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Money Moral Dilemma: Should I increase my housemates' rent?

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Former_MSE_Darryl
Former_MSE_Darryl Posts: 210 Forumite
edited 8 July 2014 at 7:56PM in House buying, renting & selling
Here's this week's situation for you to cogitate on:
Should I increase my housemates' rent?

I live in a houseshare, and I've recently taken responsibility for the rent to our landlord - giving me a significant risk. The rent is quite low for the area. Would it be moral for me to charge my housemates more, now I've taken on more risk?
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Comments

  • PrettyFlower90
    PrettyFlower90 Posts: 204 Forumite
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    In my opinion no, if it's been your decision to take this responsibility then that's been your choice. But I certainly wouldn't be happy with paying more all of a sudden because of this.
  • whitewing
    whitewing Posts: 11,852 Forumite
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    No. Don't charge more and don't take responsibility for everyone anyone.
    :heartsmil When you find people who not only tolerate your quirks but celebrate them with glad cries of "Me too!" be sure to cherish them. Because these weirdos are your true family.
  • jjlandlord
    jjlandlord Posts: 5,099 Forumite
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    Another dodgy arrangement that will end in tears....
  • PasturesNew
    PasturesNew Posts: 70,698 Forumite
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    It was your risk, why try to pass the buck and get somebody else to pay for your choices?

    A good/long-term housemate's better than a few extra bob after a void and with a stranger.
  • DigForVictory
    DigForVictory Posts: 11,910 Forumite
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    Your choice, your risk. If the rest of us were given the opportunity, & we declined, we might pay you a bit more, but if you are our friend first and housemate second? You risk choosing between friendships & flatmates...

    Even a minor rent rise might trigger a mass exodus, leaving you responsible for a rent supposed to be shared around several folks & you are now guaranteed to pay it all. Not worth the risk, I'd suggest, unless you wanted to change flatmates.
  • purple.sarah
    purple.sarah Posts: 2,517 Forumite
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    If you've taken responsibility for the rent then wouldn't you be shooting yourself in the foot if you demanded an increase and your housemates refused and moved out, leaving you to it? Besides it's still the landlord's decision whether or not to increase the rent, it's his property. If you decided to increase the rent would you be keeping the extra? I can't see your housemates or your landlord being happy with that!
  • Petlamb
    Petlamb Posts: 922 Forumite
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    Why have you taken on that risk? The way this is worded suggests that prior to recent events, you weren't held liable, and I'm wondering why you've accepted this change - I'm not sure I would.
    On the up :D
    Our wedding day! 13/06/15
  • DaftyDuck
    DaftyDuck Posts: 4,609 Forumite
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    No.

    Yes!

    Maybe.... Maybe not. Or definitely!

    It depends on so many other (purely hypothetical) factors that you haven't [STRIKE]invented[/STRIKE] um ...told us about, so who knows? If your two (there, I can make stuff up too... Hypothetically, of course) flatmates are all MPs, or bankers, yes, they'll definitely shaft you. If it's G_M and jjlandlord, they'll shaft you, legally, so you probably won't be able to do anything about it. G_M will explain why so nicely, you'll thank him as well. jj will duff you up a bit, just to learn you right. You probably won't notice the former's silver tongue, or the latter's silver knuckle duster. Both are as lethal.

    PasturesNew and I would, of course, pay up nicely: we don't want you to mention our crack den in the cellar. And we do not want the pond re- dug up for any reason; there's a dog buried in it. Don't. Ask!

    Annie1960 won't pay, as all landlords are evil, while ptwparkinson, our new playtoy on here, he'll pay, but the gold stocks he'll pay with will be worthless. Will he, or you, be aware of their uselessness? Hmmm. MoneyITSTM will probably withhold rent for, well, who knows, some reason. It'll make sense to her, and that's what matters. Probably to do with the borders, or some Serious Issue Or Other. Could be knotweed in thethingummy. Maybe.

    Then there's this low rent thingy. Sounds dodgy to me. No landlord has ever charged low rent, not unless he's a complete crook. Must be the damp.... There is damp, surely? And vermin.... Damp vermin with fleas!

    Anyway, forgetting all the... um... facts.. Morals? No use to me. Money... That's more like it! I'll tell them the landlord put the rent up 40%, sub-let the garage, rent out the drive, and get working on that crack den.

    Dilemma? Nah! This is Money Saving Expert, not The Moral Maze!

    So, I guess that's a maybe definitely possibly probably depending certainly.... ish!
  • Pixie5740
    Pixie5740 Posts: 14,515 Forumite
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    What kind of tenancy do you have with your friend? Is it a joint tenancy where you both have joint and several liability? If that's the case I don't see what extra risk you are taking. Why do you pay the full rental sum to the LL? Couldn't you just each set up your own standing order?

    If it's the case that you're a tenant and your friend is your lodger then no I wouldn't charge him extra money. Lodgers have fewer rights than tenants so as a lodger I wouldn't expect to pay more than a tenant.
  • tealady
    tealady Posts: 3,749 Forumite
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    Daftyduck you have brightened up my day, was sat here looking out at a grey overcast day and you gave me a laugh, thanks.
    Find out who you are and do that on purpose (thanks to Owain Wyn Jones quoting Dolly Parton)
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