Real-life MMD: Should I charge my sister's colleague for bed & board?

Talent

It's quite easy really, ask your sister how her colleague intends to cover the cost of her stay?
Also, don't forget to check your landline phone bill afterwards.

joannie

Hi,
tell your sister tht you expect her friend to contribute and leave it to her to sort out. She should have known better

duchy

Are they sharing a room ?
What is expected foodwise ?
Frankly if they are out early each morning -and feeding themselves in the evening-apart from a welcoming evening meal the first day (or meal one night -depending on the work schedule) I'd consider it hospitality .

I'd talk to your sister .......and say "You do know I can't afford to feed you both every night don't you" and actually discuss it with her -rather than with strangers who have no idea of your sister's likely expectations.

becbec1982

I think it is very kind of you to put your sister and her colleague up for the week and I think for the extra heating, lighting etc, that would not be too big a cost, but feeding the two of them for the week could prove quite costly.

If it were me, I would just have a conversation with my sister beforehand and ask them to contribute to the food and drink costs by either bringing some supplies with them or chipping in for the food.

If I were the colleague, I would not expect to go and stay somewhere completely free - I would offer some contribution or take some supplies with me, plus some flowers/chocs etc for the host. They may already have that in mind and/or planned out.

scrabbly

I agree - this is being too thought out. Just mention to your sister " "oh that's handy - you two can get the shopping in " If they contribute more than they eat then great ! If they only buy enough for a week then at least you haven't lost out.

Marie27lol

Howdi, a good moral dilemma this week

This is my experience:

I stayed in Edinburgh with a son of friend through the music scene. We had nattered, shared a few drinks over the years, but we were not close friends.

I got given £20 for staying at a friends/family rather than a B&B, and a further £10 for an evening meal.

Before arriving, I said we can go out for a meal, and I would pay as a ty for letting me kip over; ofc the meal cost a fair bit more than what I was given. Ouch.

However, I saw it as, if I had joined him for meal at a festival, I would have paid more than a £10 for my meal (unless it was cooked over a camping stove!)...

So as a visitor, I do expect to pay (more). As who likes an evening on their own for a WHOLE week??? And if you go out, ofc its going to cost more than that.

Hope this gives another view point on how you things can be handled / preserved.

M

harryhound

I used to work for a company with a fairly generous attitude towards travel and accommodation expenses, it was tacitly agreed that meal receipts that did not detail the number of covers, were gratefully received.

I think you will find tht these two postings are related.- the days of untaxed per-diem allowances have fallen foul of VAT and ever intrusive taxation now that HMRC is in on the act for 50%.

mr-tom wrote: »

My employer ran a great scheme whereby they would cover any reasonable restaurant receipt as a thank you to the friends and family for avoiding a hotel bill.

I say "ran", the scheme fell victim to an unimaginative HR droid who could only see the costs, not the savings.

sarah_loobylou wrote: »

Most company Travel and Expense policies have an expense policy to cover Friends and Family accommodation - our company pays £50 per night! Though it's subject to tax & NI unlike hotel bills etc.

Charge them both. They will be able to claim back. if they can't, the colleague can stay at a local hotel and claim that back!!

Remember the the old saying "House guests are like fish, they go off after three days"

So yes this is longer than a weekend, so a pseudo business arrangement during the working week.

tallgirld

Yes you should ask for a contribution. There is no way I would have her stay for nothing. She may even be thinking about paying her way but I would still make it clear.
SISTER=FREE OF CHARGE
COLLEAGUE=PAYMENT REQUIRED.

KiwiMike

Most definitely. I have always done this as the companies I have worked for did offer the allowance for staying with friends and family and I would always prefer to pass the money available to a friend rather than to a hotel if I can! I personally also have paid the money when staying with family, often in the form of paying for a meal out as this is usually appreciated, but in cash to friends!

hogger84

If it was me I would not be too bothered with one weeks bills. I have stayed at plenty of friends and never worried about it. Food is a different matter as that can get expensive, I would jsut have a word now and say, by the way can we split food costs for the week.

One other thing to consider is splitting chores, you don't want to end up cook, maid and bellboy for a week, think about making sure tthings like wahing up, tidying up are split to avoid resentment building up at that coat dumped in the hallway.