Friends want to stay for two months - while moving house - help?

hello FMA55,
you say these are casual friends , I think they have a cheek asking to come for what might end up being an indefinite time!
I would find it hard sharing my home with best friends. It sounds as if they think you have plenty of space with only one person living in it so thought , we'll just ask her.
There are plenty of places that could be rented on a short term lease suggest that to them. It won't be easy telling them though. Good luck!!

That you have come on here asking for advice indicates that you really don't want to do it. I wouldn't either - so just say no! You can put it more diplomatically but don't go into detail about why not otherwise they will be likely to come up with "solutions"!

With the best will in the world I think I'd say No as well. I was recently looking at long term holiday rentals for this time of the year for myself and there is a lot available and at off season prices too. If I was them I would prefer that especially, as you say, they might need to stay longer.

I had a similar worry a couple of years ago. My boss was moving house and didn’t even ask me if he could stay until he completed on his house purchase - he just assumed that I would let him stay and told all our colleagues that he was staying with me!! It shocked me that anyone would be so presumptive. As luck would have it the dates for completion of his house slipped which meant that his stay would have coincided with a holiday which I had booked. Even he realised that he would not be able to stay and arranged to stay with his brother who also lives close by but meant that he had a longer commute.

TBH I think this is them taking you for a ride; they know you're on your own so it will be difficult to say no. Surely if they weren't moving house they would have overheads at home, so suggest that they use something like airbnb to rent a house. What a cheek! As other posters have said, it would be completely different if they were close friends...

No two ways about it - just say NO!!

Def not four casual friends

I had this situation last month, and these are very good friends. I lied through my teethe to get out of it.
The last time they stayed with us OH and I had the most awful falling out because I was so stressed.
It was a shame because I love my friend dearly but unfortunately she's married to a slob. Sorry if that offends, but it's the truth.

If you feel absolutely obligated, lay down the ground rules - your house, your rules! AND make sure that they pay rent/utilities etc. so that you are not out of pocket. It isn't fair/right to assume that because you have an empty house, you are loaded...
And TBH the assumption that you would say yes is frankly insulting!!!

just say no,and don't feel guilty,they shouldn't be asking you to do this.

Hey, we often have visitors staying over for a week or more and I’m the kind of person who loves it when people drop in unannounced for a chat and a coffee.....but I say don’t do this, there’s too much can go wrong.

Even with the easiest of guests it’s difficult, and 6 weeks or more will almost certainly be a disaster.

If your heart isn't in it then don't do it.. You owe them nothing. Casual friends should not even consider taking advantage of you in this way. Just say no.

If they are bringing their own electronic items eg,laptop, tablets and mobile phones etc, how will this affect your insurance premiums for the period they would be with you? It may be worth calling your insurance company for clarification on how it would work especially as it could be for longer than anticipated.

It does seem very cheeky if they are casual friends to expect this from you. How did this come about? Do they think as you have plenty of space it's a foregone conclusion you will say yes. I would say no, as I think it's taking you for granted. Even very close friends could become a bit of a pain after a while. If you don,t want to have them staying let them know asp and then they can make alternative arrangements. You don"t have to have lots of explanations .....just no, sorry.

I'm sure you know it would have to be a no to this cheeky request,even if the children are at after school club until 5pm they will still be about until maybe 9/10pm,think of the extra wear and tear on your appliances etc,and extra bills,if you can't say no to them give them an outlandish rental amount which they will refuse,I think they are taking advantage of the space they know you have available.

Lyndie - had not thought about being naked! How true, I normally never think about that! Also clean the bathroom in my undies - only practical way - now wondering if other people clean the bath fully clothed or ....

I would definitely advise against this. Tell them kindly, either as someone else suggested that your health is not up to it, or say that you would need to charge them rent and housekeeping money and that you cannot ascertain how that would affect your pension and income tax. You can also truthfully say that you are not certain that your household insurance would cover anything that was damaged or went missing either of your or their property.

Actually, you are under no obligation to state your reasons for saying no. I wouldn't myself, as I would regard it as an imposition that casual friends would even make the request. Just say, you are sorry, but you cannot help.

They didn't ask - announced they would be staying because on tight budget, upsizing massively and said I could babysit while they deal with the move. I mentioned budget and they don't have a budget for the gap. I also want the house back for DH's return over Christmas plus family and friends.

They are friends of close friends who I have helped - and enjoyed helping - a lot. I think think thought I would be as helpful to them. But also it is coming to Christmas time and I definitely want to do our own thing.

Personalty I think it's a bit cheeky!
I'm sure there are plenty of short term lets around/flats/mobile homes etc etc even travel lodges etc.
I am asumming they don't really want to pay rent/bond and by asking a friend they think it may be a cheaper option,, well yes it maybe for them! but not for you! they of course are prob going to contribute to your household income, but after a few weeks ....will it still stand or will they think they have paid their wack..it could last for months and months. hard to say No but!! and of course the friendship may diminish because you haven't "obliged"
I can see it is a difficult situation and wouldn't like to have to make it.Good luck whichever way you go.

grrr personal

Going into hospital to avoid them would be extreme no/yes???

They have no budget for this otherwise I would say yes - if only!

A colleague and her fiance needed somewhere to stay for about 6 weeks while their accommodation was being completed so I let them stay with me. It ended up being 6 months, which I would have never offered in the first place had I known that, although the delay was not their fault. I was able to make some house improvements with the rent paid so that was one good thing but I would never do it again. Having to share the kitchen, washing facilities etc. I hated that. Her own mother wouldn't accommodate her so I felt sorry for her but now she has moved job and there is no contact at all. With winter approaching these casual friends will be under your feet more so I'd say no especially as there's children involved. Their situation is not your problem.

I would always worry if I fibbed about my health in a situation like this that I would find it backfires on me.
The effect of bad karma will get me.