How would you split this?

[Pretzel1]

Im a lone part with one dc 2 considering renting with a friend who has no kids in order for us both to save. I earn approx 1600 after all tax deductions etc a month, 84 child benefit(if i should count that in my income idk).
Friend earns on average 2300 a month and does bank shifts for extra income (fair enough she can do as has no child and i dont feel these should be counted)
So rent, council tax would be approx 775 pcm
Gas, electric approx 160 a month maybe? Currently mine is 112 (due to energy price increase so trying to factor in another person also using it)
Water currently 40 a month but this may also increase so say 50/60? Internet is 30.
I would assume we would keep food bills separate. So how do i split this as i have a child is 50/50 unfair but she does earn more and child is only here when im here so doesnt use more in terms of energy as such.
Any advice or recommendations would be appreciated. For the record its a 3 bed she would have her own bedroom and ensuite, child in smallest room and me in the middle.

Does your single childless friend really understand the realities of living with a 2 year old?

I would say two thirds you, and one third her.

I kind of think it’s irrelevant that your friend earns more than you. You’re not in a relationship so the split shouldn’t be based on income.
I’d say 60 / 40 given you have 2 rooms and she has the larger room and en-suite. I’d probably be ok splitting 50/50 if I was your friend

Just because she earns more she shouldn't be paying more than you who is using 2 rooms. Yes she'll have an ensuite so am assuming you and dc will have the 'family bathroom' to yourselves?

I would split the council tax , gas, water and electric 50/50 . Only adults pay council tax, utilities might be marginally higher with 3 persons but the extra cost would be minimal.
The rent I would split in terms of percentage of space used. How do the two larger rooms compare ? Are they both ensuite? Perhaps a 60/40 split of rent ?

Both of your earnings are completely irrelevant. It should be based on bills used, space taken etc.

Your not in a relationship, you can't split based on earnings at all.

I’d split the rent 2/3rds you and 1/3rd her
The rest 50/50

Although you want to split food, if suggest you agree an amount on shared household cleaning items ie washing up liquid, kitchen roll etc. IME it can get very petty if you each have your own of things like this.

I'd say 50/50 as 2 year old is not contributing to income and you won't use significantly more electricity etc because of a child.

Agree income is irrelevant.

Are you specifically renting a bigger (= more expensive) place so she can have her own room ? In which case you need to pay the difference between the price for the 3 bed, over the 2 bed, and then you split what the 2 bed would have cost you. I don't think the utilities, broadband etc need be more, though the council tax might be more as it is a bigger property.

Rent I’d say should be around 60% you and 40% your friend given she has the best room and ensuite but you have 2 rooms and use of the family bath. Council tax should be 50:50 as children don’t count. Internet is fixed so 50:50. Energy bills I’d probably say 60:40 as your child will generate extra washing, they’ll probably have baths not showers which use more water and if you cook for them separately etc.

I don’t see how your earnings are relevant. She’s not your partner so shouldn’t be subsidising you and your kid because she earns more so don’t take that into consideration.

Do you not receive universal credit? Her income is irrelevant really.

You’re using 2/3rds of the bedrooms so should pay 2/3rds of the rent.

Your housemate’s earnings are moot, she shouldn’t have to subsidise you.

Rent will be split into 3 with you paying for 2 bedrooms so 2/3s then bills half half I'd say.

I'm not entirely sure this is going to work... by saying that the friend has a higher salary it's implying that you think they should be paying more. Also does your friend really want to live with a 2 year old?

Okay so most of you think 60/40 for the rent and others 2/3 me 1/3 here so sort of similar bar a few percent. Food would be separate but i guess we could have a set amount we put in for toilet roll washing up liquid etc id like to think we wouldnt be too petty but i agree things can get complicated. I do think most bills 50/50 although i do take on board what about my son using slightly more in that i may wash more so perhaps 60/40 there too. Its very early stages of discussions i currently live in the house me and my son so she would technically be moving in with me. It makes sense for this to happen as my rent is technically locked in at a lower price in my contract for example a house in the same layout size etc as mine a few doors down recently went up for 900 pcm rental due to recent increase in rental market prices so if we where to move somewhere new altogether we would be paying i estimate at least an extra 100 for same number of bedrooms. My room is not ensuite it would just be hers.

What you earn isn’t relevant. You aren’t life partners.

60/40 ish? For rent and bills. Talk to her, she might be happy with 55/45 but I doubt it, because without your child you wouldn’t need 3 beds.

Can you easily extract yourselves if this doesn’t work after 6 months. I think it needs a trial period.

@TokyoSushi this was a worry of mine that my dc would end up causing problems. She has offered to even mind him but i said this definitely will not be happening or expected as it complicates things. To add to problems we both have partners who stay 2 nights a week usually so i mean could she end upcdown the line saying well my partner didnt sgay this week its unfair your using more etc. U just dont want to get caught up in arguments and ruin our friendship but financially this could be alot better for us and she is really struggling currently. I only get universal credit to cover towards my sons nursery fees whilst i work.

You'd be better paying everything & having her as a lodger/room let for a set amount to include bills. If she has a second job, she's unlikely to be home much so won't use as much of the utilities etc

No idea why you'd be factoring in her income. Clear & fair lines from the outset

If there is 3 bedrooms and you and your child are using 2 then you pay 2/3 rent. Bills id probably say 60/40 as you will be using more for the child and likely to have heating on more, using machine more, baths instead of showers for the child etc

@buckeejit

You'd be better paying everything & having her as a lodger/room let for a set amount to include bills. If she has a second job, she's unlikely to be home much so won't use as much of the utilities etc

No idea why you'd be factoring in her income. Clear & fair lines from the outset

This ^

Now you've said you already are in the property, and she is effectively moving into your home, it puts things on a different footing.

Though of course there may well be rules against subletting (however you phrase it).

@buckeejit

You'd be better paying everything & having her as a lodger/room let for a set amount to include bills. If she has a second job, she's unlikely to be home much so won't use as much of the utilities etc

No idea why you'd be factoring in her income. Clear & fair lines from the outset

This is probably the easiest and fairest way to do it.

You pay all the rent and bills and she pays you the lodger/room in a shared house rate for your area.

You buy all 'sundries' like washing up liquid, and she pays for her own food. But if she's your friend, you might share some meals anyway?

I just wouldn’t, I’d rather keep my friend and living with an adult who is not in a relationship with me would be unbearable

.

Would your tenancy agreement allow you to have a lodger paying rent to you? I imagine not so I presume her name will be added to the agreement?

I agree what you both earn is irrelevant. I bought my first flat with a good friend and neither of us expected her much higher salary to be factored into any bills.

Interestingly though, we did have 3 bedrooms. I had the large one and she had the two smaller ones and both felt this was reasonably fair.

If you decide to pay more because of your ds, you might consider how you would feel if your friend has a bf/gf staying over regularly. They might use more space/facilities etc than your ds.