AIBU to not let in laws use my villa for free in peak season?

[dilwithvil]

I have a villa in Europe by the beach that I own independently of my husband. It’s effectively a high-end Airbnb in a very popular area and is usually fully booked from mid May until late September. It’s one of my income streams (I’m a SAHM but I manage several investments/assets, and this is part of my income). My husband also earns a very good salary, for full context, but all of “my spending” (coffee with a friend, make up, clothes, dentist) is paid by me from this income. I earn more than my husband.

My in-laws would like to use the villa for a week in peak season for free. My view is that peak season is when the villa earns money. If I block out a week for them, I’m not just “sharing a holiday home”, I’m giving up a week’s rental income.

I’ve said they’re very welcome to use it either in low season, when bookings are much quieter, or at very short notice if a peak-season booking unexpectedly cancels (which almost never happens).

They’re unhappy with this because they want to be able to plan a holiday well in advance, and they don’t want to go in low season because the weather is less reliable. Even if they paid half the market rate this is more than they would usually pay for a holiday, so they don’t want to pay that either.

For context, my parents do occasionally use the villa in peak season. The villa ultimately came from my side of the family (family money/early inheritance), so I don’t really see that as the same thing. Without them, there wouldn’t be a villa in the first place.

Also, while I get on reasonably well with my in-laws, I wouldn’t choose to holiday with them for a week or two, so inviting them while we’re there isn’t really something I want to do either.

AIBU for saying that if they want to use it in peak season, they should either pay the market rate (or even half), or go in low season? Or should family simply be allowed to use it for free regardless of the income I’d be giving up?

Yes....in a villa that she owns and makes a very tidy profit from. I genuinely don't get your argument at all unless your argument is just being tight.

The profit is her income!!

'If I was gifted a villa, I’d be more than happy to share my good fortune with both sets of parents, especially if both I and my DH were good earners, which the OP indicates they are. It would be a bit different if I was on the breadline'

Yes most would surely want to share their very good fortune. Not the tight and miserly though.

So why isn’t DH offering to fund a holiday for his parents from his income? Presumably he makes a tidy profit from that.

I gave MY opinion on what I would do because I think it’s tight not to and I’ve already given MY reasons as to why I think that.

We’ll just have to agree to disagree.

OP still hasn’t come back so I’m guessing they’ve already decided what they’re going to do or it was a lie all along lol.

Her dh pays the bills and everything else! This vital 'income stream' pays for outfits and socialising. She's more than able to take a hit.
Generosity and kindness far better than a new handbag. That's just me though I'm kind 🤗.

We’re a dying breed it seems 😂😂

It's evidently not DH, anyway.

You really aren't.

She owns the villa, it's totally different and you know it.

He owns his income.

Jesus this is actually laughable 😂

It's been pointed out several times that OP contributed a fully paid-off house that they live in, and she handles all the childcare (not cheap if outsourced).

So DH doesn't need to pay childcare fees, mortgage repayments, or extra luxuries.

Covering the basic household bills seems like pennies in this context.

Casting OP as some kind of freeloader is absurd.

Interesting that you don't use your reply to explain just why the things he owns are different to the things OP owns. Anyone would think you didn't have a convincing explanation but wanted to try and distract from that. But that would be a laughable thing to do.

@Dutch1e Did she contribute or did her parents?

Ok, I'll indulge you. She already owns the property, she's not being asked to purchase it specifically for the in laws, she's being asked to lend it to them for a holiday. It's very simple really. Yes she'll lose that week's income but it won't hurt her financially.

She owns the house and does all the childcare. He doesn't pay for a mortgage or any childcare. If he is on a good income he will have money left over. It's up to him to be "generous and kind" to his parents if he wants not OP.

By definition it will hurt her financially if she loses a weeks rental money.

'Casting OP as some kind of freeloader is absurd'

I'm not. I'm saying her dh pays for everything so she is hardly reliant on her 'income stream'. She says herself it pays for outfits and socialising!

Those who have very good fortune can be the tightest. I wonder why that is?

That isn't an explanation.

DH already owns his income, he's not being asked to purchase extra income specifically for the in laws, he's being asked to give it to him for a holiday in the same way as OP is being asked to give her income to them. It's very simple really.

And the fact that it won't hurt her financially is only a differentiating factor if you can show it will hurt him financially, despite being on a good income and only having to pay the smaller household bills with no housing or childcare costs. OP has said nothing to suggest it'll be any more of an issue for him than for her. She's got more spare money than him, but she also saves for the kids whereas we've no evidence he does.

Ok, it won't put her in a dodgy financial position.

He doesn't pay for everything!

It won't put them in a dodgy financial position either if they go at an off peak time or go on holiday somewhere else. They just don't want to.

If you own something like a holiday home it would be nice to allow your family to use it if it won't put you in financial hardship. Obviously not everyone is a nice person which is evident by this thread. Income is not the same and you know it.

Which that poster has been told several times now. She made what sounds like a genuine mistake overlooking it initially, which is fair enough, but there's no way she doesn't now know that he doesn't pay for everything because OP provides the housing.