Charging rent for guests...reasonable?

Hamzter · 17 Dec 2010 at 17:58

Evening,

My girlfriend currently lives with friends, one of whom is also the landlord, who has announced that I now have to pay £5 every time I stay overnight, which is usually a couple of times a week. This seems like a lot of money, or is it just me?

I can understand her (the landlord's) position that I need to cover any energy/water I use, but I'm very careful not to cost too much (e.g. I don't have showers, never touch the heating etc), and I'm quite happy to pay whatever I use, but this is far less than £1, probably in the range of 10-20p per night. Unfortunately I live 25 miles away and my girlfriend doesn't have car, so her staying round mine isn't really practical.

I think she thinks she's supplimenting my living expenses, but this isn't true, I currently live alone handling mortage repayments and bills by myself, these stay almost exactly the same whether I'm at home or not. I don't know if I could handle paying £600/year for simply sleeping somewhere!

So what do you think, is £5 a reasonable charge for staying overnight?

iNPUt · 17 Dec 2010 at 18:00

No tell him to get lost, cheap git..

He already has her money, its should be fine.

MeatLoaf · 17 Dec 2010 at 18:00

Dosent sound too bad i guess, do you get fed when ur there?

Hope she charges other peoples partners the same.

^TANK^ · 17 Dec 2010 at 18:01

Don't like it bunny bump somewhere else tbh.

Burnsy2023 · 17 Dec 2010 at 18:06

What does the tenancy agreement say? I wouldn't pay it unless it was very much in my interest to do so.

Beans on toast Dave · 17 Dec 2010 at 18:08

if shes stops at yours can you claim £5 from him?

Bes · 17 Dec 2010 at 18:08

Hamzter said:
Evening,

My girlfriend currently lives with friends, one of whom is also the landlord, who has announced that I now have to pay £5 every time I stay overnight, which is usually a couple of times a week. This seems like a lot of money, or is it just me?

I can understand her (the landlord's) position that I need to cover any energy/water I use, but I'm very careful not to cost too much (e.g. I don't have showers, never touch the heating etc), and I'm quite happy to pay whatever I use, but this is far less than £1, probably in the range of 10-20p per night. Unfortunately I live 25 miles away and my girlfriend doesn't have car, so her staying round mine isn't really practical.

I think she thinks she's supplimenting my living expenses, but this isn't true, I currently live alone handling mortage repayments and bills by myself, these stay almost exactly the same whether I'm at home or not. I don't know if I could handle paying £600/year for simply sleeping somewhere!

So what do you think, is £5 a reasonable charge for staying overnight?

Tell him to do one.

Dmack · 17 Dec 2010 at 18:10

IMO that's pretty outrageous, your girlfriend pays rent and splits the cost of all heating etc, that £5 price (probably) isn't in the contract she signed i bet. I say fight it.

arknor · 17 Dec 2010 at 18:12

if your staying for a couple of nights a week you almost live there so im not surprised hes asking you for rent.

sure staying there over night the odd time a month... but when your doing it a few times a week .... i can see why hes starting to get annoyed

Glaucus · 17 Dec 2010 at 18:12

Most agreements say you aren't allowed guests to stay over, so you might be stuffed.
No i would not expect to pay anythibg and if it's a problem fibd somewhere else to rent and check cobtract.

gillywibble · 17 Dec 2010 at 18:13

Hardly what you would call a friend.

wannabedamned · 17 Dec 2010 at 18:15

Every time she stays away from home can she claim £5 a day back?

regulus · 17 Dec 2010 at 18:17

Sounds ridiculous to me. Have no solution to offer though

Luke · 17 Dec 2010 at 18:17

This is purely their way of saying they don't want you staying over.

Gamefreak501 · 17 Dec 2010 at 18:18

I would check the Tenancy Agreement/Contract and see what it says.

[TW]Fox · 17 Dec 2010 at 18:19

You live alone and pay all your expenses yourself.

Your girlfriend lives in a shared house paying a landlord rent.

Can anyone else see the obvious answer to this?

Bumhucker · 17 Dec 2010 at 18:19

I can see why the landlord would be getting annoyed and he probably considers it his duty to make sure people don't abuse the contract. The other housemates might be annoyed by it too but don't want to cause a rift by saying it openly.

How about your ask for a compromise and set a limit of 2 nights a week rent free? That sounds reasonable.

St.Josh · 17 Dec 2010 at 18:20

Thats pretty cheap if you ask me, everytime I want to see my girlfriend I have to pay £50 and that only gets me an hour!

TheCrow · 17 Dec 2010 at 18:21

Seems fair enough to a point. We have different prices for singles and couples. If a someone is paying single but live as a couple (i.e. regularly staying over, spending days there) then we would expect the higher price to be paid or they can move out. I dont really know how regular your stays/visits are.

Dunks · 17 Dec 2010 at 18:21

[TW]Fox;18024359 said:
You live alone and pay all your expenses yourself.

Your girlfriend lives in a shared house paying a landlord rent.

Can anyone else see the obvious answer to this?

What if the OP and GF have only been going out a couple of months? I for one wouldn't want to move in together that early on in a relationship!