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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:
wooflesgoestotown · 21/03/2016 09:15

Another suggestion:

Open a joint savings account.

You both pay an equal amount in each month that reflects what rent/mortgage you might pay if you didn't live in a house funded by his parents (his loan payments deducted from his amount)

When/if you buy your own shared property the savings go to that.

If you break up you split the savings account 50/50

Lweji · 21/03/2016 09:18

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 was on a similar, don't know if the same, thread and I'd say it was an even split.

EBearhug · 21/03/2016 09:21

What do service charge + ground rent + council tax + bills + food come to? How much are the loan repayments? £200 a month seems quite a bargain to me, and I would expect to contribute something.

guerre · 21/03/2016 09:22

I think there is a real danger that once you've moved in, you would be doing all the cooking, cleaning, shopping, laundry, etc etc because, y'know, you're getting such a great deal on rent for that area...Hmm
Agree a set amount up front, plus an agreement about bills/council tax, service charge etc. You must have a rental agreement from him. He needs to be aware that if you don't move in, he still is liable for the full amount of council tax, service charge, water etc, none of which gonupnas a result of a second person living there.
I'd be more tempted to suggest the rent went to his parents, actually. More of a businesslike arrangement., and they could see you're not a gold-digger.
It doesn't sound as though either of you are in love though, tbh.
Do not agree ever to give him half your savings, and do not get pg, until you've had chance to see what he's really like.

guerre · 21/03/2016 09:24
  • go up as a result
JeanGenie23 · 21/03/2016 09:27

I am so glad to see this post from extra hot-
"If he took out an unsecured loan, as a self employed person, to cover 5% of the purchase price of a flat, I'm hazarding a guess it's not large, however, even If it is large, it's 5% of a flat, he has been GIVEN 95% of the flat. He will own 100% of the flat, not the OP. He will be paying it off whether she moves in or not.

Charging your girlfriend to live with you, when you have been GIVEN the property & it's not costing you any more for her to live there with you, is just crass."

I very much feel as though the OPs partner has been told by his parents to charge rent but dress it up as a good idea afterall she will be saving £200 per month. This may well be true, but if he is paying a small amount back per month on this loan (I assume it's small on the logic from extra hot above, but also if it was a large amount surely he would have just got a mortgage?) then it's really underhanded to start making profit from someone he is in a relationship with. Op has never once said she wants to live there for free, from the get go she said all bills and maintenance would be split 50/50.

If he wants to be making a return on the property he should rent it out to a tenant.

hollyisalovelyname · 21/03/2016 09:28

OP Are you going out with him long?

SarahUnderwood · 21/03/2016 09:28

"It doesn't sound as though either of you are in love though, tbh."

That is a massive stretch. You can't possibly comment on that based on a few paragraphs and presented from one side only. Relationships are nuanced... Plus as I've been said before this 'half her savings thing' is a total red herring. The suggestion is that she pays rent from her ongoing income (and will now have a lot more diposable income as she is only paying half what she was before).

ColeslawSandwich · 21/03/2016 09:30

I agree with the above ^^ it does feel as though he's going to make a profit from the OP. That doesn't sit well with me.

SarahUnderwood · 21/03/2016 09:32

If the loan repayment is £1000, service charges a couple of hundred more, plus all the maintenance and replacement costs etc and she is paying £200 is DP making a profit?

LazyCake · 21/03/2016 09:38

OP, trust your instincts on this one - it's all wrong.

Fundamentally, this is a man who is prepared to give you nothing.

LTB.

JeanGenie23 · 21/03/2016 09:38

We don't know the figures though do we Sarah- if he was paying £1000 per month in loan repayments then of course £200 isn't enough, I have said a few times how I believe Op needs to split the cost of paying the loan back. Without knowing the figures a lot of posts have to be based on assumptions.

However the OP should not be paying more than he is to live there, and that's the impression I get from her posts.

SarahUnderwood · 21/03/2016 09:44

What sort of guy is he? Is he the sort of guy to kick you out on the street if things go wrong?

JeanGenie23 · 21/03/2016 09:51

Another thing that would bug me about this; yes you may be saving £200 per month by moving in with bf, but you are currently renting, any maintenance and emergency repairs are currently paid for by your landlord. What happens in this new flat? I'm sure your bf would expect you to cough up and go halves on the expense of a busted boiler, broken cooker, plumbing for the leaky sink. So that £200 per month you are supposedly saving will soon get eaten up in the flat, the flat which you will have no ownership of. That's why I think it's shity of him to dress this up as being such a good deal for you.

And of course what happens in regards to division of labour? Like the PP suggested will you be expected to do most of the cooking, food shopping and cleaning? Because afterall you are getting such a good deal... I would think very carefully about this!

absolutelynotfabulous · 21/03/2016 09:52

I agree it's crass extra, but the OP has to live somewhere, and this is an opportunity for her to live somewhere decent, at a discount. It sounds fair to me (albeit not particularly romantic.).

Save what you can, OP but keep your savings to yourself. Btw you won't have any claim on the property unless you are married (or have an agreement that is enforceable in court).

I'd see a solicitor and get a cohabiting agreement drawn up. At least you know where you stand then.

suzannecaravaggio · 21/03/2016 10:20

Crass isn't the word I'd use
Mercenary perhaps?

TheoriginalLEM · 21/03/2016 10:43

the correct thing that should happen here is that the op and her partner split the bills 50:50. They then both pay an agreed amount or what they can afford into a savings account towards a shared property in the future. If they split they get back what they put in and he keeps the flat. simples. anything other than that is indicative that he has no respect for and trust in the op. Spoilt little rich kid springs to mind.

Justanothermanicfriday · 21/03/2016 10:48

Spoilt little rich kid springs to mind.

Yet you feel it is ok for the OP to live rent free. Are they not 'spoilt too'

Why should DP put an agreed amount into a savings account? It seems you think it is ok for the OP to decide how it should work but not the DP.

Nottodaythankyouorever · 21/03/2016 10:49

Spoilt little rich kid springs to mind.

Wondered how long it would be before that line was spouted.

suzannecaravaggio · 21/03/2016 10:56

I don't think the bloke is a spoilt rich kid..he's lucky, but he doesn't want to share his luck with his girlfriend, which suggests he doesn't really see her as a potential life partner?

JeanGenie23 · 21/03/2016 10:56

I don't know if he is being spoilt, I am jealous though that he has parents who can gift him 95% of the cost of a London flat, it's taking us ages to save Sad

suzannecaravaggio · 21/03/2016 11:03

The family are clearly minted and have brought him up to extract a profit at every possible opportunity
No doubt he'll do very well for himself!

NoSquirrels · 21/03/2016 11:05

Do you want to live with him, regardless of what it costs? I do think it's fair to pay rent, on the equivalent basis of a lodger under the Rent A Room scheme.

However, to determine the amount, perhaps you should fully discuss exactly what this rent includes - add up all the monthly bills, service charge etc etc. and have a discussion about contributions towards things breaking/needing repairs and exactly how responsible you will be for these things (HINT: not at all if you pay "rent", or to be discussed if you don't). Don't just go for the "market rent based on what you pay now", really sit down and add everything up and be clear.

How do you intend to merge your finances in other ways e.g. will you share grocery bills 50-50 (and are you OK about compromising etc.), save for holidays together, how will you sort social occasions etc.? Are you generally financially compatible? These are the things you should sort out now. Don't complicate the issues with savings accounts to be shared and split later if you're not merging all your finances now, it's neither one thing or the other and will lead to bother.

You can always change things later on, but it's best to be crystal clear before you even move in to prevent problems.

If he is reasonable, then talking about this stuff shouldn't be an issue.

Shutthatdoor · 21/03/2016 11:06

The family are clearly minted and have brought him up to extract a profit at every possible opportunity

Equally the OP is 'profiting too' if you want to look at it that way, but hey let's use anything we can to have a go at those that may have money.

oh and before you start I don't

ExtraHotLatteToGo · 21/03/2016 11:07

Yes, he's very fortunate to be in this position. The fact that he wants to make money off his girlfriend is abhorrent.