To ask if this is reasonable (money related)

[skylerwhite]

My DH is commuting for work from October, about 2.5 hours away. He has arranged to share a flat with a good friend of ours. Rent for the flat is 600 per month. DH will be there three nights a week, probably for 26/27 weeks of the year. We have been discussing the financial side, and I thought it might be a good idea to ask the denizens of MN if you thought a 400:200 split in terms of rent was fair? DH will pay this for 10 months of the year, but will split the payments over 12 months, so friend will have money coming in every month.

Is this reasonable?

I've just seen on the spare room website that the friend/landlord will still be able to keep his single person benefits for council tax. Presumably in your household you will continue to pay the full whack.

Did you know about this, hellsbells?

Miss Strawberry, he's only staying half of the year but is willing to pay it over 12 months so that the guy has a regular income.

I would say 50% of rent but NO bills and no everyday essentials to be paid for. Your dh to buy his own food, but to expect to use sugar and cooking oil etc.
So he'd paid £300 a month

Ooh thanks Imperial, you're a star

Even though he's not there half the year, QOD?

50/50 here too

I really don't understand those saying 50/50 when he will only be there 80 days in the year.

50:50 but no sharing of bills

I would go that way as it errs on the side of generousity on your DHs part and means there wont be issues or arguments if it transpires friend likes the heating on 24/7 all winter etc

Also there will be plenty of goodwill in the bank and I think under these circs that would be a good idea

If he paid half council tax and half of bills and basic foods surely that would be over £300 PCM? If he paid £200 rent a month, my thought was that he'd then end up paying over £100 more a calendar month for bills. Actually, I'd go for £300 per month he is there! So 300x 6 divided by .... Ummm just book a B and B ... Be much easier ...

I would say it would be reasonable for your DH to pay £250 (inclusive of bills) per month (every month).

£50 - the difference between £550 & £600.
£50 - towards bills.
£150 - to make it 'worth it to share' for his mate.

This means that over the year your friend will be £1800 better off & your DH is paying roughly £37.50 per night (based on 80 nights) that he's there. Sounds reasonable to me & I'd be happy to be your friend or your DH in that situation.

Your friend gets the benefit of a bigger flat (usually all the rooms are bigger/nicer in a 2bed than a 1 bed), a bit of company & £1800 savings a year.

Your DH gets a room he can leave his stuff in from week to week, a second home rather than a 'guest house' or whatever and saves money on using a guest house.

Win/win :)

One thing they need to discuss though is how each of them view the room when DH isn't there - ie a) Can DH leave his stuff there and expect sole use of the room or b) is the friend planning on using it for guests/whatever, when DH isn't there - or would this be a in term time and b in 'holidays'. This could be quite crucial and would also change how much I'd want for the room or how much I'd be prepared to pay for the room.