Friend wants to stay mid week due to work, financial contribution or not? How much?

[Blueberry001]

Hi all,

Newbie here but looking for advice on whether I am being reasonable here?

A friend of ours has taken a 6 month temporary position in a city near where we live. It would be a good 1.5-2 hour commute for him everyday from him home to his new place of work but from our house it would be only 15 mins.

He’s dropped a few hints already about moving in to ours Monday - Friday to save on petrol costs and commute time. We have the spare room, but I don’t know whether I want someone living with me and my husband 4-5 nights a week, we both work full time ourselves and evenings we like to spend time getting all our jobs and things done ready for a quiet weekend kind of thing.

But would I be unreasonable to ask for a financial contribution? What would be a reasonable amount?

In my head I was thinking to agree to maybe just 3/4 nights a week on the busiest days (mon - thur) instead of the full 5 nights and ask for £50 a week? I would include him in our evening meals as well of course (or might be weird us eating without him!) so the money would cover extra bills (water/electricity) and then evening food as well as the use of general household items, loo roll, milk, etc etc.

What do you all think? I don’t want to appear greedy to a friend or anything but it would mean another person also in our martial home 3-4 nights a week or should I do my friend a favour?

Thank you x

Sorry - this seems bonkers to me. For one week? Fair enough and I wouldn't charge him. But for six months? That's a standard tenancy length, surely? He can easily find a studio flat to rent or a house share for that period of time. It's a massive imposition on you and really quite cheeky of him to suggest it. Just say no.

I have shared houses with familys in the past (strangers) and paid rent and I hated having other strangers around me.

I would also hate the one bathroom for you all, cleaning up after someone else is not nice (I mean just general cleaning, nothing nasty) would you appreciate his cleaning methods, would they be good enough?

Aslo, not sure but does it not affect your house insurance if you have someone else staying? As well as your mortgage lender would have to be told.

I would say no

Thank you all so much for your replies! I feel a bit more prepared if he does ask (which I think is now highly likely following some text exchanges today!).

I also promise to not be a damp squib!

He has made the decision to take this position, he needs to sort his accommodation. If this arrangement is not going to work for you, ie the money is not going to be sufficient compensation for the loss of privacy then say no.

I might to it as a favour if it was for a month or two because that is a bit short to get a rented property but 6 months is too long.