GOING on holiday and leaving your home unattended for a matter of weeks is something that many homeowners feel uneasy about.
Many people will turn to their neighbours or loved ones, asking them to pop in every now and then, to check everything is ok.
But one mum expressed her frustration online after a neighbour whom she is close friends with let themselves into her house to watch TV while she was away on holiday for two weeks – and didn’t tell her.
The woman claimed that she and her neighbour have been on good terms for over a decade and will often keep an eye on each other’s houses and pets while the other is away.
And while this usually only involves popping over a few times a week to feed the pets and water plants, she recently discovered her neighbour has been overstepping her boundaries behind her back.
The mum said she came home from her holiday to find that her neighbour had logged into her YouTube account on her television, suggesting that she had spent time watching videos on the mum’s TV without her knowing.
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In a post on Mumsnet, the angry woman said: “[My] neighbour watched TV in my house.
“We have been neighbours for over a decade and get on well and have always pet sat for each other. [Just at a] pop in a few times a week level.
“I just came back from a two-week holiday and noticed that either she or her teenage daughter had logged into their YouTube account on my television.
“I’m feeling a bit odd that one of them was making themselves at home in my house.
“Do I say something? Find a way to get my key back politely?
“Or assume that teenager wanted some space away from mum and ignore it?”
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Commenters on the post were split over what to do, as some said they would “have to say something” if it was them, but others said it wasn’t worth risking their “pet feeding agreement” over.
One person said: “I’d have to say something.”
While another added: “I’d probably mention it, it was likely the teen and they need pulling up on that. Seems a shame to ruin a reciprocal pet feeding agreement, but if they’re reasonable they’ll be suitably apologetic.”
But someone else disagreed, stating: “I couldn’t get worked up over this. A non-issue for me.”
A fourth noted: “I’d ignore it, but would also make a point of setting clearer boundaries next time you ask them for help.”
Meanwhile, other commenters said that having her neighbour watch TV in her home was acceptable, especially if they were giving much-needed company to the mum’s pet.
One user explained: “Two weeks is a long holiday for the pet to be alone without companionship visits, which is what I would assume they were doing and be grateful for.”
Another wrote: “My neighbour did it when kitten-sitting for us and I was really pleased that she’d spent the time with her.”
However, the mum later noted her pet is a reptile, so doesn’t need the same companionship that a dog or cat would.
Regardless of this, the woman explained that the additional cost to her energy bill had been minimal, so she had decided not to mention it to her neighbour.
She added: “Quite a mixed bag! The pet is a reptile so no company is needed.
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“We are feeding her cat in return for this next week.
“Looked at our electric usage and I don’t think that she was spending hours a day so I will probably leave it and assume that my sofas are more comfortable!”
