murphy360 Posted November 21, 2004 Share Posted November 21, 2004 Here's my dilemma: My brother and his fiance live in my family's basement. They found an apartment but are travelling for a month. They need someone to stay in their place while they're gone. They want to get the appt. before they go, so they don't risk losing it. I offered to stay, but they want to charge me half a months rent. Should they be charging someone rent to stay in their place while they're gone?? Aren't I housesitting and they'd have to pay anyways? Or is it about using their stuff etc... How do I tell them I don't think I should be paying rent? Thanks for reading... Link to post Share on other sites
Sukotto Posted November 21, 2004 Share Posted November 21, 2004 I think paying a half months rent is fair, I had to pay when I was looking after someones house. Technically it would have been several hundred pounds to stay in that house for a month but i paid about a quarter of that and I had the run of a house for an entire month. Not sure why you should you should be getting it for free? Link to post Share on other sites
UCFKevin Posted November 21, 2004 Share Posted November 21, 2004 They asked you to do it. TheY WANT you to do it. That's BS that they want you to pay. I wouldn't do it. You're doing THEM a favor. Link to post Share on other sites
Author murphy360 Posted November 21, 2004 Author Share Posted November 21, 2004 I don't think I'm "getting" the place neccessarily. I'm doing them a favour by staying in their place so they can travel. Do babysitters pay the parents of the children they watch? I don't think so... Link to post Share on other sites
Author murphy360 Posted November 21, 2004 Author Share Posted November 21, 2004 So any suggestions on how I go about telling them I don't think I should pay rent? Link to post Share on other sites
moimeme Posted November 21, 2004 Share Posted November 21, 2004 Tell them they would have to pay a professional housesitter and therefore you should be paid, if perhaps less. If you're offering to do it for free, they should be grateful since they would definitely have to pay someone whose business it is to housesit. If they want someone to pay to stay in their place, let them rent it to someone else. Link to post Share on other sites
johan Posted November 21, 2004 Share Posted November 21, 2004 Did they ask you because they had the need for someone to be there? Or did you suggest it because you want to take advantage of it while they are gone? If it's the former, then it's their place. They pay the rent. They signed up for it early for their own reasons, so paying for it is their problem. I'd tell them "If it were anyone else, I'd expect THEM to reimburse ME for my time. You're family, so I'm happy to give you some of my time for free, but I'm not helping you pay your bills." If it's your idea and they don't really want someone there, then you should expect to pay something. Link to post Share on other sites
Fritz Posted November 21, 2004 Share Posted November 21, 2004 Originally posted by johan Did they ask you because they had the need for someone to be there? Or did you suggest it because you want to take advantage of it while they are gone? If it's the former, then it's their place. They pay the rent. They signed up for it early for their own reasons, so paying for it is their problem. I'd tell them "If it were anyone else, I'd expect THEM to reimburse ME for my time. You're family, so I'm happy to give you some of my time for free, but I'm not helping you pay your bills." If it's your idea and they don't really want someone there, then you should expect to pay something. Ditto here. I mean, if you need a place to stay I could see them charging you but from the way you wrote it, tell them to pound sand, you're already paying rent/mortgage where you live. Link to post Share on other sites
Author murphy360 Posted November 21, 2004 Author Share Posted November 21, 2004 Thanks for the suggestions. They asked me if I would like to stay there for a month because they know I would enjoy living downtown, on my own. So I said, ya I'd love to. Then my brother's fiance said "we'd only charge you half months rent". Me, being someone who still lives at home and doesn't have a clue about how these types of things work, said, "ok." But now I realize that I'm doing them a favour and they'd have to pay the rent regardless. I'm worried about "ruffling the feathers" and I don't want any issues to arise from this. Good call about pounding sand, I haven't heard that one yet. Link to post Share on other sites
johan Posted November 22, 2004 Share Posted November 22, 2004 You pretty much agreed to it and the terms were laid out up front. You can save yourself the money by backing out of the deal, and that shouldn't ruffle any feathers, as long as you give them enough notice. But I'm suggesting backing out of the entire deal. You can't suggest that you still stay there and just don't pay. If you do that, then you're going to look like a weasel. Link to post Share on other sites
moimeme Posted November 22, 2004 Share Posted November 22, 2004 You can't suggest that you still stay there and just don't pay. If you do that, then you're going to look like a weasel. ? They are getting a service - someone taking care of their place while they are gone. How will this person look like a 'weasel' by doing that service for free when they would otherwise have to pay someone to do it? Link to post Share on other sites
johan Posted November 22, 2004 Share Posted November 22, 2004 Maybe "weasel" was harsh. But they suggested it and specifically stated that half a month's rent was part of the deal. He said "ok", acknowledging that it would be valuable to him and would be worth paying for. The most graceful way to re-negotiate is to just back out of the whole thing on the pretence that it's too much to pay for a month of access to downtown. That's better than trying to get something of value for nothing. They can re-consider what a housesitter is worth to them on their own. All you have to say is, "I've been thinking, and I can't really afford that. Sorry." Link to post Share on other sites
Amethyst Posted November 22, 2004 Share Posted November 22, 2004 I agree with johan in that you agreed to pay the rent, so you can't now tell them you want to stay there rent-free. I also agree, however, that you're doing *them* a favor and shouldn't have to fork over any money. So, I think I'd tell them I changed my mind -- then, they can find someone else dumb enough to take the deal (no offense) or risk losing the place. Either way, it would no longer be your concern. Link to post Share on other sites
wing81 Posted November 29, 2004 Share Posted November 29, 2004 If you don't want to ruffle feather but still have a chance to look after their place for free you should tell them that you can't afford to pay for the half months rent for whatever reason. Tell them you are trying to save your money for something else. That would let you out of the deal without hurting anyones feelings. At the same time if they really needed someone to watch their place but didn't want to pay for someone else to stay they may invite you to look after their place but not make you pay the rent. Good Luck. Link to post Share on other sites
moimeme Posted November 29, 2004 Share Posted November 29, 2004 But they suggested it and specifically stated that half a month's rent was part of the deal. He said "ok", acknowledging that it would be valuable to him and would be worth paying for I agree with johan in that you agreed to pay the rent OK, people, try reading the situation again. The sequence of events is as follows. 1. They asked me if I would like to stay there for a month because they know I would enjoy living downtown, on my own. 2. So I said, ya I'd love to. 3. Then my brother's fiance said "we'd only charge you half months rent". The deal for money was NOT mentioned prior to the agreement. Moreover, They need someone to stay in their place while they're gone. Link to post Share on other sites
heckno Posted November 29, 2004 Share Posted November 29, 2004 Yeah, I agree with the smart one above me. How ridiculous she'd say that anyway, and rude. People usually get paid for house sitting. The refrigerator is stocked for them, all utilities paid, a small fee is usually paid to the sitter as well.. and you watch their home. you're doing them a favor after all, what nerve! What happened with this anyway? Link to post Share on other sites
Amethyst Posted November 29, 2004 Share Posted November 29, 2004 Originally posted by moimeme OK, people, try reading the situation again. The sequence of events is as follows. 1. They asked me if I would like to stay there for a month because they know I would enjoy living downtown, on my own. 2. So I said, ya I'd love to. 3. Then my brother's fiance said "we'd only charge you half months rent". The deal for money was NOT mentioned prior to the agreement. Yes; but, Moi, you need to *finish* reading the post: Then my brother's fiance said "we'd only charge you half months rent". Me, being someone who still lives at home and doesn't have a clue about how these types of things work, said, "ok." When they mentioned the money, she said "ok". That means that she *agreed* to pay the rent. It doesn't matter that the deal was in two parts -- she agreed to both terms. Link to post Share on other sites
bluechocolate Posted November 29, 2004 Share Posted November 29, 2004 It was churlish & greedy of them to even suggest that you should pay rent. I wonder what their lease says about sub-letting? I agree with wing81 If you don't want to ruffle feather but still have a chance to look after their place for free you should tell them that you can't afford to pay for the half months rent for whatever reason. Tell them you are trying to save your money for something else. That would let you out of the deal without hurting anyones feelings. At the same time if they really needed someone to watch their place but didn't want to pay for someone else to stay they may invite you to look after their place but not make you pay the rent. Good Luck. And if they make a similar proposition in the future I would point them in the direction of a local house sitting service & offer to under-cut them by 30%. Link to post Share on other sites
HokeyReligions Posted November 29, 2004 Share Posted November 29, 2004 Originally posted by bluechocolate It was churlish & greedy of them to even suggest that you should pay rent. I wonder what their lease says about sub-letting? I agree with wing81 And if they make a similar proposition in the future I would point them in the direction of a local house sitting service & offer to under-cut them by 30%. bc beat me to it! I was going to suggest backing-out and telling them you can't afford it AND as a courtesy to them - give them information on a local house sitting service. "I'm so sorry that I can't house-sit for you, but I've looked at my finances and obligations and I just can't spend that money right now. But, to help you out I got the information for a professional house-sitting service that you can contact. Here it is [hand it to them with the price they charge right on top]. I guess I still have a lot to learn -- I didn't realize when I agreed to sit for you that you would charge me. I'm really sorry and I hope you can find someone else." It's no crime to admit that you have just learned something about house-sitting and paying rent, etc. and it can be said tactfully. I've had people house & dog sit for me in the past and I never charged them anything! I've also house-sat for others. We stock the fridge for each other, make sure there is plenty of accessories (TP, papertowels, dishwashing detergent, etc.) so that they can live there without having to go out and buy anything like that. We bring out own toiletries/grooming stuff, just as if we were staying at a hotel. I can't imagine charging my friends/family for that -- or them charging me. Link to post Share on other sites
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