How much rent to charge gf?

FormNazi

FormNazi

FormNazi

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Joined
19 Dec 2012
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Location
Scotland
Girlfriend has pretty much moved in by stealth over the last 6 months...
Not that I mind and its not an issue. If I wanted her out I'd have asked her but we get on great so it's all good.
She has said that she'd like to contribute or pay some rent, I think so she fells like less of a "leech" and it feels more like her home too.
The question is how much is fair or reasonable?

The 3 bed flat is mine owned outright, no mortgage.
She's on a pretty good wage but I make 50% more than her and she has some debt that she's paying off, which is why I've never been bothered about asking for money till she mentioned it.

I have no idea and don't want to offend her by asking so little she gets insulted or by asking for more than she thinks is "fair".
Also...does it make a difference if I'm mortgage free?

Any time I ask her she says "It's your flat you decide"....
 
If you own outright, id say...nothing. Maybe just a contribution toward bills, or just ask she does her fair share of the chores etc.
 
You want to charge her rent when you own the place? Oh lawd, I can't see this relationship lasting long.

Split the bills and food shopping and leave it at that, don't even think about getting a calculator out.
 
spoffle said:
You want to charge her rent when you own the place? Oh lawd, I can't see this relationship lasting long.

Split the bills and food shopping and leave it at that, don't even think about getting a calculator out.
Click to expand...

From what I've read, SHE wants him to charge her rent.
I agree about splitting the household bills thought. That seems fair to me.
 
Conscript said:
If you own outright, id say...nothing. Maybe just a contribution toward bills, or just all she does her fair share of the chores etc.
Click to expand...

That's what I would say too. It's not costing you anything for her to live in your space apart from extra gas, electric, phone etc so she should pay half of that and help a bit around the house.
 
spoffle said:
You want to charge her rent when you own the place? Oh lawd, I can't see this relationship lasting long.

Split the bills and food shopping and leave it at that, don't even think about getting a calculator out.
Click to expand...

This.

But if shes insisting, just do what i do.

I rent my house and pay everything but the food bill. She pays £300 a month which is more than justifiable.

Oh and welcome to OCUK. :D
 
Had the same thing with my girlfriend, difference being she owns her house and I moved in with her (had rented previously).

We did it by looking at rental prices in the area and taking a value somewhere in the middle, making sure it wasn't so high she would end up being taxed on my contribution (above a certain point it becomes classed as taxable earnings rather than just a personal contribution, though I can't give you the specifics).

I then pay her 50% of the bills as one payment, clearly labelled as "bills" and the other clearly labelled as "mortgage share".

Just hit Rightmove to find average rates in the area. Though it must be said, we very much decided on this together, rather than one forcing the other to make the decision...

EDIT: I should say, there is a mortgage on our house, it isn't owned outright, so I guess that changes the context a bit, though i still think the "average of rental prices in the area for similar properties" is a reasonable method if you do want to go ahead.
 
spoffle said:
You want to charge her rent when you own the place? Oh lawd, I can't see this relationship lasting long.

Split the bills and food shopping and leave it at that, don't even think about getting a calculator out.
Click to expand...

Did you read the op, he's not bothered, she wants to pay.

Just do 50% of bills and tell her to pay her debts off.
 
manic_man said:
Had the same thing with my girlfriend, difference being she owns her house and I moved in with her (had rented previously).

We did it by looking at rental prices in the area and taking a value somewhere in the middle, making sure it wasn't so high she would end up being taxed on my contribution (above a certain point it becomes classed as taxable earnings rather than just a personal contribution, though I can't give you the specifics).

I then pay her 50% of the bills as one payment, clearly labelled as "bills" and the other clearly labelled as "mortgage share".

Just hit Rightmove to find average rates in the area. Though it must be said, we very much decided on this together, rather than one forcing the other to make the decision...

EDIT: I should say, there is a mortgage on our house, it isn't owned outright, so I guess that changes the context a bit, though i still think the "average of rental prices in the area for similar properties" is a reasonable method if you do want to go ahead.
Click to expand...

If you were living together and she had a mortgage, why wouldn't you just pay half the mortgage instead of calculating it?

It should be simply half the monthly outgoings of things you both consume.
 
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