Should I pay my partner rent?

[isaisa123]

tl;dr: partner owns his property outright and wants me to pay him rent on top of bills etc.

I have recently moved in with my partner of 3 years. He owns his (2 bed) property outright: he bought it with money from a family trust set up for him when he was born. He rents out one bedroom to his friend for £700 / month. We share the other bedroom. He wants me to pay him £350 / month on top of all bills which are split equally three-ways. We also split the cost of any house repairs that need doing.

He says the arrangement will make us both richer -- as I will be paying less than market rent for a similar room.

When we first spoke about finances, before I moved in, he said that the money I saved in rent could be put towards making our lives 'bigger'. When discussing this recently, he said that this was still true, that the money I pay him can go towards his masters course fees for example, and that this will benefit us both long-term.

The amount is small, but I'm not sure how I feel about it in principle. Because he pays no rent or mortgage, I can't see why I should pay him rent. On the other hand I am benefitting hugely - the flat is lovely, we are making a home together, and I am able to save more money than if I were renting on the private market. On the other other hand I am very much sharing his room, and there is not much space in the flat for my things (they are currently in boxes in cupboards / storage)

I also end up doing most of the housework and I worry that if I am giving him money on top of that and on top of bills etc I will become resentful. I'm also not sure what his motivations are for asking me to give him money, since he doesn't really need it.

What do you think?

I’d be so embarrassed if I was him.
He’s had such good fortune and he wants to make money on top.

Wow that's an awful thing to say.
So basically people should only be in a relationship together if they both have the same amount of money/property?
He is fine to wait aswell children wise . He can go on to have children with a younger woman.
But you need to wait for him to do a masters before having children?
I know you are young and only 31. But after waiting then starting you would end up having just one or having back to back pregnancy's to avoid having children in your 40s .
All whist feeling inferior for not already owning a property or having as much spare money as him.
Didn't you say he got the house because he inherited money? Which is fine but obviously that doesn't happen for most people. You would think it would make him more understanding and grateful for his easier path to being on the property ladder.
Not make him greedy.
You definitely should not be paying for repairs. Tenants don't do that. And you should have space for belongings.

You should pay. The fact that he owns it does not matter. See it this way, suppose he rents his house out to someone else, and the both of you rent some other house. Would you have a problem paying your half of the rent if he is making money as a landlord on the side? I hope not. And if so, you shouldn't have a problem paying your half to him.

Now, what you should do is to discuss what you two will do regarding finances in the future. If you are combining finances, naturally this rent paying thing will end eventually when you get married and start a family.

If you decide not to combine your finances, be prepared to continue paying your half. As he has mentioned, your half is below market rate, he is already putting in more than you are compared to if he rented it out completely in the scenario I described above.

'Naturally this rent paying thing will eventually end when you get marrieid and start a family'.
Huge assumption there. Combining finances COULD end up with him draining the joint account, dumping her and running off with another woman. Just saying. Not a rare occurrence on here unfortunately.

The scenarios you suggest are different.
Because they'd be above board, and contracts agreed upon at the beginning before entering into by both parties.

What if she pays 350 in the 1st of the month and he kicks her out on the 2nd and keeps it.

How can she trust someone who changed the goalposts AFTER she moved in. That's hardly someone you can build a life with. And certainly not someone you should have kids with.

Can I ask you, why are you doing most of the housework? He has no rent or mortgage so surly a couple getting together romantically should split bills and have a pot that both contribute to for shares holidays , events, meals out...the fun stuff. But your man wants to charge you rent and have you "warm" his bed, be his housekeeper and pay for his education!...no no no. Move bk out....now!