Page 2 | The rent dilemma again...

ThatNavyViper · 2024-09-10T05:01:17+00:00

Hi All - I know this has been asked a number of times.... But I am still none the wiser. The situation. I have brought my own flat (all my own money). Partner moves in. Now there is uncertainty about what they pay. Currently - half the bills - not including the mortgage. Which I think is far. I won't charge rent. I don't any come back in years down the line should anything go wrong. The only situation now is things like boiler repairs, maintaince etc. We are unsure who should pay this? As they will use things like the boiler just as much and get all the benefit from it. How does everyone else do it?

Original poster

ThatNavyViper · 10/09/2024 06:45

HotXHun · 10/09/2024 06:39

There’s some terrible advice on this thread.

@ThatNavyViper please, please get some proper legal advice (from a lawyer not the Internet). Really you should have done this before you had someone move into your home.

(In the meantime definitely do not charge him rent or draw up any sort of ad hoc tenancy agreement.)

already am getting legal advice. I was just looking to see what others thoughts and experiences where by posting here - gives you an idea of what potential reaction you could get when this issue is brought up

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Original poster

ThatNavyViper · 10/09/2024 06:47

Mummyoflittledragon · 10/09/2024 06:38

You lose your single person council tax discount for starters. I think the suggestion to charge him a reduced rent is good. You should both be benefitting from this arrangement. If this relationship really does have legs, you can potentially look to buy together in a couple of years or so time. He will have saved some money for the deposit.

For now, a cohabitation agreement and when / if you buy, ring fence your deposit so that you’re tenants in common.

Best advice I've seen so far. Thank you.

That is exactly the thing... I would want the fact I have my own property to benefit my other half too.... I just wouldn't want to be at risk if something goes wrong... Or I wouldn't want things to be disproportionate

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Original poster

ThatNavyViper · 10/09/2024 06:49

MayaPinion · 10/09/2024 06:31

I think you should be charging some form of rent and draw up a tenancy agreement. It doesn’t need to be the market rate but it should help cover costs like these. Both people should benefit from living together and you have additional costs from him living there (council tax, energy, wear and tear). I’d look at the market rate for a room in a similar property and then charge about 1/2 - 2/3 and then split the bills. He might be more comfortable with that as well. It’s your house but it’s his home too and it’s only right that he would want to pay his fair share. He shouldn’t be paying for a boiler - that’s the homeowner’s job. If you split up he can’t take it with him. He could, for example, take a fancy fridge if he’d bought one, but I’m pretty sure he couldn’t take a boiler.

Thank you. That's exactly it. I would want this to benefit both parties. It's just trying to find the best way to keep it fair to both parties without any issues down the line

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unsync · 10/09/2024 07:00

He needs to pay rent and you need a signed legal agreement in place stating he has no claim on the property.

Presumably he will have more disposable income than you as his contributions to the household are less, so he can save or invest this to give him security in case you do split at some point.

HotXHun · 10/09/2024 07:03

@ThatNavyViper - honestly, it doesn’t sound as if you’re getting legal advice …

Anyway, good luck with it all.

Summerhillsquare · 10/09/2024 07:11

ThatNavyViper · 10/09/2024 06:12

Does that not give them a legal right over the property if something was to go wrong?

Show quote history

How? There's no way to enforce such a thing. At most he'd be a lodger, you can't make a tenancy agreement if you're living with the landlord!

Mumofteenandtween · 10/09/2024 07:12

When my brother’s girlfriend moved in with him she paid him half the rent that she had been paying before (on a share house) plus half bills.

It meant that they were both the same amount better off than they were before.

Sfxde24 · 10/09/2024 07:19

Personally I would frame it as wear and tear and a fair reflection of the fact that all your savings go/have gone into the property and he doesn’t have that responsibility.
Half the bills rounded up plus about £300 on top. Assuming it’s all your appliances and furniture then that stuff costs and needs replacing sometimes.
You’ll both be better off and happy days.

RawBloomers · 10/09/2024 07:36

Don’t have him pay towards anything in the home unless you have a proper contract set up and charge him rent. You don’t want to get into a situation where there’s any question about contributions that might confer any sort of ownership entitlement until you’ve decided that’s the way your life together is going.

You’re providing the home for you both. Maybe he can provide an annual holiday for you both or something - a bit of a contribution to your life together, but one that still gives him enough “savings” on his housing costs to be investing for his future the way your flat purchase is saving for yours.

Original poster

ThatNavyViper · 10/09/2024 07:41

Sfxde24 · 10/09/2024 07:19

Personally I would frame it as wear and tear and a fair reflection of the fact that all your savings go/have gone into the property and he doesn’t have that responsibility.
Half the bills rounded up plus about £300 on top. Assuming it’s all your appliances and furniture then that stuff costs and needs replacing sometimes.
You’ll both be better off and happy days.

Great advice. Thanks for your all help. It's just trying to find a fair way that benefits both parties and protection for both in the future

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Original poster

ThatNavyViper · 10/09/2024 07:42

RawBloomers · 10/09/2024 07:36

Don’t have him pay towards anything in the home unless you have a proper contract set up and charge him rent. You don’t want to get into a situation where there’s any question about contributions that might confer any sort of ownership entitlement until you’ve decided that’s the way your life together is going.

You’re providing the home for you both. Maybe he can provide an annual holiday for you both or something - a bit of a contribution to your life together, but one that still gives him enough “savings” on his housing costs to be investing for his future the way your flat purchase is saving for yours.

Edited

Thank you. Yes, it's just trying to find the right balance where it actually works beneficially for both parties. It will be properly drawn up by legal. Thanks for all your help

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MindTheGap099 · 10/09/2024 07:45

Not sure on the legalities but couldn't you give him a lodger agreement ? I heard (so please don't quote me on that perhaps needs more researching) that such agreement would cover you in case something goes wrong in the relationship and the person wouldn't get any rights to the property. I think. Worth having a read 🤷🏼‍♀️

Whatonearth07957 · 10/09/2024 20:30

Cohabitation agreement now. Easy rental and half of bills. NO equity. He needs to pay more than just living expenses otherwise he's a cock lodger. Look up house shares in your area for what's fair.