What’s fairest way for partner living with house owned by other

[Mary1234567]

I’m buying a flat in my name alone and my boyfriend (partner of 3 years) will be moving in with me. They weren’t able to contribute any money or go on the mortgage.
whats the fairest way to collect funds from him? Do you think he should pay half the mortgage and half all the bills? What’s the fairest thing. (The mortgage is quite a lot for me and neither of us are rich).

Yes they should be paying half, they are benefitting with a roof over their heads. Draw up a formal agreement

I think that he should pay a contribution towards the mortgage but definitely not half , unless half is unbelievably good value compared to him renting a place or being a lodger somewhere else.
He should pay half the electric water bills though .

You pay mortgage, buildings insurance, repairs (anything house related as it’s your investment). Split bills 50/50. Open a joint savings account where the partner puts an appropriate amount of money in a month (say half the average rent for a similar flat).

Have it put in writing that in the event of a break up, he has no claims to the house and the joint savings are split 50/50. That way he will have built up some money to afford a flat deposit and rent and will be able to move out immediately, and you will have savings to cover you living alone for a while. If you stay together, use the joint savings towards a joint flat or for him to buy into the property.

Don’t listen to people on here, what is fair / moral isn’t always the same as what is legal.

If your partner pays half the mortgage then that will establish his having a financial interest in your house and he will have grounds to make a claim on it in the event of a break up (how successful that claim will be will be determined by a judge).

Please get legal advice to protect yourself.

Edited to add, the same goes for any significant financial contribution such as renovations, extensions etc.

Half the bills inc council tax and then find out the going rate for a house share near you and work from that to calculating his rent, remember it needs to cover wear and tear/redecoration/repairs etc. But it's NOT a contribution to the mortgage! Even if that's effectively what that money goes towards.

Yeah I think you have to be really careful to word it as “rent” not “mortgage” payments otherwise he will have claim over your property. I’d just see how much a lodger normally pays in that area and charge that amount +/- half the bills (often lodger rent includes bills). But definitely you have to pay for house repairs etc because it is your house.