How much should I charge??

[Timetheworldsaysicantafford]

A very good friend's older teenage (university age) son may lodge with us for up at a year. He'll have a double room, and we'll provide the majority of food (breakfast, lunch, dinners). He'll go home on the odd weekend, and holidays etc. We are not doing it to make money but equally can't afford to be out of pocket. What do you think would be a fair amount to suggest we charge per week? We've never had a lodger before and I have literally no clue!

Maybe work out approx what the extra food/utilities will cost? Add in a bit for inconvenience of sharing the house, and possible extra wear and tear. See what the figure looks like. You could also look at online ads for lodgers to get a sense of what the local market is.

So you’re looking to cover electricity and food? Honestly that depends so much on your normal expenditure, in terms of what kind of food you buy, how well insulated your home is etc.
Can you work out what you currently spend and therefore how much it is divided by the number of people in the house? If you’re not looking to make a profit I’d prob charge him the amount you guess an extra adult will cost. Bear in mind ricing prices and build in a little buffer!

If he's lodging, why can't he provide and cook his own meals?

Just charge a nominal amount in rent to cover the electricity increase etc.

I would look around on spare room and lodgers / student digs in the local area to see what the going rate is. I assume he’s at Uni and if so is there a reason he is not in student digs? Or is he working?

@00100001

If he's lodging, why can't he provide and cook his own meals?

Just charge a nominal amount in rent to cover the electricity increase etc.

Regarding the food/meals, it's just makes it easier if he provides/cooks himself surely?

Then there's no resentment (you cooked a meal and he wasn't in that night because he went out with his mates instead), no expectations (eg he wants steak every week) etc

£65 a week

I would check local rates for college students in lodgings. I would definitely want to do the cooking and keep him out of the kitchen if it were me. Much easier to add an extra portion in than have another person in the way in the kitchen and making a mess.

My daughter pays about £450 a month for a shared student house plus bills and no food. So I'd think £100 a week would be fair if you are feeding them as well but not particularly doing it for profit.

5k for the year? That seems reasonable to me. I wouldn’t want to do it but I think you need to charge. Did they not offer an amount?

Starting point is, most students will be paying over £100 pw (closer to £200pw in some parts of the country) for rent inclusive of bills. That is without food and without laundry (which is expensive for students).

He will have his maintenance loan to provide for his living costs.
Whereas you don't want to be 'making a profit' out of him, equally, be wary of under pricing yourself too. An 18 yr old can put away a LOT of food / fruit / snacks, and take a lot of showers.....

He will be there for lunch??

I honestly think offering breakfast and let him crack on for the other meals. Surely he will have a social life of some sort and be out? And if he is at uni or work he won’t need a lunch provided. Give him a cupboard and a section of the fridge.

I don’t not know what to charge…..£50/week?

I'd say £400 a month inclusive. It should cover things if he's not careful at all about how much electricity he uses in your house and if he does have three square meals a day etc, while still being much cheaper than what he can get elsewhere. If you do end up making a profit and you're really uncomfortable with it, you could always put the extra money aside each month and give it back to him at the end of the year if it's more than a few quid.

Not being funny but he's an adult in college.

As for lodgings look at the local rates for places which the college recommend.
Plus the provision of food can be calculated by looking at your average food bill. Feeding him is locking him into your household timetable.

What are the house rules?
Can he bring people home, smoke, drink etc

Whats your friends expectation on how you deal with issues?

This may end up as an easy way to lose a long term friend

Do you have children at home, and how old are they?
How will this impact on them?
Do you want a lodger or a paying guest (part of the family for meals etc).

I quite like the idea, but would prefer it on a room basis and they sort out their own food, although wouldn't be adverse to including them in some meals if I was cooking and they were home, but with no expectation that I would.
Use of the kitchen, bathroom & shared living areas.
Own kitchen cupboard and nominated fridge/freezer (shelf/drawer) space.
Set out your expectations in terms of consideration for other occupants in advance.
Assuming it's convenient for the uni I'd think £100pw for the above, which would include bills & use of your laundry facilities, but doing it themselves.

Ds is currently paying approx £125pw for a uni room, 6 in house, shared kitchen & bathroom. Bills & WiFi & communal areas cleaner included.

I'd anticipate your utility costs would increase, I've been surprised how much my electricity usage has dropped since ds went to uni.

Id consider getting a cleaner, for all areas, with some of the cash. I'd make it clear that included their room and it needed to be tidied for the cleaner each week.

I wouldn't want to get involved in the food side of this. He will have his own tastes and for all you know may eat loads. You don't want to have to start cooking for him if you don't need to cook for yourself.

I did this several years ago but it was for a friend of a friend's daughter. I charged £50 per week and she provided her own food except one night a week when I cooked. I found it a complete pain in the arse to be honest but I didn't really like the girl anyway. I didn't know her before this.

As cuno says, I think it makes sense to err on the side of charging more than you think, rather than asking for what you think is going to be the bare minimum and then finding he eats more than you think and that he turns the radiator up and leaves the windows open or that he puts a wash on without filling the washing machine every other day etc etc and you end up resenting him being there.

Also need to think about how it will work with him having friends back, or even a special friend over night......

I predict it will end in tears!

Anyway if you are going to include food there is simply no way of knowing what would be a reasonable price. If you want to make a reasonable estimate, you need to exclude food.

I had a similar set up with a family member who I lived with for 8 months whilst I was inbetween homes and at uni. All food, bills, increased better internet as I needed it, and general taking up space in their home and they charged me £300 a month. 7 years ago. My now husband moved in for a little too and they upped it to £450. This was amazing! And we expected more. East London, walkable to tubes and good buses.

Assuning you're not in the back end of beyond... I'd charge a minimum of £100 pw...

I really really wouldn't include food... Unless its just milk /bread...

Just a recipe for resentment when he doesn't eat what you provide, or you need to be there nightly as he needs to eat... Or will only eat organic seagul tongues on rye😂.

With an agreement you'll review it 3.months in.... If he puts all heaters on/uses washer daily, invites all his mates back nightly to empty the fridge 😂.

It can end up being a real pain

I don't think I'd be providing food.
It will muddy the waters somewhat as I don't think he'll be wanting lunch and dinner very often at home and will likely be eating on the go or with friends yet will feel he is paying for food he's not eating or wanting at your house.
Perhaps if you've space ask him to provide his own fridge with small freezer compartment which will make things easier?
I think what you charge will completely depend on the area you live. For example in my area for £100 a week he could have his own privately rented 3 bedroom semi!

I would talk through with him what is going to work best for meals- does he actually want to eat with you all or just access to the kitchen? Personally I'd far rather cook for someone than have them cooking for themselves in my kitchen but obviously you may feel differently.

Do you just want to cover the additional cost of having him or are you also charging him for the room?

I think what you charge will completely depend on the area you live. For example in my area for £100 a week he could have his own privately rented 3 bedroom semi!

Fair point!
Although he'd presumably have bills on top of that.

Thank you - all really really helpful advice. We're only in the really early stages of discussion (and it wouldn't be until October) so there is a lot to think about/chat through! Appreciated folks....