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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Is now a good time to move in together?

42 replies

Evenicoulddothat · 19/03/2024 01:51

2 years ago I met a man online, he's a doctor, his wife passed away 10 years ago now and he has one daughter who's 19 nearly 20 and in her first year of uni.
I have one son who's 17 nearly 18, I'm a nursery manager.
My son is going to go to uni in the summer to study mental health nursing, he will likely leave home as his top 2 uni choices aren't quite commutable. Luckily they aren't expensive cities I don't think.
I live in a 2 bed rental, it's nothing fancy but it does my son and I well. My son's dad is remarried and pays £250 a month in maintenance and I claim a little UC that I'm entitled to.
My partner owns a 4 bed house in a lovely part of the city mortgage free. When his wife passed away he sold the family home which was in a much more expensive part of the country, bought his current house mortgage free and kept all of the life insurance more or less for his daughter.
My partner thinks that when my son goes to uni this year I should move in with him, we'd split the bills 70/30 which is roughly our income split (he's 4 days a week but still makes nearly 90,000, I make 35,000). I'll be honest I've never been with someone who's as well off as he is so it's a bit alien to me.
The main issue is if my son went to uni and lived with me alone he'd get pretty close to full loan but would only get minimum if I move in with my partner. My partner says it's fine as I could give him what I currently pay in rent - 300 which is UC and child benefit currently and the 250 maintenance his dad could give him. He thinks 775 a month + minimum maintenance loan is plenty for him to live on and cover Accomodation. I'm worried that it won't be but I don't know.
Then there is the disparity, his daughter did a gap year with her mums money that cost a hell of a lot of money (probably more than I make in a year all in), isn't taking any uni loans, is paying fees and Accomodation out of her mums money and her dad sends her some money to live off + her job for food etc. Obviously this is fair enough but I'm worried my son would be jealous?
My partner says we could make the guest room my son's room, he can have all his stuff and decorate it as he wishes to make up for him losing his room at home.

My sister thinks I need to wait until DS has finished uni, and I know he won't ever move home again as it's not fair to make him feel like as soon as he's left for uni I'm packing up to move in with a man. But then his dad moved in with his new wife when he was still a teen? And we'd have a much better quality of life, with less outgoings and a nice big house with a lovely garden in the nicest part of the city.
DS and partners DD haven't really met that much. His DD likes to work extra hours over the holidays and had a gap year where between July 22 and August 23 she was home for less than 4 weeks all in. But they don't seem to dislike each other or anything. This year we did Christmas all of us and they had a great time doing TikTok dances and what have you together.
I've asked DS about it and he says whatever it's fine.

The only other issue is, if it did work out. Neither of us want to get married again, too much hassle really. So if he died first what would happen to the house? And what about inheriting the house I'd imagine even if we die in 40 years, I'd imagine he'd want it to go to his DD. Now I'm unlikely to ever buy but I'm not sure if that's fair on DS.

Is now a good time to move in? AIBU to think it's as good a time as any?

OP posts:
fluffycatkins · 19/03/2024 01:56

I wouldn't move in.
If anything happens to your DP you are homeless.
I don't see any point in you paying a lot extra for your ds' Uni fees either.
I don't actually see what you gain from this arrangement?

Evenicoulddothat · 19/03/2024 01:57

fluffycatkins · 19/03/2024 01:56

I wouldn't move in.
If anything happens to your DP you are homeless.
I don't see any point in you paying a lot extra for your ds' Uni fees either.
I don't actually see what you gain from this arrangement?

Well I get to live with the man I love and want to spend the rest of my life with. In theory if we stay together which I'm hoping we will, we will live together at some point.

OP posts:
PeopleAreWeird · 19/03/2024 02:02

Well ofcourse if your partner died, the house wouldnt be yours and it would go to the daughter.
You arent entitled to it, at all

If your son was jealous, i would tell him to get a grip, the girl is using money from her mum who has passed away

The post seems very grabby imo

ShrubRose · 19/03/2024 02:07

Evenicoulddothat · 19/03/2024 01:57

Well I get to live with the man I love and want to spend the rest of my life with. In theory if we stay together which I'm hoping we will, we will live together at some point.

PP was right that you wouldn't be protected if DP predeceased you, or if the relationship were to sour for some reason. This might sound a bit hard-nosed, but if you really wanted to live with him, you would be safer marrying with a pre-nup to protect you and DS.

Josette77 · 19/03/2024 02:08

If you can't afford to buy why would your ds expect to inherit a house?

I'm in Canada but when dp moves in I will set up my will so that as long as he is alive and wants to live here he can. He will have a life long lease basically.

When he dies though it instantly is my son's.

My life insurance policy is as well.

Do you have a life insurance policy that will go to your ds?

I don't see how you'd be worse off?

If you break up you go back to renting.

Evenicoulddothat · 19/03/2024 02:12

@ShrubRose

What sort of pre-nup though? Surely that would only protect him as the house would still rightfully go to his daughter?

I really want to live with him and I'm willing to accept some risk of my own (like the relationship breaking down and needing to find elsewhere to live, that I can handle as I'd have disposable income for the first time in a while with not having rent or full bills to pay and be able to save a contingency fund for myself).

I'm more worried about DS feeling pushed out or if we grow old together and he dies first (would it be possible for something to be written that would let me continue living in the house until I died then it go to his DD to be sold or is that not possible?).

I want to live with him I just don't know how to go about it best. My last relationship was the type of situation where we both entered with nothing and left with nothing so a lot easier.

OP posts:
Evenicoulddothat · 19/03/2024 02:13

Josette77 · 19/03/2024 02:08

If you can't afford to buy why would your ds expect to inherit a house?

I'm in Canada but when dp moves in I will set up my will so that as long as he is alive and wants to live here he can. He will have a life long lease basically.

When he dies though it instantly is my son's.

My life insurance policy is as well.

Do you have a life insurance policy that will go to your ds?

I don't see how you'd be worse off?

If you break up you go back to renting.

Edited

Yes this what I was hoping would be possible.
I do have life insurance that would go straight to DS.

OP posts:
ShrubRose · 19/03/2024 02:29

if we grow old together and he dies first (would it be possible for something to be written that would let me continue living in the house until I died then it go to his DD to be sold or is that not possible?).

Yes, of course it's possible, but it would have to be set up legally, e.g. as @Josette77 will do in Canada with her will. But it would have to be formalized for you to have that security, not just talked about.
I hope this all works out for you, OP, and I don't want to rain on your parade. But unforeseen things happen in life at unforeseen times, and I think it's good to be careful.

BoxOfCats · 19/03/2024 05:03

But if you're renting currently, you're not losing anything by moving in with your DP. Yes you would have to move if your DP passed away or decided to end the relationship - but currently you're equally at the whim of a landlord, who might give you notice or sell the property at any time. You would not inherit a house, but currently you don't stand to inherit one anyway.

If you would end up with the same or more disposable income than you have currently (after sharing bills with your DP and supporting your son with what you currently pay in rent) then it's a no brainer to move in with DP really. You would be better off in a bigger, nicer house and being able to spend more time with your DP.

Neurodiversitydoctor · 19/03/2024 05:33

Evenicoulddothat · 19/03/2024 01:57

Well I get to live with the man I love and want to spend the rest of my life with. In theory if we stay together which I'm hoping we will, we will live together at some point.

Then he can marry you.

Evenicoulddothat · 19/03/2024 05:34

@Neurodiversitydoctor

I don't want to marry him, I don't want to get married again.
I'll happily spend the rest of my life with him, but I don't want to get married.

OP posts:
Pheeeeebs · 19/03/2024 05:44

I wouldn’t sacrifice my dc university finances. Is there a work around here? In the other hand, the less he borrows the less debt he accrues in the end. Is it possible to buy a little property of your own and rent it, it’s a good investment and you’ll never be homeless in f the relationship break down.

Evenicoulddothat · 19/03/2024 05:49

Pheeeeebs · 19/03/2024 05:44

I wouldn’t sacrifice my dc university finances. Is there a work around here? In the other hand, the less he borrows the less debt he accrues in the end. Is it possible to buy a little property of your own and rent it, it’s a good investment and you’ll never be homeless in f the relationship break down.

I don't think so, his dad and his wife also make enough now that I don't think he'd get much.
I definitely can't buy a property, I currently have basically no savings. Also don't really want the stress of having to rent somewhere out.

I don't think DS would be any worse off it would just mean I was giving him the money for Accomodation, and food instead of it being a loan. I guess I wouldn't be worse off either as otherwise that money was going on rent anyway.

The Accomodation in the city's he's looking at is £100-£150 per week, so hopefully could make that work.

I just don't want DS to feel pushed out or to spark any jealousy with partners daughter who admittedly through very sad circumstances is in a totally different financial position to most with things like a house deposit and debt free uni experience all set up for her.

OP posts:
T1Dmama · 19/03/2024 06:18

Could you move in with partner as a ‘lodger’ ? Then as your finances aren’t considered joined (as they won’t be) it won’t affect your claim for UC or his help with uni fees?
Also it is absolutely possible for your DP to change his will to either leave you a percentage of the house or leave you the right to remain in it until your death then it pass to his DD. It’s just whether you’d be able to afford the bills on such a big house in old age.
also be a ‘lodger’ and having an agreement of rent (which covers bills etc) would legally cover him too so he might be agreement to this till your son finishes uni at least.

Evenicoulddothat · 19/03/2024 08:03

T1Dmama · 19/03/2024 06:18

Could you move in with partner as a ‘lodger’ ? Then as your finances aren’t considered joined (as they won’t be) it won’t affect your claim for UC or his help with uni fees?
Also it is absolutely possible for your DP to change his will to either leave you a percentage of the house or leave you the right to remain in it until your death then it pass to his DD. It’s just whether you’d be able to afford the bills on such a big house in old age.
also be a ‘lodger’ and having an agreement of rent (which covers bills etc) would legally cover him too so he might be agreement to this till your son finishes uni at least.

Is that legal? It seems sort of fraudulent.

OP posts:
Loubelle70 · 19/03/2024 08:08

Personally i wouldnt.
But ive been burnt.
Love is all well and good until the SHTF. Promises are just words.
If you move in...always have some financial backup incase.

T1Dmama · 19/03/2024 08:13

Evenicoulddothat · 19/03/2024 08:03

Is that legal? It seems sort of fraudulent.

You are technically a lodger though unless you’re pooling your finances together? I’d be drawing up a rent agreement as this also protects his assets.
The benefits system presumes that
when you live together you share all equally which doesn’t sound like the case with your situation.

Revelatio · 19/03/2024 08:14

Why would you life in the house if he died? Surely it would go straight to his children and you would go back to renting like you are doing now? Are you saving any money in the new arrangement? If so, you can start saving for a deposit for a rental flat and build up a savings fund.

Evenicoulddothat · 19/03/2024 08:16

@T1Dmama

How would we not be sharing equally, we'd be splitting bills according to our income, sharing a room, doing the food shop together , holidaying together etc.

I don't think a couple in a relationship can claim one is a lodger?

I will be financially better off for moving in as I'll no longer have any rent to pay, and instead of full bills I'll be paying 30%.

We are going on holiday together next month and he has paid for all of jt so I imagine things like that would keep happening.

OP posts:
Evenicoulddothat · 19/03/2024 08:17

Revelatio · 19/03/2024 08:14

Why would you life in the house if he died? Surely it would go straight to his children and you would go back to renting like you are doing now? Are you saving any money in the new arrangement? If so, you can start saving for a deposit for a rental flat and build up a savings fund.

Immediately I'll be marginally better off. Once DS has finished uni I will be considerably better off.

OP posts:
T1Dmama · 19/03/2024 08:17

Evenicoulddothat · 19/03/2024 08:16

@T1Dmama

How would we not be sharing equally, we'd be splitting bills according to our income, sharing a room, doing the food shop together , holidaying together etc.

I don't think a couple in a relationship can claim one is a lodger?

I will be financially better off for moving in as I'll no longer have any rent to pay, and instead of full bills I'll be paying 30%.

We are going on holiday together next month and he has paid for all of jt so I imagine things like that would keep happening.

Well no if he’s financially supporting you then that’s different. You
didnt make
that clear.
said you’d be paying towards the bills… no mention of sharing finances

Evenicoulddothat · 19/03/2024 08:18

@T1Dmama

I'm not sure what constitutes as "sharing finances" in this instances. Can you clarify?

OP posts:
SuperGreens · 19/03/2024 08:31

Student finance is still a loan and one that means a higher tax rate for a long time. So while your plan might mean slightly less now money for your son now, in the long run he'll be much better off for it. Especially as he has not chosen a high paying career, it will make a big difference to him in the future.
Your plan sounds fair, just make sure you keep enough on the side to pay a deposit and rent if you decide it's not working out. You could also try wait until after he starts uni so he gets one year full loan which takes some financial pressure off you both. After you've lived together for some time you could then look at what will happen when you're older, one passes away, needs care etc, but too soon for that now.

T1Dmama · 19/03/2024 08:38

Evenicoulddothat · 19/03/2024 08:18

@T1Dmama

I'm not sure what constitutes as "sharing finances" in this instances. Can you clarify?

Will the bills come out of a joint account? Or are you keeping bank accounts separate?….
surely ‘shared’ finances doesn’t need clarifying…. Will he be supporting you financially or are you paying your share…
If your son is all that’s holding you back then just go for it, he’s off to uni, will meet a partner and have his own life soon enough.

Pinkdelight3 · 19/03/2024 08:39

But if you're renting currently, you're not losing anything by moving in with your DP.

That's what I was thinking - to those comments saying you'd be "homeless if anything happened to DP". OP wouldn't be homeless, she'd go back to renting and be no worse off than she is now.

The 'son being jealous' element is also spurious. This is a boyfriend of 2 years. Your DS has zero entitlement to have the same standard of living as the DD. He's got different circumstances and that's fine. He seems to understand that with his chill attitude to the move.

The only real issue is the fees. If you've looked into it fully and are sure you'd lose out a lot by moving in, then it does make sense to delay it a bit longer. At least for the first year so you know what DS's outgoings are and if you really could cover it with what you're saving on rent. You'll see if DS gets a job etc too and be able to do the sums and see how they stack up, rather than relying on DP's blithe idea that you can cover the costs, when he's speaking from a position of never having to scrimp. I'd watch out for that attitude and make sure you're getting a fair deal overall if you do move in. It's hard when incomes are so different and you might be expected to keep up with his lifestyle costs.

But if he's reasonable about that and things become more shared as a household then that's all good. For now, it's only been two years, you've got no interest in marrying and there are benefits to the move, then I don't see any problems in moving to the next phase, either after DS's first year at uni or during it, when the financial picture becomes clearer.