Moving in with partner - what would be fair?

[otterturk]

Person A owns a 2 bed flat and is in a relationship with person B. Getting serious; not at stage of combining finances.

Person B is going to move in with person A, now that A's lodger is moving out. Both are earning professionals, A earning 30% more than B.

Running costs of the whole flat are £1300 incl. mortgage, utilities, council tax, broadband, tv etc.
Lodger paid £950 all in. If B doesn't move in, A will get another lodger.

How much rent should B pay A?

1. £650 (half costs)
2. £950 (same as lodger paid, so A isn't out of pocket because B moves in
3. Half way between these amounts - £800
4. Something else.

I would be really interested in any thoughts/suggestions.

half, they're moving in as a partner, not a lodger.

A should pay 30% more of the bills and utilities to reflect their higher income. And B should pay at least 30% less of the mortgage costs than A to reflect their lower income and the fact that it is not their investment.

1. Half cost, max! Surely A shouldn’t expect to profit from B living with them?!? A lodger pays more to cover the inconvenience of sharing your home.

Person A pays there own mortgage.

Everything else is then split 50/50

B should pay half of utilities, council tax and foodbill. Unless B has a stake in the property I don’t think they should pay rent.

In this situation, £650. If earning money from the person who lives with A is more important to them than living with a partner then they should find a new lodger rather than have B move in. B has none of the security they’d get if they had their own tenancy so it isn’t comparable to saying “well they’d have to pay far more rent if they lived elsewhere / on their own.”

B should pay half of everything. What their salary is is irrelevant. A should also not expect to make a profit off their partner. If they want a profit, they need to get another lodger.

Person A pays there own mortgage.

and buildings insurance, and as it's a flat any flat costs, although that might possibly change if the block has a gym or something.

But as others have said, even 50% is high, there's certainly no call for more than half. If person A doesn't want to be out of pocket, just get another lodger.

Where the hell do you/they live that the lodger paid £950 a month!!
I would say that A pays the mortgage and split everything else 50/50.
Or you combine all the costs and A pays 30% more to reflect their higher income. Depends what you're both comfortable with.
It does seem a little unfair that B will be paying towards A's mortgage.

If B is moving in as a partner, ie sharing a bed, then B should pay half the bills minus the capital element of the mortgage (usually a third, so B pays half of two third of the mortgage). B should not pay towards the capital part of the mortgage as B does not stand to benefit from it.

If A wants to pay slightly more of the bills or pay to go out more, contribute the majority of big ticket items because A has a higher salary then that fine.

If B is moving into the lodgers old room as a friend rather than a partner B pays the lodger rate or a discounted rate if A wants to do mates rates.

Half, I mean assuming they are sharing a room and not in separate rooms like a lodger? Although it would be interesting to know what B is currently paying too, because as the financially weaker one it wouldn’t be fair for it to cost them more than they currently pay.

What @FrustratedMess said
Seems the only fair way

Thanks everyone. Good to hear your views.

I think 50/50 is fair as B would be paying more if they were renting somewhere else.

@mallrat B is moving to move in with A. Was paying £1100 previously, living alone.

To OP who asked where a room costs £950 - much of London!

Moving across the country I mean. Of course B is moving!

Everyone thinking that A should pay all of their own mortgage, because B doesn't benefit... this is interesting to me as an idea. I suppose that because B is living in a much nicer place than before for much less money (if they halve costs), that would allow B to save whereas A now has less disposable income... so I thought half was probably fair.

Can't believe how many people think that B should get to live rent-free!
Why should A put a roof over their head for nothing?
£950 sounds fair to me, same as the lodger. This isn't a committed relationship as yet. Their salaries are irrelevant. B will find it hard to find a cheaper all-inclusive deal elsewhere.

I would say 50:50 if half theorthahe would be equal to or less than 50% of local rental costs.

Longer term I would aim to either remortgage or move to a jointly owned property.

£650 is fair I think. Its less money than a lodger, but then there is the benefit of not having a lodger...

If they really wanted to, I presume they could still let out the spare room - must admit for £950 per month I'd be tempted to! Even on a Monday to Thursday let basis, which a believe is a 'thing' in London.

@otterturk

Thanks everyone. Good to hear your views.

I think 50/50 is fair as B would be paying more if they were renting somewhere else.

But they'd be getting their own bedroom for that price, will they with A?

Or you could say both should profit equally from the arrangement. That would mean B contributing 1000 something - half way between his current rent (for a less nice place), and the lodger price- so both of you are around 100 pounds better off. Why should be both be dramatically better off AND living in a nicer property while A is worse off?

@katy1213

Can't believe how many people think that B should get to live rent-free! Why should A put a roof over their head for nothing? £950 sounds fair to me, same as the lodger. This isn't a committed relationship as yet. Their salaries are irrelevant. B will find it hard to find a cheaper all-inclusive deal elsewhere.

B has no security and could be thrown out with zero notice.

@thatwouldbeanecumenicalmatter well sort of; they will have use of the spare room too for e tea storage and if their family want to visit, so they have 2 half bedrooms! Plus sharing is a choice, something both want.

@SimonJT renters don't have a huge amount of security ever. Arguably, B will be paying less now than before so will have more security if choosing to save the difference.

Why 50/50?
She should pay a third of market rent and utilities.

He's getting rent from a new lodger once that person moves in, half from the op what does he pay exactly? Not that much considering he will be making a profit from renting the spare room.