This is going to be controversial but...

[rosesarered95]

I genuinely don't understand the concept of charging your children "rent" to live in their own home. Wouldn't you rather help them by allowing them to save as much money as possible (especially in this current economy) instead of taking money from them which may reduce the amount that they can save each month, resulting in it taking them a bit longer to move out?

I bought my own property on my own aged 25 and would have never been able to achieve this if I wasn't allowed to stay at home rent free and save as much of my salary as I could. Can I just add, I contributed to the household in other ways e.g cooking for the family weekly, cleaning etc.

I totally understand charging your children rent if you are on a lower income and genuinely need the money, but if this is not the case for you, why do you charge your children rent?

When they are beyond university age or if they don't go to university and work full time then yes I'll charge them something towards their living costs, obviously not market rent and at a rate that would allow them to save for their own place. I'd also want them to share chores and not make a mess in communal areas. More like a house share arrangement.

If you don't give them some independence some will end up co-dependent and taking the piss out of parents.

Newsflash: Person on internet cannot understand why other people on internet do things differently - shock exclusive!!

This crops up regularly on MN, everyone has an opinion and rightly does what they think best for their own circumstances.

I was charged rent and will do for my children once they are earning a full time wage, I feel every earning adult should contribute.

When I was 18 and working full time all my wage was disposable income - except the £150/month 'keep' I paid.

I had £700/ month left to spend on whatever I liked, but my parents certainly didn't!

As it was I saved hard - £500 a month and left myself an allowance of £200 to cover going out, clothes and save for driving lessons.

My parents were never in a position to gift or lend me money, so it was important to save up to move out, and create a safety net of savings.

Does it not all come under the same thing? My dc pay £300 per month each that’s towards food, utilities, wifi etc. I just call it all rent 🤷🏻‍♀️

Give over OP, you are just shit stirring. 'Genuinely don't understand' my arse.

To all the posters saying that Op is being ignorant, this is also a cultural thing. To you, it might be completely normal but it isn't to everyone, and it's not all about income.

My FIL isn't wealthy but it wouldn't cross his mind to charge his children for living in the family home. People wouldn't dream of doing it in his home country.

100%.

Some people charge rent because they need to. Some charge rent because their children are failing to take responsibility and need to learn a lesson or two about adulthood. Others don't charge rent because they don't need to or for some other reason.

IMHO there is no right or wrong.

Havent you got an imagination? Some people need to charge because they can’t afford it. Some young people would just waste it and have no idea of what it is like to live and pay bills.

I can’t believe the stupid questions some people ask

I've said it before but unless you are really short of cash it's pretty crappy to treat your child as a cash cow just because they're now an adult by law.
You're knowingly making it harder for your child to get on the property ladder.
But there are a lot of mercenary parents out there as this thread (and many similar ones in the past) show.

OP hasn't mentioned culture, so ???

My DM lives with us and gives us £300 a month. It just about covers the cost of having her with us, she doesn't want to be a burden but we aren't making a profit out of her nor is she us, but it is costing her a lot less than it would to live anywhere else, as she only has her state pension and small private pension to live on. For me it's the same thing with adult children once they are working FT and have finished their education.

i have never charged my children rent. Even when they started earning. Our house is there home, even though they all have lovely houses of their own.

Our house is there home, even though they all have lovely houses of their own

If they live with you while renting out houses of their own that really is taking the piss.

I got charged rent, a reasonable amount that left me enough to do the things that young people do - go out, buy a few bits of clothes here and there.

I paid it gladly because it made me feel mature. And being an 'adult' paying my way meant I wasn't treated like a child by them either. And they weren't flush either so I wanted to ease the financial burden on them a bit.

But Dad invested it in some sort of high interest government scheme and I got every penny plus lucrative interest back - just when I needed to learn to drive for a job promotion.

Case by case basis. If the child is living at home to save money for a house purchase, for example, but has a decent paying job, then foregoing rent but expecting them to put towards food seems ok. If the child just likes being at home then a rent should be charged.
If the child is in a minimum wage job and trying to sort themselves out in terms of what's next, then I wouldn't charge rent.
But of course I can afford it - one must fully recognise that some contribution from another adult is needed if things are tight.
A child who is focussed and has savings goals is a different prospect than one who is just taking advantage of free room and board with no plans to improve their circumstance.
One thing is I wouldn't be doing any laundry or cleaning for an adult!

It depends on personal choice and circumstances. We have one adult child (25 years old) who has not yet left home. We don't charge her rent because we can afford not to and the additional cost of her staying with us is marginal as we won't downsize when she does move out. If we were struggling to make ends meet, or even struggling to have a few of life's luxuries, I wouldn't think twice about charging her though.

I don't know what she does with the money that frees up for her. We have had various discussions over the years to help her think about savings, pensions etc but her finances are her business and me giving her a free pass on her keep doesn't give me a right to pry or dictate. If she is saving for a deposit that's great. Equally, if she is using the money to enjoy what should be the best years of her life then that's great too.

I don't see any merit in judging what other people do. It's their decision and down to their circumstances and principles.

@Randlehandle

My point is that a lot of posters are quick to call op ignorant of the needs and experiences of people on low incomes but not all people on low incomes charge their kids for living at home so it's not that clear cut.

It is always about need but more about life lessons and teaching responsibilities. My niece currently pays £150 a month to my sister; as a family they definitely don’t need it. She is studying and working part time so making plenty of money, especially over summer holidays etc. By paying that money she’s getting a lesson on how life works. She is learning to manage her money, how to save and priorities. She’s still being fed, all her needs taken care of and actually my sister is putting that money into a fund for when she goes to university (she doesn’t know it yet). There’s more than need and I will absolutely expect my children to contribute to the household.

Again, you are basing your view on culture. The fact that your father is not rich, is irrelevant.

Was meant for @Headabovetheparakeet

Some parents charge because they want the money for themselves, no matter how they dress it up. Not everyone but definitely some. The ‘life lesson’ excuse is nonsense.

For those of you not asking for any household contribution from 25 year olds working full time, how would you feel if they are still there, still not paying anything, and have not made any moves towards social or financial independence 15 years later? As this is what you are facilititating now.

How dare parents want the money to buy shopping, pay towards the mortgage etc.

I charged mine rent and put it into a savings account for them as a deposit for a house. I’ve seen a lot of my friends children fester at home because they have so much disposable income they didn’t want to move out and lose it.

Within three years my son had a house deposit, whereas friends of mine are still bemoaning the fact that life is so tough for the young nowadays and they can’t afford move out… I’d stay put as well if all my rent and bills were paid for by some mug.

I bought my first flat in 2016 aged 25. I also lived at home and paid rent for 4 years before that. It wasnt as much as i would have paid had i been privately renting (i paid 10% of my take home wage). But it did teach me i needed to contribute to an adult household whilst allowing me to save. I was on £20k PA at the time so had more disposal income and savable income than my mum who i was living with so obviously i should pay rent.