Is £25 a week rent from my 18-year-old unreasonable?

[Notagain1981]

My 18 year old has recently got a apprenticeship and is earning £300 a week, sometimes more if he works on a Saturday. Hes paying quite alot on his car insurance due to a accident ( his fault). First of all I wasnt planning on taking lodge / rent for the first year, but he seems to be spending money left right and centre. Im on my own and work full time in a minimum wage job. Ive asked him to pay £25 a week is that unreasonable?

I was thinking £25 is an absolute bargain - then realised I used to charge my dd £125 per month! So £16.66 cheaper than I used to charge

I didn't foo dc laundry, food shopping or cooking. Her bedroom door was open until she got home at night so I know whether she was in or out. We lived together nicely but as an adult she did her own thing

I did do the chores, but to be honest there was never any mess from dd and she cleared up after herself and meal prepped

I didn't interfere with her finances but she did take the initiative to save and had a reasonable deposit when she came to buy with her dp (who had also saved and had a Lisa etc) - but she partied, went to Ibiza and festivals etc whilst living at home and had fun

Her contribution covered the gas and electric bill

if you are wealthy then I’d take £50 a week off him in savings

if you’re not wealthy then he needs to cover the extra costs

Yes, it's unreasonable. From him, I mean. He should be contributing at least £50 to £75 per week from £300.

No, its overly reasonable.

When i got my first veterinary job on the day I turned 17, I was charged 250 a month by my parents and I only earned 800 a month before tax and NI. YANBU.

Nowhere near enough his food will be £50

Yes he should be paying towards his keep. My DS is just starting his first proper job. He’ll be paying about 10% of his wage a month. We calculated the amount by adding all the utilities, food etc up (excluding mortgage) and then splitting it by the number of adults in the house (no children in the house anymore).

£50 would be more realistic and still really cheap.

We only charge DD £100 a month so the same, she was paying £80 but I increased it a couple of years ago. Working since 18, still here at 31, I was hoping the low contribution would mean she could save for a deposit, hasn't though, and could have saved loads by now.

No. It's a really low amount to ask.

I lived at home until I was about 20, with mum running a one parent family of four, and gave her a third of my wages so I think £50 PW would be quite reasonable.

I would charge more. He’ll treat the home like it’s worth- £25 is v little. He’ll appreciate home more if it’s £100 with food and bills included

I paid that when I earned about £700 a month in my first job, and that was lower than a lot of my friends.

It’s ’unreasonable’ as it’s not enough! You are not teaching him any sort of life skill here OP! He’s earning £300 a week…he should be paying his way and you should not be out of pocket!

I rhink £25 a week is far too low! After years of giving my son a monthly allowance, as soon as he started working I asked for rent. He paid the equivalent of £86 a week.which I think is perfectly reasonable for someone on £300 a week! You're not teaching him money management by letting him pay a pittance - how is he going to manage paying rent or for a mortgage in the next few years if he thinks he has money to waste every month? If you don't need the money you could do what I did and save it up for him - I never told him but when he and a pal got a joint mortgage on a house when he was 22 I paid a chunk towards his deposit and legal fees.He's been a good manager of money ever since he got his allowance age 11 for his clothes and sports - a great way to say No when kids continually ask you for money and a great way to teach choice and consequences.

If u already said 25, it might cause conflict if u change ur mind. I would however say 25 and him to cover the increase in the council tax too

I was paying £200 a month 30 years ago to my parents when I first started working, it was a third of my wage so £25 a week these days seems like an absolute bargain! I would charge more tbh, you could even save some without telling him and give it to him towards a deposit/rent when he moves out. Better than him wasting all his wages on nothing.

He's only 18...first job as an apprentice. I donr think you should take anything off him.

Honestly, he should be paying much more.

why no?

Oh, I see the OP's son has found himself a Mumsnet login...😂

My son is just starting an apprenticeship. We’re not going to take anything from him initially - he’s saving up for a car, insurance etc as he needs it to get to the placement.
He’s going to need to buy his own toiletries, pay for his own hair cut and his mobile phone bill though.

15% of his pay or whatever you spend on him for food plus his share of the CT and utilities.

That is reasonable in my mind.

£25 pw is arguably too low if you’re on your own. He should be contributing more to the home he lives in.

Agree with others about giving him grace until the insurance is sorted then up the amount.

Have you taught him about money op and how much things cost realistically and how much things will cost if he ever wants to move out? And about bills?

That’s what we take off our 21 year old and what I’ll be telling our 18 yr ds he needs to start paying as of next month. He is only contracted to work 8 hours a week but picks up loads of extra shifts and take home is usually £1200-1500, car insurance he pays is extortionate however. He needs to start looking for an apprenticeship now he’s finished college and got good grades.
i paid more than £25 a week to my mum nearly 30 years ago so i dont think its unreasonable.