To charge my sibling rent?

[Inheritanceconfusion]

My sibling and I inherited a property from our parents, when they died.


My sibling has been living there for about 18 months since probate was granted. The intention was to buy my share but that has been delayed for various reasons.


My sibling has not been paying anything for living there and I’ve recently discovered that they and their spouse are saving around £2k per month.


With costs of living and our own mortgage rising, I am considering asking them to pay me some rent on the property.


Would that be unreasonable? I think they would think so.

[Anunusualfamily]

Any repairs should be shared 50% by the owners

[OnTheBrinkOfChange]

@Anunusualfamily

I think this is the situation that I will end up in with me being your sibling in this situation. We have discussed it and we agreed to pay half of (just below) market rate as it’s an expensive area. Any maintenance etc is shared 50:50

That's completely unfair to the person not living there!

[Harridan1981]

If the sibling only owns half the property, she should technically pay rent on the other half. Otherwise OP is missing out on half of market rent while they live for free.

[GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER]

Owning half is one thing, but what about council tax, utility bills, insurance, etc? She surely ought to be paying half of those.

[Anunusualfamily]

@OnTheBrinkOfChange

That's completely unfair to the person not living there!

Not sure why that’s so unfair?

[Cameleongirl]

@Inheritanceconfusion

That is the intention @Cameleongirl but it’s taking a long time with no sign of it speeding up.

IME, the best approach is to set a firm deadline. Something like “I need to sell my 50% of the house to you by April 30th, 2023, or we need put the house up for sale by that date.”

Don’t elaborate, just say that you need to have the situation sorted out by X date. If they ask why, say financial reasons. Otherwise it will drag on for months.

By next spring, your sister will have been living there for two years, surely that’s enough time to investigate buying you out?!

[Darbs76]

I don’t see that’s it’s unreasonable at all for you to charge her rent. As someone else pointed out you’re not lucky to own a house already, as you’ve said you made the choice to save a deposit and purchase a house, and clearly made other sacrifices to get that. The fact your sister hasn’t isn’t your fault.

The fact they are saving 2k a month is why this is dragging on. Why would they be rushing when they are saving a small fortune (assuming it’s them dragging their heels). I’d ask them if they can push it through otherwise you’ll have to ask them to pay some rent. They might not be happy, but I don’t see why you’re the cheeky one as some are suggesting. Takes the P she hasn’t even approached this as I certainly would if I was your sister. My brother would have said something a long time before now anyway as he was always insistent on things being 50-50 when we were growing up!

[Darbs76]

@Anunusualfamily

Not sure why that’s so unfair?

Because it’s meant to be a shared inheritance. If they were renting it out whilst it sold they’d be making a profit, which would be shared. So clearly it’s unfair. Come on

[YellowTreeHouse]

YABVU. It is their property too, so no you can’t charge them rent.

And also, why would you want to? Why would you be so petty and bitter?

[SarahAndQuack]

@StopFeckingFaffing

You can't charge someone rent for a property they own

The sibling doesn't own the property.

[CatSeany]

I think it's a bit money grabbing. I'd happily let my brother have a bit of an advantage re. saving money. I couldn't ask him to pay me rent.

[peanutbutterontoast7]

I couldn't imagine a world where I would ask my sister for rent on a house she jointly owns.

[Anunusualfamily]

@Darbs76

Because it’s meant to be a shared inheritance. If they were renting it out whilst it sold they’d be making a profit, which would be shared. So clearly it’s unfair. Come on

Right they would still be getting rent for their 50% only slightly lower than the current market rate, but with a tenant who has a vested interest in looking after the house and no agency fees. not sure where the problem is

[Greengr]

Haven't read the whole thread
Could you not rent out some of the house to give you an income?

[Midnights]

@YellowTreeHouse

YABVU. It is their property too, so no you can’t charge them rent.

And also, why would you want to? Why would you be so petty and bitter?

How is it petty and bitter? The sibling is living rent free, SAVING 2k a month and holding up the cash flow for the OP who can't get the cash for their share. The sibling has saved 36k ish - and the OP hasn't received any money from the house, that's not petty or bitter to notice this disparity.

OP I'm not sure but I think you're able to charge rent on your half as your sibling only owns half - perhaps suggest you'll be putting your half to good use and getting a lodger in to help with bills, and see if that can chivvy them along!

[Cameleongirl]

@YellowTreeHouse Their parents left the house to them 50/50 though and so far, the OP hasn’t received any benefit from it. Her sister, OTOH, has received 18 months of free housing.

That’s not what the parents intended, is it? They want both children to benefit from the property.

[SarahAndQuack]

@YellowTreeHouse

YABVU. It is their property too, so no you can’t charge them rent.

And also, why would you want to? Why would you be so petty and bitter?

I really don't get this attitude.

The OP says why she'd do it. She is struggling with her mortgage. That's surely a position of concern? If she can't pay her mortgage, she will lose her home. Would you be happy with a sibling deciding not to share an inheritance fairly, while you lost your home?

I do think a lot depends ethically on the relative financial positions of the siblings - but I suspect, legally, it's much more cut and dried.

What I don't get is the assumption that the OP must be comfortable and the sibling must be penniless. If the sibling is even considering being able to buy out the OP's share, that's not someone who is totally without resources. Say the OP's home is worth 200k and the parents' house is 800k - it could easily be that, while the OP is currently a homeowner, her sibling may have a perfectly healthy financial situation, to be in a position to raise a mortgage for 400k.

[Mojoj]

They absolutely should not be benefitting from staying rent free in your jointly owned house. Either they buy you out or you put the house on the market. Anything else is taking the piss.

[SarahAndQuack]

@peanutbutterontoast7

I couldn't imagine a world where I would ask my sister for rent on a house she jointly owns.

Can you imagine a world where your sibling was at risk of losing her home, and you'd take income that was meant to be shared with her because it meant you got 18 months of free accommodation?

I personally find it harder to imagine the second than the first.

[cstaff]

I get where you are coming from op but if you asked for rent that would lower the amount they could save every month and then take even longer to buy you out

[notdaddycool]

Might be easier to say either you want to rent out half the house to tenants or put it on the market if they can’t complete soon. That might lead to a conversation you can steer to them paying you half market rent.

[Cameleongirl]

@notdaddycool

Might be easier to say either you want to rent out half the house to tenants or put it on the market if they can’t complete soon. That might lead to a conversation you can steer to them paying you half market rent.

But give them a firm date, don't say "soon" or it'll drag on for months!

I'd give them six months to buy you out, that's plenty of time.

[Punchline]

I am right in saying you both own jointly, you pay the mortgage and they pay the bills? They need to pay for the actual cost to live there ie bills and half of the mortgage. That’s only fair.

[Inheritanceconfusion]

There’s no mortgage on the property.

My sibling’s family occupy all of it. There’s no room for a tenant or anything.

[Stressybetty]

Surely the sibling is paying all bills, council tax, gas, electric etc, just not rent or mortgage. Agree you need to be firm and agree a timescale for her buying you out. You'll get your share of the value then. Insisting on rent could just cause arguments.