Boyfriend wants to move in

Great opportunity to talk about money. That will really help you see if you are compatible.

Ask him how he’d see it working financially and go into it with an open mind. Work it out between you, with lots of time to actually decide what to do.

You both need to be better off as a result, and agree what to do with the savings. If you are a saver, and his contribution reduces your bills, in ten years time if you split up you’ll have a home and savings. He’ll also have savings that will allow him to get his own place.

If he’s a spender, or on low earnings, then in ten years time he’ll be vulnerable and unable to move out which indirectly becomes your problem.

Alternatively, he builds massive savings while you don’t, you may reduce hours due to having children and use your savings on that. He waltzes off in ten years having lived off you, and you are wiped out.

All needs careful thinking through and discussing.

What has he said about finances? Does he plan to save all the rent or does he plan to upgrade his lifestyle? Is he generally a saver or a spender? Do you know? Presumably you will split all bills including council tax. That should give you a little bit of extra money, and should enable him to save. Everything is going to get twice as much wear and tear - washing machine, carpets etc. How are you going to agree about any repairs or replacements?

And beyond the money, how will you split housework, shopping, cooking?

This, make sure you absolutely do get this done and if you eventually put him on the mortgage get the solicitor to draw up documents that protect your deposit and financial contribution up to that time or he could take up to 50% of the total house on a breakup.

Make the agreement fair to you both and also the household work as well. Time is a resource and his isn't more valuable than yours.

Your dad is right to say be cautious.

I'd get legal advice.

Does your boyfriend have any savings? If he's known you less than two years, has HE been saving for a house deposit of his own one day?? Or just assuming he can hop onto someone else's house/mortgage when he meets someone?!

If he has some savings for a deposit that would reassure me he's a financially responsible adult and I'd CONSIDER moving in together, but only with certainties that there is no claim on my property.

Cohabitation agreement stating no equity in house. Mortgage provider might need statement saying no equity either. Reasonable rent and half of bills including share of council tax. Do you want him to move in?

I moved into my boyfriend’s house (from a rented property) when we got together. He worked out a proportionate split of the mortgage and bills, and I paid my portion into his bank account every month as rent. Effectively I was his tenant, so technically I was still renting. But as I was paying my boyfriend way, way less than it was costing me to rent and pay bills my own place and I was able to use the money saved to pay off debts and then start to put money away for myself. Financially it made sense for both of us.

He could be your Lodger. He pays less in rent, but 1/2 utilities and food, he has no claim then on your property

I'd go this route until your relationship changes to marriage. Then I'd protect my investment via a solicitor or you could sell your home and buy jointly (he'll have saved for his share of deposit by lodging with you won't he)

Don't put him on the mortgage just now. How about you split bills 50/50 and he pays a bit of rent each month in addition? What does your boyfriend say? I don't think he would be expecting to live with you for free, or to take on mortgage responsibilities at this point.

DC owns a flat and their partner moved in after two years together.
Partner pays for all food/household shops and half the bills but nothing towards the property itself. It generally balances out as equal across the month without the partner having any hold over the property.

Going forward, it is highly likely that they will marry and move into a joint property, but this suits them both for now and seems fair.

Also, as you're both young, ideally, the savings he'll be making he should be using ot perhaps save towards a property or to buy his own property that he perhaps rents out. Your savings could be used to pay off your mortgage more quickly.

What you also want to avoid is a situation where one of you starts saving rapidly and the other one uses the savings to party hard. Because as a result, longer term, there could be a lot of resentment when you are married and wnat to buy a new, bigger house together and the contribution is in no way equal.

Do you see yourself married to him op ?
im married 15 years but I was in the same boat and lived alone until I married for this reason

to protect myself and my home and my husband moved in with me initially after marrying and we bought a joint home together a few years later

I agree with your dad. Don't put him in the mortgage right off the bat.

Move into his flat & rent yours out?

Very sensible advice here.

You are going to get a bunch of people comign on and telling you that you should not put him on the mortgage and not even charge him rent because then he'll have a hold on your house. Instead, you should just charge him no more than half the bills.

This is complete bollocks.

Your dad, of course, is right - this is YOUR house and you should protect it. But ideally, when you move intogether, you should both be benefiting financially (and in other ways). So he'd pay less overall, and you'll pay less overall, and that saving should be split (either in absolute terms or in proportional terms).

Agree together what seems like an appropriate amount based on your respective earnings and costs. Then see a solicitor to ensure that this is in writing so that he does not have any kind of hold over your house because he's been contributing to the mortgage.

Go to a family solicitor and ask them to draw up a cohabitation agreement. Not complicated and it will protect you during the period you live together.

Speak to a solicitor. And I agree with your dad, do not put him on the mortgage unless he buys in by 50% .
Remember, if he owns any of the house it’s difficult to get him out if necessary