Should my working daughter pay rent?

[Jemilina]

My 17-year-old daughter is working full time. Last year she was in college and I spent a lot of time supporting her, but she really struggled. I agreed with her decision to leave college but I told her my expectation was she would find a job and pay us some rent. At the time she agreed. I would like her to pay £100 a month. She is refusing. My mum thinks I'm wrong to ask her for rent. A couple of good friends think my expectation is fine. My daughter does very little around the house. Am I reasonable to expect this or not?

It was back in 2004 before smartphones were a thing. The nearest place to Google was an Internet cafe and YouTube had just been created so was just full of animal videos too 😂

Ah, I'm totally looking at this through the more modern internet lens. In 2004, I was only 8 . I guess it was more necessary to be taught certain things pre-internet usefulness. Of course I still think cooking with children is amazing, but more for the memories and bonding than for actually learning to cook, I don't think it's necessary and I don't think young adults these days would particularly struggle without that guidance. Of course, they have to want to learn in the first place, and even if they have been taught to cook by mum and dad, it doesn't mean they will do it in their adult life.

Depends how much your daughter is earning, Jemilina. I don't suppose her salary is very high at 17.

In your place I would settle for the £75 a month though think it would be better if you waited until she was eighteen. You've said you don't need it but want her to have some responsibility which is fair enough.

Charging if they are in education is wrong, imo.

In 1978, my take home pay was about £180/month and I paid my parents £100 a month out of that.

How much does she earn? I think asking for rent is fine for working child. Whether £100 / £75 is too much depends on her earnings.

My son pays me £75 every fortnight. It was £50 but we increased it recently he wasn't happy

It’s all balance if you can’t afford go gym or ever get your hair done or buy new clothes and your almost adult child has 100% of her wage for fun money well the balance isn’t quite right is it.

@Outhouse71421

Charging if they are in education is wrong, imo.

I agree but the op's daughter is not in education.

I would do a breakdown of what your actual costs are and divide by the number in the house. This then would make her aware how much running a household costs, and may make her see £100/month is an absolute bargain (considering that was what I paid in 1978, I know mortgage interest was a lot higher then).

I wouldn't call it rent, but yes she should contribute to household costs. My teems both paid £50 pw once they were working FT and actually offered more.

I can't fathom a world where they'd refuse