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House Guests

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Subject: House Guests

Hello everybody - I haven't been on here in ages, but have a problem that I'm hoping you may be able to help me with.

I (foolishly) invited some relatives to come and stay for 7 weeks. The last one didn't leave for over 7 months. During that time DH and I lent them all some money, which we are now claiming through the small claims court as - surprise, surprise - they haven't repaid us.

Whilst they were here, they agreed to undertake some work around the house in exchange for their keep - which consisted of full board (there were five of them), use of a car, use of the telephone including international calls, computer, internet, laundry etc etc. They did the work and did it well. At no time did they pay anything towards their keep.

They are now counterclaiming for unpaid wages (which I'm not worried about because I can prove the agreement that it was in exchange for their keep) but they are also claiming for "stress, duress, harassment" etc etc. None of which is true, but I'm still going to have to defend our position in court. They are basically saying that they had to stay because they had no money and we took advantage of that. (We didn't know they had no money when we invited them to stay).

So - my question is - did DH and I owe them a duty of care whilst in our house? I know people must be physically safe, but I'm talking about general care - one, for example, is claiming she was ill and we didn't help her. She didn't tell us she was ill and we did register them with the doctors, but was she our responsibility????

They are all adults, I should add and were at the time American citizens - not British.

If anybody knows the answer, I would be very, very grateful.

DG x

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Lynndzee
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Subject: Re: House Guests

DG

What a nightmare time you had! Unfortunately not a legal expert, so can't help. Are you getting legal advice somewhere?

x

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dougalgirl
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Subject: Re: House Guests

Hello Lynndzee

Thank you for taking time to reply.

It was an absolute nightmare and it won't be over until we battle it out in court. I have got some 'on the hoof' legal advice, but because it's small claims, I don't want to spend money on advice, because we can't get it back.

Grrrr......