Fair division of rent in student house with different sized rooms?

[LindorDoubleChoc]

This is a Victorian terraced house with 3 double bedrooms upstairs, 1 box room, and 1 double bedroom on the ground floor (it would be the front living room in a traditional family living arrangement).

What percentage of rent do you think is fair for each room?

Just to recap - 3 double bedrooms upstairs, 1 double bedroom downstairs, 1 box room.

Always pay the same, just luck who pulls out the bigger rooms. I agree though definitely not the sort of thing parents should be involved in

Of course not! OP please don't suggest this- it has the ring of authority but would be hugely unfair. You're not just paying for bedroom space, it's use of the whole house. In fact, OP don't get involved at all- both of tbe other pp suggestions: draw lots same rent or box room slightly less perhaps 15-20% would be fine. But it's for them to sort.

My son's student friends paid less for the box room 15%and slightly less for the downstairs room because of the late night noise 5%.

I'm pretty sure students are poorer now 😂I'm far past student age myself and don't have student children so no skin in the game but rents today are a much higher proportion of 'income' and students are acquiring vast debts every year.

Hopefully it's been sorted when they signed for it.

I'd say 30% cheaper for the box room and 15% cheaper for the ground floor double. Ground floor is very noisy as it's so close to the street.

Box room is either 50% off (compared to a double room) or students change rooms every year.

Each write down on a piece of paper how much they would be willing to pay for each room. The one condition is - it must add up to the total rent.

Then the highest “bidder” gets each room.

The total will then (almost certainly) add up to more than the total rent on the house so then all the rents are reduced proportionately.

I think we just all paid the same. I liked my small room as it was over the kitchen and boiler so it was warmer and also at the back of the house so it was quiet.

We all paid the same. Then as people came and went over time, the last person in had the box room.

What do they want to do? If there’s one student who wants to pay less for the box room and everyone else is happy to pay more then do this? If not then drawing names is the only fair way.

How big is the box room? Does it have a window? Is it usable for someone to sleep and study in?
Some box rooms I’ve seen are basically cupboards- so I think that’s relevant to take into account

I think when you're in that stage of life you think differently about things. You're much more easy going. I miss that. So I think they need to sort it out amongst themselves.

if it were me now I'd see if anyone wanted the box room and how much they were prepared to pay and if it was reasonable then split the remainder over the doubles. Maybe a bit more or less for them if there are obvious pros/cons (much bigger/the only one not on the same floor as the bathroom/a balcony or french doors etc etc).

When I was a student the box room person paid a bit less. That particular friend chose to have the small room in order to get the reduction in rent. It worked for us.

A drawing name seems pretty standard

but if the are going down the different prices
box room and downstairs room less

I had a box room, it was bloody awful I paid significantly less. I couldn't fit anyone else in no where to put my stuff and I slept on the floor

Surely it’s better to have someone in the box room paying less than the others because then overall it will make everyone’s rooms cost slightly less

If there's someone that wants the box room, sure.

I find it very useful to have a recap as I am easily distracted and will often forget what I read a few minutes ago.
In fact I wonder why I'm here now and what on earth I was going to write.
I'll go and make a cocoa and hopefully it will come back to me. Look at that dust, I must do something about that first. 🙃

Person in the boxroom pays £10 a week less. Names drawn out of a hat for rooms unless a volunteer for the boxroom.

Box rooms must be cheaper, but it must be on the rental agreement.

Please don't forget that not all students have the same budget.
So some will opt for the cheapest/crappiest room so they can house-share with their friends.

By the time you factor in the shared space as well the actual difference is small - especially if bills are included.

That is nonsense. Imagine having your bedroom as a box room. The stress of being unable to store very much. Having a single bed. Whilst everyone else gets a big bedroom and space to relax and have people in your room.

A box room is a recipie for resentment, it always is. All pay the same and one gets a shit room.

This happened to my best friend at uni donkeys years ago. They agreed to swap rooms termly so theyd all get a turn in the box and then refused
It was so awful she left after about a term and they were furious as They knew they'd have to cover her rent - who was going to pay all that for a box room.

The box room pays about a third less at least. Then they can rotate rooms termly if they'd like a crack at cheaper rent and a smaller room

When DS shared, the agency told them the rate for each room, that was about 5 years ago.

When we lived in places like this the box room got a small discount but not much as they got a fair share of everything just a smaller room.

Divide total by number of rooms. Doubles pay +£10, box -£40, for example.