How much does it cost to have an extra person living with you?

[JohnnyMarr]

Just that really - DD's BF is locking down with us I charge her a nominal amount of rent, can't really afford not to, but am subbing her to a large degree. Just wondering what a ballpark figure would be for having an extra person living in the house, they'll pretty much fend for themselves foodwise, but just in terms of gas, water, electric really. He's already paying for uni accommodation so really don't want to make a profit out of him but feel like I've been furloughed forever and not really in a position to sub him too!
Thanks in advance for any help

Depends. Unless you’re heating and lighting rooms you otherwise wouldn’t or having the heating on more than you would if he wasn’t there (which I presume if he shares a room with your DD, you aren’t), and unless he takes super long showers, he can’t be costing you much more than about £15 a week in gas/electric for hot water and cooking. Then a smidgen for the “inconvenience” of another adult in the house. Why not suggest £100 a month initially and then look at the impact on your bills at the end of the quarter, and review accordingly? If he wasn’t paying rent elsewhere I’d think it was fair for him to pay rent to you, but if you’ve agreed for him to stay knowing he can’t afford to pay you much, it’s unfair to expect a large contribution.

Maybe even £100 seems steep, thinking about my utility bills when I lived alone compared to when DP moved in. Is he working?

Either way, I’d definitely say you expect them to contribute to the household in terms of a “kitty” for essentials like bread, milk, butter, TP, laundry etc - they might be buying their own food but I expect they’ll forget the everyday items. Also that they each cook for you all at least once a week.

Thanks, that's helpful. £100 seems a lot to me too. Maybe I'll say £50 and check the difference in consumption on my smart meter (which, for the sake of my sanity, is currently hidden in a drawer due to DS's marathon showers!) after a month or so as you suggest.

FIL moved in with us just before the first lockdown back in March, he has his own room and bathroom and cooking facilities.

He only eats a meal that I cook on a Sunday (his choice - I'd happily give him a meal as I generally have leftovers that either Dh or I will take to work). So he sorts himself out all other food, we get it but he pays.

Anyway, our utilities have gone up by about £20/£25 a month, currently paying £201 for both gas and electric. Which is only slightly more than we were paying previously.

I think £50 a month would easily cover it.

We've got a smart meter, heating is set to between 21&23 twenty four hours a day, 2 adults and one child bath and shower, 2 loads of washing a day, DC is looked after at home every day by us or grandma, I cook from scratch so hob or oven are on quite a lot, we have an old draughty Edwardian house, currently we are using £2.50-£4 a day usually the lower end of that scale and I'd say we are heavy users, lots of charging etc some days 3 baths, 3 loads of laundry, baking plus batch cooking. So I think to charge £100 a month would likely cover all of your utilities which seems a little unfair

Thank you all for your input, we've agreed on £50 and will review in a month or so