to start charging my sister rent?

[cerealnamechangers]

My dsis has lived in my mortgage free house for seven years with her adult daughter since we moved to a bigger property, in that time i have never asked for a penny in rent as we were pretty comfortable but she has paid all the bills for the house e.g. council tax. I was intending to keep the house incase any of my dc ever wanted to move in. The market rate for rent would be about 650-700 pounds per calendar month.
However we now have 2 dc at university and money is tight so we could really do with the extra cash to help them out. Dsis is not short of money and her and her daughter drive nice cars and go on multiple long haul foreign holidays, so aibu to ask her for a contribution for living there? I feel awkward asking her as she has never offered.

[whydidyoudothat]

Yes I think she should be paying rent. I don't understand why some posters are suggesting she shouldn't if she is paying bills. Surely thoses bills are only generated by her and her daughter.

[NapQueen]

Well I would just say to her "with the kids at uni things are getting tight. I'm going to have to think about renting the house. Of course you can have first refusal and at a reduced rate, but I'm left with no choice now"

And I wouldn't go as low as 100pcm as if you need the rent because of money issues I'd imagine you could do with more than 100!

What's the market rent value? I'd offer her the house at a third off the usual rental.

[Maxwellthecat]

I wouldn't charge her rent if she's been paying all your bills, then that's her rent.

[ImAMoving]

sparklesilver er, that's how it's normally done. I rent a house and pay rent to landlord, shock horror I also have to pay all my bills as well like council tax etc.

OP I would just tell her as you are struggling financially you need her to move out so you can take on a paying tennent as you are losing money and can get £700 a month for the house. Hopefully she'll offfer to pay or suggest staying and paying slightly less. I'd accept £500 a month, she's taking the loss and of course is happy with the live rent free situation. Tell her the plan was always to make a rental income from this house to cover university.

Do you have a mortgage on the house you live in now?

[Mozfan1]

It's not the house you live in op, right? Another property you own? Maybe say to her you're thinking of selling up or renting it out as money is tight for you and see what she says?

[NerrSnerr]

Pumpkin why should the OP pay for half the gas and electricity? She's not using it.

[cerealnamechangers]

No we don't live in the house, it would otherwise be empty.

[Soubriquet]

I think some people are getting confused with the fact that you say she is living in your house

By that, you mean she lives in your house and you and your family live in another house. Is that correct?

[honeysucklejasmine]

Gosh, I am really confused by the "she pays bills so why should she pay rent?" argument! Was I a sucker paying both rent and bills when I was renting?!

OP who has been responsible for landlord type things like repairs and maintenance? If her, you may want to see a solicitor just to clarify your position.

[StatisticallyChallenged]

Have the posters saying she's not living rent free misunderstood the OP? The house is owned by the OP but op lives elsewhere. The only resident of this house is sis and dd

[MrsJayy]

Huh the bills are not rent dont be ridiculous in whos world does a LL pay have the bills

[BeautyGoesToBenidorm]

Oh, sorry, I didn't realise you weren't living in the house too OP. In that case, offering her first refusal and a reduced rate in rent is perfectly reasonable - she'd have to pay that elsewhere, and at market rate.

[Maxwellthecat]

Oh wait, I've misunderstood. I thought she was living with you and paying all the bills.
No charge her rent. I agree with Napqueen say you're going to have to rent it out but she can have first refusal.

[cerealnamechangers]

We have a small mortgage on the property we live in now.

[EnriqueTheRingBearingLizard]

I think posters are assuming that she lives alongside you in your home OP, rather than that she and your DN live rent free in a property you own.

Paying bills (living expenses) doesn't equate to paying rent.

[Mozfan1]

She's got a tasty deal then op. Say to her you need to rent it out because you're struggling a bit and see what she says

[Jellybean83]

Why on earth do people think bills mean she is paying rent? I pay all my bills for the house I'm in, should I phone my landlord and tell him that he should no longer expect me to pay rent because I pay my own bills? That is madness and I seriously don't understand that train of thought!

[HunterHearstHelmsley]

I'm thinking I've been doing it wrong all these years and could have just not paid rent. Missed a trick.

[cockadoodledoooo]

When you say all the bills, do you mean gas/electric etc maintaining the garden and decor SHE chooses?

For everyone saying that is her rent, you are very much mistaken. Unless you live in a bedsit or house share, paying rent plus paying all the bills is very much the norm!!!! She uses the gas/electric why would OP be paying for it. She lives there rent free, OP never said she lived there completely free!!

Just charging £100 seems a bit pointless imo and appears like an arbitrary amount for the sake of charging. If you charged her half market rate at least you would have a better case for saying you needed the money.

If she kicks off, simply remind her of the last few holiday/car she runs, because of your generosity of the years. If she still kicks off, tell her your disappointed that she does not wish to help you as you have helped her.

[Ewock]

Pumpkin they don't house share. Ops dsis lives in the house with her dd. Op lives elsewhere. And for posters sayong bills are rent I can assure they are not. I rented for a lot of years you pay the rent to the LL and you are responsible for also paying all bills e.g. gas, electric,water, council tas etc. Why on earth would a LL not living in the house pay half of those bills?

[MrsJayy]

Half* sorry.

[MirabelleTree]

I thought you were being unreasonable at first as I thought you all live together. Now I realise you don't I think you should ask fir rent a bit below the market value.

[Soubriquet]

Then yes. Of course she should be paying rent

Like every other person in the country who rents their house and pays their bills.

But like I said, at a lower market value. £100 is good. You could even go up to £2-300 really. It's half of the market rent and a fair price

[steff13]

I initially misunderstood that the sister lives with the OP, but that isn't the case, I don't believe. The sister should be paying rent and utilities just as any other tenant would, perhaps at a reduced rate. It's going to be difficult to get her to start paying at this point, though.

[ImAMoving]

I think some posters are confused. The OPs sister doesn't live with her, she lived in the OPs second house completely rent free and seperate from sister.