Do you charge live at home twentysomethings rent?

[BoulderingBridget]

my eldest who graduated a few years ago, travelled then got a job in London and rents with friends. The younger one is coming back home in Sept and will be working part-time. Should I charge some rent, or help her out so she can save to move out?

I think that’s incredibly unfair.

I was told I was going into a “real” job - a training contract. Turns out they paid minimum wage, which they justified by saying that we were outside of the big cities. Then they expected us all to take a day a week off because of the fact we were studying. So that was down to 80% of minimum wage gone. Then they sent out job offers and they were willing to pay qualified solicitors £25,000 a year! I’m leaving now, but I’ve spent the last three years at that firm to get onto the TC and then qualify. The job market is fucked. I’m leaving to another low paid job, but this one has clear progression opportunities. Young people really, really struggle these days.

I think there are a lot of variables. I had my eldest son back home and have also had two nieces living with me for a while. I didn’t charge them rent because they were either in early entry jobs or studying. They did help with housework and were hardworking and responsible and were saving for their future accommodation. It felt like an easy way to help them start out in life. If I had a situation where I was broke and couldn’t afford to have them, or I thought they were being irresponsible and needed a push then it would be different.

I would but I’d save the money up for them for when they leave or to use a deposit for when they move out

I have two mid/late 20’s at home and no we don’t charge them anything.. one’s saving hard to move out and the other one moving in with partner who’s buying a place. I know some people do but I could never take money from my children. They will be welcome rent free as long as I’m alive.. they can’t wait to go though!🤣

I know some people do but I could never take money from my children

You would if you needed it.

I think it's infantilising adults by taking money off them, pretending it's rent but actually saving it for them.

I’d rather my parents did this than being very open about the fact the (reduced) amount they’re charging us is going direct into a savings account for their holidays.

How rude. My daughters both do nm wage jobs in Cranleigh, Surrey

For me they're real jobs. My girls grew up doing field work and are not ashamed putting their hands to any plough.

I think asking for a contribution towards house keeping is fair, my 19yo dd gives me £100 a month which helps a bit. She is very good saving so I don’t ask for any more (I would if she was frittering money away.)

Same here. We don’t need the money but it’s important that they contribute- both in household tasks and cooking. The cleaning became a bone of contention so I got a cleaner and they share the cost of that decision

yes, very minimal though for dd who came home after many years. she does work part time though and doesnt plan to stay

we take £100 a month off of our son who is working. He has therefore saved up a substantial deposit to buy his own flat or small house. He graduated in 2023 and got a good job that requires work based exams and he still has one left to do . Once this happens he will get a big pay rise and hopefully be buying his own place to live.

We have £200 per month from DS, we don’t need it but he is on almost 40k PA now he has passed his degree apprenticeship. We will be assisting with a house deposit at some point, unsure how much but it will be far more than the rent he has given us. I agree totally with @notnowfred about contributing to the household.

I did, my son was still living at home at 24 had no plans to go to uni or college and was quite content just bumbling along, going to work, coming home eating with the family and then disappearing off to his room.
I put his rent up to £400 a month and he soon found a room to rent down the road which did him good and gave him some independence.
He still calls in for his dinner quite regularly but he sits and talks to us now when he’s here as a visitor and we get along much better now I don’t have to nag him about cleaning up after himself.