Cleaner invited friends over AIBU

[Nestingbirds]

We have an arrangement with our cleaner that she takes care of our animals when we are away for a few days. She usually stays in the annexe but this time stayed in our house due to refurbishment.

We had an agreement when this started that we would prefer she didn’t have visitors apart from her long term boyfriend. He is away atm. She was totally on board, and said she would feel the same if it was her house.

We pay her really really well, and leave her lots of treats including fresh flowers. She told me she likes the time she has to herself, and all is well.

Only our neighbour texted me to say there are people coming and going from our house and sent me her ring doorbell footage. Not only is she having friends over, she isn’t actually spending time with the animals or cleaning (we pay her separately for both) as the rest of the time she has been out. We never leave our dog all day. Whilst we obviously don’t mind her going out, and want her to be happy, I just feel taken for a ride as she is clearly not there doing either.

I have messaged her to see how she is, hoping she would be honest about her friend coming over and staying for hours in our house, but she has continued to lie to me.

I feel like I can’t trust her now. Wwyd?

I am going to thank her, pay her and line up a replacement asap and let her go. Today my priority will be to get the keys back, and dog walked.
I am not great with confrontations, and prob just make an excuse and not tell her the real reason. No doubt she will guess, she isn’t stupid.

Not saying it's fake just an observation of the similarities.

and tell your neighbour her camera is illegal as it's collecting data beyond her own front door.

I am happy for ndn’s camera to remain where it is, it’s harmless and providing security for them when they are away/at work. It’s not like it’s trained on our bedroom window!

Go through an agency
Get a house sitter
Get your own door cam installed

Is it on bbc or Netflix? There seems to be two that come up.

I am in touch with an agency now, they are calling back.
Not sure about any house sitter after this.
We have ordered our own ring door bell and one for the back. I wish we had done so years ago, but I have always felt they are an invasion of privacy to now, and it’s better to trust people 🤷‍♀️

Offering them to someone you actually know before dumping them at the charity shop would've been better. .

Lol. Unsure how that would work if some of the bungalows near here. Doors are at the side so band opposite each other with a pathway ( not road) separating them

To be fair it would have felt insulting to offer her my clothes, so I never have done this. I think it might be have been nice if she had asked. Maybe she was embarrassed to say anything.
We gave her some lovely outdoor furniture when we moved etc.

It’s only the front garden and the pathway and you can see a very slight corner of stone pillar around my door. It’s not my whole house. If I am outside everyone can see me/us anyway!

For us, having cameras everywhere felt abit much.

With respect you are being a bit passive. She should not really get away with not walking the dog. You should say something even if it is that the neighbour heard the dog whining a lot - was there a problem? Do it for your dog if not for yourself.

and tell your neighbour her camera is illegal as it's collecting data beyond her own front door.

If you think that is correct then she had better tell her neighbour that her dashcam is illegal too as it's collecting data beyond her own front door.

I am amazed at your restraint. I would have to tell her why we came home early.

I’d go crazy OP. She’s not fulfilling the deal. Leaving your animals alone is not house sitting. She’s absolutely taking the piss.

The posters that don’t see anything wrong with what’s going on are clearly the sort of people that would do exact the same thing and not care at all . She’s inviting people you don’t know in your home and around your animals knowing full well that you wouldn’t allow it . She’s lying to you and disrespecting your home. Get rid asap.

I know people who use and sit for trustedpetsitters.com. It seems to work well.

I would be honest and say the truth to her.

"Dumping them at the charity shop" 🙄

Why did you tell her you were coming home early?

I wouldn’t leave my dog with someone who displayed all the apparently red flag behaviour described . But everyone is different

You are doing the right thing coming home early. Well done to your neighbour, I think you owe her a big thank you for letting you know what was going on. You should be absolutely furious. Get the locks changed.

Well, this is verbal business contract and she has failed it in many aspects - neglecting your privacy, neglecting the dogs, not cleaning the property

Tell her to find a new job

It's not about what you are happy with. it's collecting images and data of anyone coming to your house. It's not just about you. Those people are having their data stored and have a right to a) complain b) have it deleted.