Stressed about tradesmen in house

[Moonsun21]

We're having a kitchen and bathroom refit. Will take approx 3 weeks. We don't have another bathroom or toilet to use. Everytime I think about it I feel so anxious. I feel like booking into a hotel for at least the first few days to get away from it, but also feel like I need to be around. Do other people trust tradesmen with keys to their house?

cameras in each room. Having been burgled 3 times by workers in the house I don’t trust anyone now

Why haven’t you spoken to your installer and found out what the plan is. You’re acting like a passive recipient when in fact you are the customer and in charge.

DH does a lot of second home renovations where owners aren’t there. He’ll usually take photos at the end of each day/couple of days to update the client but he generally prefers it if they aren’t there. As long as you are happy and trust your builder, there shouldn’t be any issues leaving them with keys.

Even though I’m married to one, I also hate having tradesmen in the house. Definitely go to a hotel if you can afford it.

I have undiagnosed bowel issues so they probably wouldnt fund it if this were me so i would probably have to shit in a bucket then leave it outside with a big placard explaining why having to shit like this

why is MN so incredibly weird and obsessed with tradespeople using toilets?? what do they actually think is going to happen?

I think they will reconnect the toilet at the end of each day. But thinking how I am going to manage in the daytime without being able to use the toilet, and not having a shower in use for at least several days. Was just thinking about staying at a hotel, or did people consider that a bit unnecessary. The bathroom will be done first. Then the kitchen.

Also not too keen on leaving the house, and the key with the builders.

I got an Airbnb and left them the keys and just went back at night to give it a once over. Communicated with them by text.

You're the second person who cannot read on this thread.

that wasn't really in response to the OP but lots of the other posters and previous posts where people are apoplectic at the thought of their bathrooms being used/briefly out of use because of tradies

Yes, think this might be the best option.

If you don't trust them don't have them. Find others.

When we had our (only) bathroom done the fitters made sure the toilet was out of action for the shortest amount of time possible and always had it useable overnight. There was always a water source available as well so we could have a stand up strip wash with a flannel each evening. We did all go to various friends/relatives for a proper wash at least once but the strip wash kept on top of things.

I did a couple of times pop 2 mins up the road to use the public toilet near us to avoid interrupting them but that was more because there were a few hiccups and I didn’t want to delay them from finishing - they would have vacated the bathroom if I asked.

Hire a porta loo and shower at a gym buy a months membership

When I had a bathroom replaced (single bathroom house) I often left the guy on his own in the house.
I camped at my local Starbucks a few times with a book, staff told me I was welcome to use the loo any time. Showered at leisure centre (I'm a member).

The guy put the new toilet in the same day he took the old one out. He would clear off for lunch every day so that was a nice break.

Dp is a Tradesman, its very very common for them to be left keys to do the work when people are on holiday etc. If it makes you more comfortable to book a hotel then do that, it'd probably be a good idea if you don't have a bathroom anyway.

If you can afford it, absolutely get an AirBnB or a hotel for a few days and let them get on with it. You've mentioned you get nervous about having people in the house, but surely they will be in your house whether you're there or not.

What is it that you're worried about them doing when you're not there?

Not really worried about what they might be doing, just worried about leaving the keys and security of our house in the hands of strangers.

@Julimia how do you trust anyone if you dont actually know them? We got quotes from several different people, but how would you decide which one was more trustworthy?

My friend who lives in social housing has just had his kitchen done But hes in a flat and they were in and out in and out of other flats at the same time A key could easily get lost in that scenario or end up in the hands of the local druggie so its not always the solution

Dont know who wrote that but it certainly wasn't me.

@Moonsun21 but if you're not worried about what they might be doing in your house, what is the fear about them having a key and being in your house?

I'm not really sure I'm understanding this. Do you mean you had work done and you couldn't allow the workers access to the toilet?
What about when you have visitors?

I was replying to this @Julimia

Worry if we leave them with a key that they don't actually lock up properly, leave windows open etc.
But the anxiety of them being in the house is more of a general anxiety really of creating mess, noise, having no access to the only bathroom from about 7.45 am for the rest of the day, having no shower for approx a week etc. I have social anxiety so just having other people in the house is bad enough.

Why would you think legitimate builders would rob your home? They rely on word of mouth mostly, they are not going to lose their trade for the sake of a few bits of your jewellery. Yes I know there is a chance that they take on a dodgy employee but that's a minimal risk, no more than the likelihood of your colleague rummaging through your handbag when you go into a meeting.

The builders need to use a toilet during the working day. Surely first thing you do is ask what's the plan re daytime toilet access instead of worrying about it and asking strangers. Sorry to sound harsh but i cannot fathom the fuss about this. Either you stay and have the same toilet arrangement as the builders or leave them to it. Simple. It seems you are determined to find a problem either way