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.

[Mummyoflittledragon]

After you said she's not offered to help when your car needs fixing, I'd be asking for full market rent minus £50. I'm a landlady. I keep rents lower by at least £75 on my long term tenants because it's easier for me to have them stay longer. It's a two way benefit. However, you've got a bunch of on costs whether she stays or goes. See as listed by YelloDraw. That's why I'm suggesting £50.

[talksensetome]

I think you have been very generous over the years and it is time for an honest conversation with your sister. Tell her you are struggling and are thinking about selling the house. She can rent it from you if she wishes but you have to make some money off your asset either way.

[LeninaCrowne]

I would get legal advice and do everything by the book re charging rent.

If she lives there 11 years without paying any rent could she claim "squatters rights" on the house? Or claim to be your dependant if you died?

No good deed goes unpunished!

[MrsJayy]

The initial conversation is going tobe dead awkward but once its out in the open you can work it out you have been more than generous.

[carolineal]

Def charge her rent and a proper whack at that. Not paying rent for 7 years is jammy to say the least.

Tell her you are struggling financially and so the choices are: sell the house, rent it out to her at "just below market price" - so £50 below or so or rent it out to a new tenant.

[fbreading]

Super why should the Op continue to fund her sister at the expense of her own family. It has nothing to do with whether the sis plans to buy. So what if she does.. not the OPs problem and the piss has been taken for far too long

[SuperFlyHigh]

I would bring this up in a conversation face to face maybe not at either of your houses and as her difficult financial situation has presumably improved you could talk with paper proof of how much your expenses have gone up and how much she could be paying in rent elsewhere.

Don't go in all guns blazing accusing her of being a sponging bitch or she will cut you off probably.

family friends had this situation - their nephew and his partner and DC lived with them rent free for about 2 years - the aunt and uncle were subsidising them. eventually the uncle who was very generous (nephew wasn't his blood relative) and hated confrontation had to say they wanted their house back and for them to move out. luckily it was broached in a way that nephew and his DP moved and rented nearby but with no drama. This can be done.

[FerretFred]

Tell her you're going to start charging rent in the new year, but start at a low starting point and over the course of a few months increase it to just below a market rent.

If she doesn't like it, then it gives her time to find somewhere else.

[Mummyoflittledragon]

I'm not exactly sure on the law of sitting tenant. AST's were created decades ago, sitting tenants are mostly, those, who started renting in the 70's. And op previously lived there so if push came to shove, she could get the house back for her and dh to occupy.

[Justjoseph]

Super, i think you are totally missing the point.

The money tied up in the rental house could be offset against the OPs mortgage.

The £650 is being paid by the OP on her own mortgaged house.

The OP is in effect giving her sister that money EVERY month! The sister has had plenty of time to save a flipping deposit.

[Trifleorbust]

You need to speak to her and explain that the situation needs to change, as suggested by pp. Give her the option of paying you rent (whether market or lower rate - up to you) or finding another rental within 3 months or so. Explain that you have been happy to help out up to now but you can't afford it any longer. No shame in that.

[SuperFlyHigh]

fbreading i didn't say OP should subsidise her sister but if sister has got a hefty deposit saved and can get a mortgage then this wouldn't be a problem - you don't know maybe sister has been house-hunting on the quiet.

if however she is still saving then I'm not saying OP should fund her but it would come as a big shock to suddenly find market rent.

OP really should have charged her rent - not necessarily market rent though from day 1.

[Puzzledandpissedoff]

Ok do you think half market rent would be reasonable?

I think that would be far too low, especially given your generosity over the years and her lack of it ... you'd also risk making it sound as if you were reluctant to ask for anything at all, which she could easily take advantage of

It appears you're expecting her to be difficult or you wouldn't be asking at all, so I'd avoid any chance of her trying to bargain you down by simply saying you'll have to rent it out commercially, then offer her first refusal at a much smaller discount

I really hope she wouldn't be awkward about that, but frankly I'm not confident

[SuperFlyHigh]

Just read my latest post.

[CompletelyConfusedMummy]

Of course you should charge rent if your financial circumstances have changed. At least half the market price rental sounds fair & would still be a bargain. Explain your situation to your sister. I'm sure she'll understand. If she doesn't, she's not deserving of your generosity to begin with!

[cerealnamechangers]

Sorry if this is a drip feed but she was supposed to pay me 100 oound per month as a nominal amount when she moved in and never did so we just let it go as we didn't necessarily need the money at the time and assumed that when she got back on her feet she would pay.

[Love51]

If you can't afford to fix your car, you aren't 'comfortable'. You need to charge her rent, and should at least have charged her enough to cover your expenses (eg insurance) from the off. Is there something you aren't telling us? Do you feel responsible for her for some reason? Why has your dh agreed to this for so long?
Do some googling to make sure you have covered yourself against her saying she has any claim on the house. I'd personally offer the low end of market rent, as you aren't paying agents fees, but would you prefer to let to your sister, who you know is a freeloader but equally you know keep the house in good nick,or would you prefer a paying tenant who, although might prove difficult, you won't have emotional attachment to?

[cerealnamechangers]

Love Our financial circumstances have changed from when she first moved in.

[Taylor22]

1. Get league advice. Can your sister claim squatters rights?
   
2. Absolutely charge her rent. That's money that is coming out of your home. For your children. Are you that comfortable thy you can afford to throw money away.
   
3. If you become her landlady you must do it all above board. So tenancy agreement, gas safety certificates and you need to stay on top of maintenance.
   
4. Your sister has taken you for a ride. If she hasn't saved a lot of money in the last 7 years to prepare for her further then it just proves she thinks your a doormat and feels entitled to your house.

[SuperFlyHigh]

oh FFS OP - yeah slight drip feed. of course your sister has conveniently forgotten to pay or you have been negligent in chasing her up.

i don't think she'll take this quietly now to be honest with you.

[Justjoseph]

Just read your post super and you are saying subsidise her further, the sister has had years and years to save. The OP should not fund her anymore...it's madness.

Yes it might be a shock to find the rent, but that's what normal people do they pay their own way!

[Soubriquet]

Then I will reiterate

Seek professional help, and go down eviction route if she still refuses to pay

[WhatsGoingOnEh]

I think you should claim rent, OP. If she's been living there rent-free for 7 years, has she been saving money towards OBE day buying her own place? When you first let her live in the house, what was said; was it a permanent arrangement or an "until you get back on your feet" type deal?

I don't think £100/month is enough. I'd go at least 50% of the rent that an estate agent says you could charge. That's still an amazing deal for your sister, but will help you out too.

[Trifleorbust]

Don't charge her half the market rent just because she (like every renter) might be saving to buy. She isn't your child. 7 years of no rent at all should have given her ample opportunity to save towards a deposit and, fundamentally, this isn't your problem. If you are struggling with your own bills and are basically gifting her thousands of pounds every year, you are more than entitled to stop doing this.

[Love51]

£42k is a lot of money. I'd give it to my brother if I had it (as you have effectively done) as he has a profoundly disabled dc who it would help, but he would never expect or demand it. And prior to him having this dc, i would have to have had a lottery win to give him that much! If you have 2dc it could be a house deposit each (in the north!) or fund a couple of cars for many years for you and your family.