What would a fair contribution to living costs be?

[Oakmaiden]

I have a 21 year old son, who went away to university last year. This year he has decided to move back home to study. He gets £9K a year maintenance grant - last year his student accommodation ate about £5K of that. We think it is fair that he contributes to the household finances, as obviously our bills etc go up when he is home. And frankly, it would be a great help to us. What sort of sum do people think would be reasonable for bed and board?

That seems a bit tight to me. Do you really need the cash that much? It's all debt he's accruing isn't it?

How much are you meant to be contributing to him whilst at uni? At £9k probably very little

He can afford to stay away for 52?weeks and probably should

The system doesn’t expect you to charge your children

Does he get £9k living at home?

He gets less of a loan if he moves home.
Unless you are living hand to mouth I'm surprised that you're even considering this.

Op hasn’t declared her financial status here, this lad is 21 and an adult nothing wrong with him paying his way.

Many students are willing to pay £5k for accommodation yet when parents ask for a contribution other parents think this is wrong - why is it wrong for an adult to pay there own way?

If it’s a loan, he’d be better off not taking the full amt or none of it and getting a PT job to top up. If you need the money fine, ask for contribution. I wouldn’t, I’d consider it my share of helping them through uni

If you are feeding him then I think it is perfectly reasonable to charge around £50 per week or whatever the increase to your weekly shop is. Other than that, how much more will he actually cost you. Perhaps £150 to £200 per month towards costs.

I don't think you should pay for everything. It doesn't help in the long term for him being an adult and it sounds as though subsidising him would reduce your standard of living.

I dont quite understand why PP are suggesting he live for free in your house.
I have 3 brothers that all live at home with my mum and all are at uni and get grants. They all pay my mum money to live there. I dont know about the figures as that's between them. But he should definitely be paying you something that you're both happy with.

He won’t get the full loan if he lives at home, but you would not be unreasonable to ask him for contributions to household costs or chores, especially if things are tight.

User, I don’t think i’ve Met a student with a grant since the 1990s!

@dogsaresomucheasier
Well, loan then.
Had the word grant on the mind due to it being mentioned in the OP.

I think if you really needed the money, you would know exactly how much to charge tbh.

It sounds like your DS has a loan rather than a grant, and it's unfair to take his loan money as pp have pointed out. If you have been surviving this long without taking his loan money already, perhaps you could wait just that bit longer until he gets paid employment, then it woukd be fair for him to contribute.

We live in Wales - it is mostly a grant, not a loan.

However, it is true that he will get less if he is living at home. I hadn't realised that, and will adjust my thinking accordingly.