Splitting costs in shared accommodation

[Nutsabouttopic]

My daughter and two friends are moving in together. The friends are a couple. All girls. It's a three bedroom house. Couple have master bedroom with ensuite. Dd has bedroom and main bathroom. Third bedroom will be an office. One of the other girls works from home 95% of the time. Dd and other girl rarely work from home. Kitchen/dining room, sitting room and utility. Dds bathroom will be used by visitors. Dds boyfriend will stay occasionally, doesn't live near. All will go home some weekends. What way do you think rent and bills should be split. Bills are electricity and WiFi. I'm asking because couple think it should be a 50/50 split but dd and I don't think that's fair. All three names will be on lease. They are all mid 20s and working.

Definitely don’t let her accept 50/50. It should be 1/3 each (and even that is somewhat generous if one of them will be WFH and using a lot more electricity, particularly in the winter with heating).

Your dds friends are trying it on
Of course it should be a three way split.

Maybe she could find a fourth flat mate for that spare room too and split it four ways.
I think your dd may struggle sharing with a couple, there’s clearly already an issue.

Three ways would be generous of your daughter as they have the better room, the spare room & working from home will cost more of the bills. Sounds like they are taking the piss already, she should think carefully if this is the right move for her.

A third each and that probably a little generous to the couple when one of them will increase the bills by working from home.

I've lived in this scenario but with 4 of us in a house, 2 were a couple (incidentally also both women) we all paid 25% each, the couple chose to set one of their two bedrooms up as a study space (final year students) and share the bedroom. There was never any other discussion. If they were loving just the two of them in a two bed space so they could have an office, they'd pay for a two bed!

If they were sharing a room and the third room in your case could then be rented to someone else they should get a discount for sharing , but they will be both using the utilities , arguably the one WFH a lot more than others and are using two bedrooms.

You've not accounted for the additional gas/electric the WFH person will use or that OPs D had to share her bathroom with visitors but the couple get a private bathroom.

I think your DD should reconsider moving in with them. Even if she negotiates a fairer split the fact they suggested 50/50 from the off is a huge red flag. Moving in with a couple is a risk anyway, a couple who immediately want to take advantage more so. She will likely keep her friendship with them longer if she doesn’t live with them.

Third each is the only fair way.

I once lived with a couple in similar circumstances. All was OK except for the washing up, they expected it to be a case of the couple doing it one day, me the next. So I do it half the time and them a quarter each (or both do half of it half the time). No.

Third each, the couple are getting a private bathroom and an office.

Third each.

I’d walk away, the balance is always off with a couple and a single and if they’re already pulling this stuff it’s going to be worse once she’s locked into a contract with them. Clearly 1/3 is the reasonable way to go, but they’ve shown their cards now that they aren’t going to make reasonable roommates

A third each. And I agree that DD needs a plan B in case they insist on 50/50.

Dd asked to say Thanks everyone. I think it's unanimous that a third each. The issue I think is coming from the fact that neither of the couple have ever lived away from home before so don't totally understand rent and bill paying. Dd lived away from home through college and on and off since. They are all moving for new jobs. Dd has decided to have a sit down chat with the two if them and establish some ground rules. One of the girls is used to mum doing everything for her so this could be a bit of a shock to her. Also the fact that this couple are just moving in together for the first time. They asked dd to share with them. I feel that they think she will be in charge but she expects them to act like adults. If dd is not happy after this chat she will rent on her own. She's done this before and been quite happy but she gets on great with both girls and hopes it will work out

If there were only 2 bedrooms and they were sharing one I'd say 50/50 on the rent and bills to be split 3 ways was reasonable.

However as they have 2 rooms and your dd has one, three ways is the only fair split. That they think otherwise is a massive red flag and your dd should walk away from this!

A third each, as daughter has one bedroom, and other two girls are using large bedroom and office bedroom. Ie. Two bedrooms.

Why do couples think like this?

back when people could afford rounds there was a big group of us and just one couple. Didn’t realise the couple were classing themselves as only having to buy one round between them even though they were getting 2 drinks out of everyone

came to a head when just the couple and me one night, I bought a round, they got a round then apparently it was my turn again!

Suggest that DD has the master with ensuite, if they want her to pay 50% there's no reason they would object. She can let slip that it would be handy for if she wants to move her boyfriend in and halve her rent.

This is an amazing way to troll them AND highlight how unfair they are.

I still think this is the giant red flag telling her to not move in and safe herself a year of annoyance and tense living conditions

I think your DD should pull the plug.

Not only are they CF'ers for suggesting a 50/50 split but does she really want to live with someone who has never lived away from home and a new couple living together for the first time. Sounds like a recipe for disaster.

If she can afford to go it alone, she should.

This.

It could end up like she’s lodging in their house.

What happens if they break up or have an argument?

Moving in with a couple who've not lived alone or with each other before? Sounds like a recipe for disaster! She'll either end up refereeing their domestics or be out voted on everything 2 to 1!

Can they take on rent and bills in third names and agree a flat rate (going market rate) for her room including bills?

33% each. One bedroom each. If the other two choose to sleep in one and not the other that’s their issue.

A disagreement of this nature is not a good start to a tenancy, so I recommend your daughter finds another rental arrangement.

100% a third each.

1/3 each.
Her visitors should use the main bathroom and their visitors use the ensuite

I agree. It’s so risky moving in with a couple who haven’t lived together before.