My brother is six years older than me. Three years ago, he got married and decided to move into his wifes flat rather than stay with our parents. It was really the only reasonable option for them because rent in the city is so high. I had already been married for six years by then, with two kidsa six-year-old son and a four-year-old daughter. My wife is originally from London, so thats where we ended up living. We both worked hard, which allowed us to take out a mortgage and buy a small flat.
Just recently, I got a message from my parents saying that my brother and his family would be coming to visit us for a week, and that they expected me to host them and let them stay in my flat. Although I was really looking forward to seeing my brother after all this time, it just wasnt possible to have them stay over, as the four of us live in a tiny one-bedroom flat.
We met up at Kings Cross and spent the day sightseeing around London. My parents brought it up again at dinner, suggesting I should let my brother, his wife, and their son stay with us, since renting out a room or flat in London costs a fortune. Unfortunately, I simply couldnt do it. That evening, as we had dinner together, I tried to offer a compromise by suggesting I could help them find a hotel, but my brother got annoyed and insisted on staying at our place.
I tried to find other solutions, recommending some decent hotels or hostels or maybe seeing if any friends could rent out their flat for the week, but they dismissed every suggestion. It became pretty clear they wanted to spend the week in London without shelling out for accommodationeating and sleeping at ours for free. Still, I feel strongly that I have the right to say no. After all, the comfort of my own family comes first. My wife and kids deserve a decent home environment, and frankly, I don’t owe anyone a place to stay.
