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Relationships

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Original poster

Splitting the bills

12 replies

Herewegoagain22 · 24/05/2023 20:26

My partner has moved in with me, we’ve been together about a year and a half. It is my house and my mortgage, and it will stay like that. He will not be going on the mortgage. In the future we plan to buy together but that is a long way off. We have agreed to split the bills 50:50 which includes rent (which is half my mortgage) and all utilities bills, council tax and food. My question is, is this the best way to do it? If god forbid we don’t work out for any reason in the future I wouldn’t like for him to turn around and suggest he’d been paying half the mortgage and want it back? Or have any rights? I’d class it as ‘rent’ for living here rather than contributing to my mortgage, as he’d have to pay rent for living elsewhere? Help and thoughts please??

OP posts:

piglet81 · 24/05/2023 20:29

When DH (boyfriend at the time) moved in with me we agreed he’d save half the mortgage payment into a separate account - so he had no claim on my place if we were to split up. In the end we added that to the deposit when we bought a bigger place together.

changewhale · 24/05/2023 20:30

Make sure any payments are clearly marked "rent" and there's a limit I think you're allowed to charge before it has to be declared

RiverRed · 24/05/2023 20:36

Agree with piglet81. Could you divide what he gives you 60:40 % with the bigger amount going towards the rent and then put the smaller share in a savings account. If you stay together, it goes towards a place together in the future. If you split, he gets the saved, smaller amount.

Shivvy120 · 24/05/2023 20:39

Seek legal advice, could save you a fortune in the long run

Weekenders · 24/05/2023 20:43

I think this is an entirely sensible way of doing it, provided you take the normal precautions.

As is the MN way though, reverse the roles and he'd be the worst in the world.

All the best with it.

pecanpie101 · 24/05/2023 21:04

My boyfriend pays half the bills and food. I cover the mortgage myself as it's my mortgage.

maclen · 24/05/2023 21:46

Well I guess it makes sense for you, but you're in total control and if you break up he has nothing.. if I were him I wouldn't want that level of uncertainty so would rent my own place, or save for my own mortgage ect

Lcb123 · 24/05/2023 21:47

I’d get him to pay the bills, and you pay the mortgage. And if you do buy a place together; make sure you protect the deposit you contribute as sounds like it’ll be bigger.

IndexBook · 24/05/2023 21:54

DH lived with his GF (pre-me!) in his house for 6 years before they split up. She didn't pay a penny in rent for exactly this reason - they just split the bills but not the mortgage. I think she paid for more of the groceries...
I've got no idea whether he was being sensible or not but she certainly had no claim on the house.
I would be inclined to frame the money in a different way e.g. he pays more of the bills (e.g. groceries) as he isn't have to pay rent.
I would seek legal advice to be completely sure.

coodawoodashooda · 24/05/2023 22:01

Sounds like a disaster. Similar situation was for me anyway.

Whatonearth07957 · 25/05/2023 17:40

Get a cohabitation agreement and agree share of bills plus rent. No equity in house. Revisit as tenants in common if you buy together.

Ontime · 26/05/2023 22:33

My (now ex) moved in to my house 9 years ago. The mortgage is in my name. We split the bills 50/50 as we were both earning roughly the same. I paid my mortgage and he paid for all the food shopping. I am so glad I didn't try and charge him rent as he was cheating on me and I dumped him 3 months ago. If he had made payments for rent or contributed to any major works on my house, then it could have got messy if he tried to take me to court. In hindsight I wished I had never asked him to move in as he gave me a hard time if asked him to go halves on like a tin of paint or repairs to some roof tiles. I would not charge him rent. Get him to pay for the food shop and you continue paying your own mortgage.

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