Reasonable amount to charge relative....

[Bemyclementine]

For weekly "board" . Neither of these are me, but I've been asked my opinion.

Adult relative with some learning difficulties, usually reasonably independent with support. Has had quite serious medical incident and staying with family to recuperate.

Family providing all food, relative is spending time in a cold room with a plug in heater so electric increased. Fuel costs for taking to appointment, hospital etc.

@MogTheMoogle thank you. Relative choosing to use colder room for watching TV away from the main living area. Room not usually in use in winter. Rest of house is WARM.

Apologies I was obviously not clear. I meant your bills for utilities not your loan repayments (eg mortgage).

Going by your updates I think the guest should be paying their way because they do have money and hosts are pensioners with not much income . No brainer there .

@Tourmalines thanks, that's why I asked how much was reasonable, not whether they should charge at all...

That’s fair,.

@Marblessolveeverything
Marblessolveeverything · Today 10:34

Where is the money coming from? If it is from the guest who will be moving on to a place paying rent, then I would charge a discounted area rate.

I would put the money aside and give it back as a little buffer for themselves
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That’s very patronising, they aren’t a child. I would be so insulted if someone did this to me.

I think people are seeing this from the wrong angle. You wouldn’t go for an extended stay with elderly relatives who were living on meagre pensions without offering to pay your way.

With your update then they definitely should be contributing to the electric bills if they're choosing to go in a cold room with an electric heater on Vs the warm house.

It sounds like they're choosing to sit in a conservatory in the middle of winter.

That’s not what she asked. If she asked should they offer to pay any additional costs they answer would have been yes, she asked if the hosts should charge. That’s different

@Freakinfraser My question was, what is reasonable to charge.

Yes but this is an individual who may not be able to make that offer in the way you imagine, so you have to help by thinking of how you would behave and then support them to do that if appropriate.

@ToastyBreads I don't agree. The guest is paying the board, we have no information if the person has practice of doing this, no indication of age etc.

Most of my family did something similar to young people who came to our city for college. And gifted them back the paid board as a buffer, I don't see how this is patronizing 🤷‍♀️

A lot of colleagues did the same, people don't suddenly gain budgeting skills or may not be able to raise funds for a buffer.