Charging Teen Rent - if so, how much?

[chrxtipat72]

Hi there,
Given my son’s rather perculiar situation, I am asking for some advice.
My 17 year old son left school last year and subsequently took up an internship; on completion of the internship, he was offered a job with his employer. The job lasted for four months, till he resigned with his colleague (having found out that the company they were working for were committing unlawful acts - namely scamming). With his colleague (who is 40), my son founded a company in the industry they were working in previously. Clearly my son is really good at what he does! From the moment my son started working, I began charging him £70 per week (which was equivalent to almost half of his weekly wages). Then, after he left his job, and I was informed he would struggle to pay £70 per week I had no choice but to cut it to £50 per week. Together, with his colleague, they have been waiting to receive their earnings from a few clients of theirs for a few weeks now, during which I have still been charging £50 per week which my son has been paying. However, given the circumstance, my son only has two weeks’ rent left in savings from the day he took up that job all those months back. He’s barely spent a penny of his earnings, other than for an online course which he studies for at home. Money is relatively tight and I am in receipt of £70 per week for my other son, who is in sixth form. Have I been too harsh as now my son is struggling to continue his company as he once had money and now he doesn’t?

[KanielOutis]

I think charging a token amount while he was in work was fine, according to his means, but not continuing to charge when he was out of work, making him use savings to cover 'rent'. What provisions did you make to plan for the time when the top ups you received for him as a child care to an end?

[KanielOutis]

*came

[Saturdayselling]

So he's going to need to stop his new own business because he's run out of money due to paying you rent? Yeah, that does, on the face of it, seem very harsh. Presumably there's more to it though?

[MartagonLilies]

Can you pay him any money back? I think £70 per week is a bit much too. What is that supposed to be covering?

[NapQueen]

Im all for adult dc paying board once out of further education/apprentiship etc. I paid myself and intend to do the same for my own.

However I think as he is setting up a business from scratch I would probably give a fairly hefty grace period in order to see the business bed in. Maybe a year? However if it ended and he took up regular paid work the board would resume.

[NancyJoan]

I think you need to cut them both some slack. How on Earth is your other son paying £70 a week while in 6th form?

[KanielOutis]

It says she is in receipt of £70pw for her other son. I assume that means tax credits / child benefit. That's why I asked how OP has planned and made provisions for when this money will end (other than charging her DCs for the shortfall).

[BertrandRussell]

He was earning 140 a week and you charged him half of it? And now he's in danger of giving up on his new business because he's given you all his savings? Bloody hell.....

[Sametimesameplace]

He’s only 17. I don’t think you should charge him anything.

[Lorddenning1]

£70 a week rent when he is in 6th form seems a bit harsh OP, I think you should cut them both Slack OP. Are you in financial difficulties?

[Colbu24]

He still a minor. He shouldn't be paying you anything. On the contrary you should be helping him.
Clearly he is trying very hard and you've done a great job raising a responsible young man.
If he was lazy I'll agree with you make him responsible but he needs some support right now.
Great boy you have.

[polsha]

Eh? The minute he started earning you took HALF his wages from him, and then you made him pay you £50 a week from his saved money to the point where he will be skint in 2 weeks.

What an awful thing to do.

[notapizzaeater]

Do you need the money ? I'm all for Kids paying their way but taking hAlf seems a bit much, and taking money whilst he's not earning is obscene

[CambridgeLady2]

If your son is under 18 then he needs to be in some kind of education. It is illegal for him to be working full time without any education involved. The internship, while leading to a job, should have been an apprenticeship or something like that.

[Bexter801]

Oh op I don't exactly want to just copy pp,but £70 a week is nuts. Half his money at 17,is unfair on him. Whether your struggling for money or not,that isn't mainly your money to take. Yes of course he should contribute,but I think maybe £30 is more than ample