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.

Why is she struggling? emotionally or financially?

Having her as a lodger seems like the best solution.. then you get to keep the tenancy as it is, the ability to give her notice if required without having to dissolve the tenancy.

I would split

Rent 60/40 she’ll get own bathroom - did I get that right?

Electric and gas 50/50
Ctax 50/50
Water 60/40 there is two of you using water, so more usage for you
Internet 50/50
Household insurance 50/50

Cleaning products, washing up liquid, bleach, dustbin bags, loo cleaners etc kitty purse but 50/50

How will you sort cleaning tasks?

60/40.

Will you both be on the tenancy, or is friend moving into the place you're already renting?

If you're on UC, there will be implications if she's moving in with you. Either her contribution to the rent should be treated as income, or there will be a non-dependant deduction made from your UC.

You should have said it was your house, that’s really key!

Your earnings are irrelevant, as is how often you expect to wash 🤣 you’re not flatmates using too much of the loo paper someone else bought!

Give her an all in price, as a lodger. Everything included except her own food and personal toiletries. Loo roll, cleaving products - all you. Don’t charge her specifically for the increase in Council tax - but allow for that in your decision.

The tricky bit I think is energy, given the direction of prices and variability in usage person to person. But I think that’s on you as landlord to decide, with a review built in each year. You absolutely don’t want to be arguing whether her boyfriend stayed an extra night or whether yours stayed in the shower too long! As a lodger, she’s lucky to find a place her boyfriend is welcome. When you work out what she should pay, you need to work out what she’ll add. If she’s at home at the same time as you generally (no big discrepancy such as a WFH person) then she won’t increase your standing charge, and I doubt she’d increase the water / electricity / gas consumption by more than half as much again. If you’re nervous about that, make it the only separate bill, and split 60/40 with an explicit agreement that it is not adjusted according to whose boyfriend had the longest shower!!

As she has an en-suite then the family bathroom will end up being exclusively for your use.

I think charging her an all inclusive rent would work better. However, if not then I'd do 60/40 of everything except council tax.

The most important thing is for you both to understand exactly what the agreement is. It's a million times easier to discuss and agree things now rather than wait until everyone is pissed off with each other. What happens if her and her boyfriend want to watch crap tv in the living room when you want to.

The most fundamental issue is whether you are going to see it as her staying in your house or whether it will be more the case that she is sharing it with you.

Personally I'd make it clear it's your house and she is renting a room and has use of the kitchen and living room. The rent would have to reflect that

If you're on UC you would only need to update your account if your Tenancy Agreement was amended to a joint Tenancy (i.e. your overall rent is now split between both parties).

If you will be paying an unequal apportionment of the Rent, you would need to make this clear in your Journal so your Case Manager can record the portion you are liable for (otherwise the system will just apportion 50/50 split).

Alternatively, if your Friend becomes your lodger then you don't need to update your UC account at all - and any "income" you take from lodger is disregarded in full.

Joint Tenants and Lodgers should not be added into the "Other People" section either as this will generate a non-dependant deduction (it does say to only add another person if they're NOT a Joint Tenant / Lodger / Member of the Landlords Family etc etc).

I wouldn’t do a split of bills/rent but charge her a set amount each month.