created'.

I'm sure you're no messier than the average person OP. It's not a judgement on you. As a PP said, you expect any accommodation to be properly cleaned after previous guests, whether they are clean and tidy or not. It is their home and they no doubt want to return to it in spotless condition.

I absolutely think they are tight cheeky fuckers but you've got yourself into a hole and I don't think there's a way of getting out of it now without coming out looking like the unreasonable ones and having to navigate a drama which may damage your relationship with your intermediate friends.

No, we hadn't arrived yet. We had come by to see the house and learn about the many responsibilities.

Definitely don't pay after you've left. They are really cheeky. Doesn't mean you have to do their bidding. You've probably saved them £1000s

this

Fine. You aren't even there yet, so just say on reflection it won't work.

we are here now

The request to pay after we leave was sneaked into a communication just a day or two before we got here.