How far would you go to let others use it?

Question

This is a sensitive question. So I hope no one will mind if I were to ask it.

How far would you allow others to use your possessions and property without reservation?

If friends and outsiders were to visit your house, would you allow them to use your own lavatory as freely as they like? Or would you let them use the lavatory meant for guests?

If some workmen were to be in your house doing maintanence work in your house, would you let them use your own lavatory as freely as they care to?

The other day some workmen had installed a sink in my house. When they finished, a few of them wanted to go to the washroom in our bedroom to use it. My gf then directed them to the guest washroom. However, after a while, they went back to the washroom in our bedroom. One of them even insisted he had a right to use it.

Do you think I have a right to stop them? Do you also think it would also be healthy? After all, these workmen might be unhealthy and even have diease. How far would you allow others to use your private possessions?

Answer 1

You have every right to stop him from using your own bathroom. We don't let guests use our bathroom for several reasons. First of all you have to walk through our bedroom to get to the bathroom, and I don't feel I should clean my bedroom or my bathroom for guests when there is a perfectly clean guest bathroom for them to use. And that's pretty much the second reson. Who knows what undies I've left laying in my bathroom since my last shower, and it is my buissness, and I definitely don't want random workmen seeing what I've got lying around in the floor. If there is a good bathroom available for him to use, there is no reason for them to use yours. It actually sounds like they were up to no good. I don't know of anyone that would make a big deal about using your own personal bathroom! That's WHY you have a guest bathroom!

Answer 2

There are 2 distinct groups of people here: your friends and workmen who are paid to do a job for you.
The latter is more starightforward - as long as you have provided them with toilet facility (in the guest toilet) they should be grateful. Legally, you are not obliged to even provide anything, unless it was in the contract. Many big builders nowadays bring their own cubicle for their workmen. But it is politic to be 'nice' (eg. a cup if tea) to your builder so that you hope they will do a good job. I would shut my bedroom door and tell them that it is not their business to go in (I assume that the sink they were fitting was not in your ensuite bathroom).
As for your friends, it all depends on the situation. If there is a big party in your place and the guest toilet is occupied and there's a poor guest bursting to go, it will be common courtesy to offer your ensuite bathroom. Unless they are really careless and inconsiderate, they should not do too much harm. You can always give your loo a good clean up with bleach if you are afraid of catching something bad from them. But you have invited them, so they can't be too disease ridden, can they? Most guests will be content to use the guest toilet (lucky you to have more than one loo).
Then there are those staying friends. I would provide them with the basics: guest towel and soap. It's handy to stock some cheap toothbrushes and a tube of toothpaste for guests (in case). If your guests are too demanding or presumptuous, it may be time to strike them off your guest list.

Answer 3

I would do whatever it takes to keep the workmen happy, then clean like crazy after they are gone. If it is too much for you, ask that if they are going into the bedroom area to take off their shoes. They will use the other one.

We had one workman that would rush in when he arrived and do a big stinky in our toilet, every single morning ! I think he was getting off on it. Nothing a bit of toilet cleaner and an industrial exhaust fan couldn't get rid of.

Answer 4

Hey, it's your house. If you're not comfortable with anyone using anything at all that's your right. You absolutely have a right to direct them to the other bathroom or to deny it to them altogether. They, of course, may charge you extra since they'd have to take a trip to another bathroom while working for you or the might be offended and not do a great job, but you certainly have the right. I don't like it when they use it either because they normally very inconsiderately track mud through the rooms they walk through.

Answer 5

I think it is polite to let guests use my own washroom ie the better/best one provided they are on a few hours visit. If they are staying with me for a few days, they should have access to the guest washroom/bathroom and not use mine.

Workers should use whichever bathroom you direct them to. They should have no choice or preference. After all I don't want to smell their body odour or poo pong after they do their business.

Answer 6

One of them even insisted he had a right to use it.?? Did this work really say this to you.??

I would have made then all leave right then and there, worked finished or not. Then I would have spoke to whom ever was in chared and would have told them that one of their worked was telling where in MY house he was aloud to go to that did not involve his work.

I have had many people work on my houses over the years and NONE would ever tell which bathroom they felt they had a right to use.

For me it was out of keeping the house clean that I only let working in parts of the house. Other parts that I did not want them in were stated from the beinging and/or doors locked.

Good Luck.

Answer 7

Obviously workmen are of the lower classes and should only be allowed to do such business in the servants' quarters.

Answer 8

He had no right to insist on a particular washroom its your home your rules go nomatter who they are, i have downstairs toilet for all my guests and main bathroom upstairs for family use especially as we have potty training in progress. stand up for yourseves do not let anyone come into your home and tell you whats what.

Answer 9

I didn't even know what a frickin lavatory was til i read the other answers.. I thought he was trying to say laboratory and I'm like who the hell has a laboratory in their house..

But now that I know he means toilet and not laboratory I can ask a different question

Who the hell uses the word lavatory anyways?

Answer 10

As long as they are humans they have a right to ask. You have a legal right, as owner of the house, to say yes or no. Disease does not spread through the use of toilet.