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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to start charging my sister rent?

380 replies

cerealnamechangers · 25/10/2016 10:41

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.

OP posts:
Arfarfanarf · 25/10/2016 11:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Katedotness1963 · 25/10/2016 11:04

If she's lived there rent free for seven years and now you're thinking of only charging her half the going rate, I'd say you'd been more than generous. Surely the point of a second property is to make money? Just think what she's saved over the years...

diddl · 25/10/2016 11:04

I think that you just have to tell her straight.

And if she doesn't want to then tell her she'll have to go elsewhere as you need to rent it out.

She'll probably be pissed off, but should be thinking of what she has been able to do with the extra money that has been available to her due to living rent free for 7yrs!

She could have a pretty good deposit for her own place!

fbreading · 25/10/2016 11:05

At 500 a month you have so far subsidised your sister, and lost yourself £42000. And I'm willing to bet, since she's never offered you a penny, that she doesn't appreciate one bit the huge favour you have done her. Time to wise up

Mozfan1 · 25/10/2016 11:05

What diddl said surely she's been saving the money she would use to rent to get her own place or something

Pearlsofmadness · 25/10/2016 11:05

Just say to her that money is tight now with your DCs at uni and that you're going to need to rent the house out for extra income but you wanted to give her the chance first to rent at lower than the market value.
She can't really moan, she's had a good deal for the last 7 years.

Soubriquet · 25/10/2016 11:05

I doubt she will have savings for her own home with the cars and fancy holidays she's been taking

QuackDuckQuack · 25/10/2016 11:06

Have you got a tenancy agreement already? If not, I'd see a solicitor. I think this has the potential to go nasty and the sister might try to make some sort of claim on the house.

Minisoksmakehardwork · 25/10/2016 11:06

I would approach it from the angle of needing the money because of dc at uni, and how would she feel about renting the property at half market rate. If she chooses not to, then give her suitable notice to find somewhere else to live.

But; if she is paying you rent of any amount, you will need a clear contract drawn up of who is responsbile for what maintenance-wise. Ie any breakdown of heating etc and state of decoration. Which means you might not be as well off as you'd hoped if you are also having to put moneys aside to save for potential landlord repairs.

toptoe · 25/10/2016 11:06

She's had a lucky stretch living rent free for 7 years. What are you worried about happening if you charge her rent?

Hellochicken · 25/10/2016 11:06

It will be a bit awkward to ask (it would for me). Whatever you charge would have been disposable income for her. But I definitely think you should. You have been essentially saving her £650/month for 7 years.

Half market rent is very fair.

SpaceUnicorn · 25/10/2016 11:07

Surely the bills are rent?

How on earth are bills 'rent'? That makes no sense at all. Confused

Bills are the costs for utilities used by the residents, rent is the fee paid to the owner of the property to make use of the space. Not the same thing at all.

Mummyoflittledragon · 25/10/2016 11:07

I'd ask for £500 as a minimum. I'm struggling to understand in which world two adults think it's ok to live rent free in your house. Was she struggling at the time with her dd at school or something?

MrsJayy · 25/10/2016 11:07

Nah sister has been living the dream for 7 years there wont be much saving I don't think .

Soubriquet · 25/10/2016 11:08

You will have to be prepared to be a proper landlady though OP

If for whatever reason your sister refuses to pay, you will need to stand your ground and go about evicting her in necessary

cockadoodledoooo · 25/10/2016 11:08

I would say £400-£475, way below market rent. She could have saved for a good deposit over the years if she was being responsible!

What kind of relationship do you have with her?

Mummyoflittledragon · 25/10/2016 11:08

I agree with QuackQuack. I'd consult a solicitor before I speak to her.

BarbaraofSeville · 25/10/2016 11:09

If the bills are gas, electric, council tax, phone, water etc, they'll be nowhere near half the rent unless it's a very big ineffcient, expensive, house.

How much would two rooms in a shared house, bills included be where you are (assuming they each have their own room). Because that's what it sounds like they're getting?

How are food costs worked out?

Soubriquet · 25/10/2016 11:10

Barbara the sister and her daughter live in that house on their own

The OP and her family live in another house

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 25/10/2016 11:10

I don't see that paying the bills like utilities and council tax = paying rent. Most tenants would be paying these as well as rent.

I agree that a rent somewhat below the market norm would not be remotely unreasonable. Your sister would have to be paying an awful lot more than she has been if she were to rent somewhere else privately, and it doesn't sound as if she's exactly skint.

MrsJayy · 25/10/2016 11:10

Yes you will need to register as a LL tenacy agreements and whatnot

ohdearme1958 · 25/10/2016 11:11

Barbara. Why are food costs important?

The OP and her sister do not live together.

fbreading · 25/10/2016 11:12

£500 minimum. And I bet the cheeky mare kicks off. You have done more than enough. And you are essentially handing over to your sister funds which would otherwise help your own children.. fees, deposit on a house, or god forbid a bit of wiggle room for yourselves

Original poster
cerealnamechangers · 25/10/2016 11:12

She was in a difficult financial position at the time and needed somewhere to live and we just happened to be moving out. Our car is broken at the moment and we can't afford to fix it and she knows this and hasn't offered to help which prompted dh to bring the conversation up with me that maybe we need to try and make some money off of the house.

OP posts:
Grumpyoldblonde · 25/10/2016 11:12

The Op lives in a separate house! I thought everyone realised that by now. The food costs and bills are nothing to do with the OP