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Original poster

Boyfriend charging me rent at a property he owns

255 replies

blueamanda · 20/03/2016 19:14

Hello everyone!

I'm in a bit of a dilemma... My bf has recently bought a flat, 95% of the money came from his parents, he doesn't have a mortgage and he took out a loan to cover the rest. The idea was that we'd move in together, but we haven't exactly discussed the details until now.

I was more then happy to share the bills and food costs with him from the get go, however he now wants to charge me rent as well, which would be half of my current rent. He calls this a non-specific contribution to the flat, this is not going to be a landlord tenant agreement. All this would be outlined in a living together agreement and he also wants me to sign a waiver saying I will have no claim on the property.

This ordeal has left a bitter taste for me, since I'd be contributing financially to the flat that isn't mine and I don't have the same protection a tenant does. I'm in a far more vulnerable position.

I would love to hear some advice and perspectives from anyone in a similar situation.

Also does anyone know if my bf is charging me rent is he legally obligated to pay tax on it? Would I be better off pushing for a landlord tenant agreement? I won't be renting a room from him, but sharing the bedroom.

Many thanks!

OP posts:
MrsSteptoe · 20/03/2016 20:38

JeanGenie it isn't reasonable to suggest that she pays more than he does to live in the flat

Oh, I see what you mean. No, totally agreed!!

iminshock · 20/03/2016 20:38

You should not have s stake in his property any more than you should have a stake in the one you currently rent.

DontCareHowIWantItNow · 20/03/2016 20:39

Don't care- oh I beg your pardon I thought op said no mortgage. Just a small loan to cover the difference? I did suggest OP contribute to the cost of repaying this

It is a loan he has taken out. There is no mention if it is small or not. It may be quite big in comparison to earnings.

Lunar1 · 20/03/2016 20:41

I think it sounds fair, they are both in a better position financially than they were separately.

The only thing I would specify I'd that you are not financially responsible for any upkeep as you have no stake in the property.

JeanGenie23 · 20/03/2016 20:48

Yes the loan amount is left to assumption.

If he was repaying back less than £200 per month for the loan though I wouldn't feel comfortable. He shouldn't be making profit from this and try and dress it up as though he is making a saving for the OP. He is either the landlord and there is a set tenancy agreement or they pay equal amounts as a couple, with the OP knowing she won't have a stake in the property

TheCraicDealer · 20/03/2016 20:53

I think you should be paying half of all costs/bills, including housing. If the housing costs are limited to the repayment of the 5% loan then you should pay half of that. If you pay him 'rent' beyond that (or keep paying when the loan is paid off) then he's profiting off the money which his parents have gifted him to buy the house.

He's been very lucky to have parents who have been able to fund a property for him- these aren't the fruits of his own labours we're talking about here. It seems a bit off to profit from your partner who has already agreed to make no claim on the property should you split up.

Lunar1 · 20/03/2016 20:58

Why shouldn't the dp benefit? The op will be better off.

JeanGenie23 · 20/03/2016 21:03

Lunar- if he wants to make a profit he should either right up a tenancy agreement for Op or rent it out to someone else. It isn't fair to dress this up as doing op a favour (his partner let's not forget) and then pay less for the house they live in together.

tribpot · 20/03/2016 21:07

The service charge is a landlord cost. He can pay for it out of your rent, in my view. Otherwise WTF is your rent for, except subsidising his half of the living costs? (And servicing this loan he's got).

I would get some proper advice, maybe from Citizens' Advice to make sure you're aware of the pros and cons of being a lodger vs tenant.

JeanGenie23 · 20/03/2016 21:08

Just noticed my shocking mistake of right/write. Dear god I need to go to bed Blush

DioneTheDiabolist · 20/03/2016 21:11

OP, it has been said that you do not want to live "rent free". How much rent do you think you should be paying?

My view of this is that £200 per month rent is fair. There's the loan, the service charge, insurance and money put aside for repairs and maintenance. And you are £200 a month better off.

ABetaDad1 · 20/03/2016 21:22

I don't think it is unfair to pay half the market rent. If you lived in a rented place with your BF you would share the rent with him. You cant expect to live for free.

BYOSnowman · 20/03/2016 21:27

Agree with abetadad

What rent would his flat earn on the open market - pay around half that or what it would cost to rent a room in a similar sized flat (if it is a big flat).

Paying half of the cost to him (excluding mortgage) doesn't seem fair

Boogers · 20/03/2016 21:28

There was a similar thread a few weeks ago only it was the bloke (the OP) in your position asking if it was fair his girlfriend charged him rent for a property she owned but he lived in as her boyfriend. The verdict was overwhelming that he was expecting to freeload because he'd shacked up with someone who had inherited a property and owned it outright, and that he should suck it up because he would be paying far more in rent living on his own. I see no reason why this shouldn't apply to you, sorry.

willfuckformichilenstarfood · 20/03/2016 21:48

I don't have a mortgage and my partner pays no rent to me. Just half the physical bills. I pay for the food but I also earn double the money he does. He saves some & spends some.

I'm encouraging him to save enough to buy a small flat to rent out x

Original poster
blueamanda · 20/03/2016 22:34

A lot of good questions raised there.

I would not agree to paying market rent, as I can't be paying for the choice of flat he made (more fancy with high service charge).

His parents don't expect the money back. It's quite difficult as he doesn't have a monthly salary, he is a contractor and sometimes he gets a lot of money in and sometimes less.

For a flat apart from bills, council tax and food you have ground rent and service charges.

In either scenario, even when I walk away with some savings after say 3 years I will still not be able to buy property on the London market (which is crazy).

I am committed and do perceive this as something long term. He is pretty well off, don't think he'll ever have any money worries. I suggested that we go for half of the rent going into a savings account and if we end up buying together it will go towards my percentage in the new place, in case of I break up with him he gets the money and if he breaks up with me... well that's to be decided

OP posts:
Original poster
blueamanda · 20/03/2016 22:46

*that's half of my current rent going into the savings account (so previously described as 200)

OP posts:
tribpot · 20/03/2016 22:56

Gawd please do not tie up your savings in 'if I break up with you but if you break up with me'. Things are not always that straight forward. What if he goads you into ending it with him, knowing he gets half your savings? No. A clean split.

As a contractor I'm sure he's worked out how to budget between invoices so that he can draw down roughly the same amount every month. The irregularity of his income isn't really an issue.

suzannecaravaggio · 20/03/2016 23:08

tricky
perhaps ask yourself how you'd want things to be organised if the tables were turned?

Out2pasture · 20/03/2016 23:09

my son charges his gf rent so that if the relationship does not last she has no right to the property.
and honestly if I was a parent having invested 95% into my son's mortgage I certainly would be making sure that she didn't end up with the asset after a short term relationship.

Out2pasture · 20/03/2016 23:12

i'd be furious if I invested money so that my son could have a roof over his head and someone then turns up and after a few months demanded half the house having become accustomed to that style of life.

Chocolatteaddict1 · 20/03/2016 23:15

So how much is the loan monthly ?

TwllBach · 20/03/2016 23:25

I'm moving in with DP as we are having a baby. As I fell pregnant within a couple of months of knowing each other, it feels very much like a trial thing, to see if we are compatible at living together like a PP said.

The house is DPs. I will it be paying rent but will split the bills - this is his idea. Certainly for the first six months anyway, as he wants to protect his investment/asset. After 6 months we can reevaluate... But I'm not sure I will be happy to pay rent and have nothing back from it if we split somewhere down the line.

SoThatHappened · 21/03/2016 04:18

I very much doubt he'd have any legal claim on your savings if you went for option 2.

How would that work. No agreement to pay rent so he LET you live rent free.

TheoriginalLEM · 21/03/2016 04:22

fuck that - he doesn't love you .

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