Charging rent for 21 year old

K9COOP wrote:

im shocked at how much people are suggesting

How much do you think it would cost you if you actually looked after yourself?!

janb5 wrote:

Hi,

I`ve tried to do a search but havent found what I want. About 6 weeks ago someone suggested a reasonable amount to charge for board and keep for my 21 year old son. He works as a chef and clears approx just over £900 pcm
He currently pays me £130 which I would like to review. I should add I am on my own with him and his younger brother(16) and do not receive maintenance. Which is a fair rent- 15% or higher ? I am also aware he is constantly overdrawn which I have talked to him about but he denies...........

I think £130 is quite reasonable considering he earns £900, I recently moved out and paid my mum £200 and earn't approx £1,000.

Your son is only 21, it would be good if he had some money for himself after paying his debts, you and trying to save a bit.

I would think that on a wage of over 900pcm he is currently paying a ridiculously low amount to you unless he is also paying all his own phone calls and food, and half of CT, gas, elec, tv etc etc.

6 years ago when I was 19 I earned just under £900 and out of that I could afford a £300pcm mortgage, CT, gas, elec, tv licence, Sky, mobile, landline, run a car, and STILL have enough left over for food and nights out 3 or 4 times a month.

If he is constantly overdrawn then maybe it is time to bring his attention to this site and bring him down to earth with a bump. Show him bills and just exactly how much it is costing you to keep him on the paltry sum he is paying you, it may seem like a heartless thing to say but he should either up the payments to you to a reasonable amount that you both agree on, or he should find himself somewhere PDQ to live to show him just how much he should be paying - if he has to make sacrifices then so be it, I'm sure you are having to at the moment without any help so don't be frightened to show him the cost of living.

Good luck.

emilyt wrote:

Think all these teenagers and twenty somethings are going to have a real shock when they have to find a place of their own.

I do think that's a massive over generalisation - I think most of us know exactly how much it costs...who can get away from the constant bombardment of property/gas/CT stories. I actually moved out, and had to come back home due to a relationship break up...most of my debt was down to those dark days....I had to pay over £300 a month for rent for a flat I wasn't living in, and I still gave my mum £165 housekeeping, and I did it gladly - I appricate all they both do immensely....and I wish I could give them more, however that figure was worked out on my incomings and outgoings.

Admittedly, I can't move out on that kind of money, I know that....I don't earn the kind of money needed to move out on my own.

I think the OP should sit down with her son, and talk about his incomings and outgoings honestly. If nothing else, he obviously needs some guidance with how cash/credit works...is there any point putting his housekeeping up to £300 if he's going to end up borrowing the money back, or getting into serious difficulities?

janb5 wrote:

Thank you for all your replies. My son Ed does have his own room and his girlfriend stays over frequently.. She is diabetic and vegetarian so I have a supply of`suitable` food for her. I think if the rent is too high he will get into more difficulties and he has to realise he cannot carry on living beyond his means. His girlfriend has been out of work for 6 months and he think he has been subsidising her.

I am currently thinking of raising it to £150 which is £30 more and saying I want him to cut down on his outgoings. I already hold his ISA book with his consent and he saves £50 currently pcm - yes, I would like it to be more. I have a block on the phone so they cant ring mobiles and out of area numbers(following a collosal phone bill)

Ideally as may have suggested I would like to secretly save for him for when he leaves home. Rent would be about £700 before bills in this area! I do think it is very hard for young people to get started themselves but I agree that undercharging them is not the way to go..............

Compromise with him. Maybe dont up his rent but Up the ammount he pays into savings.

He might complain now, but will be very thankful when he buys his own place.

I earnt £950 a month and paid £200. This was when i was 16/17. After that i didnt live at home. I moved to my girlfriends parents house, and then paid £250 a month.

When at home it covered everything. Apart from extra's i wanted. The £250 at my girlfriends parents covered living, i had to do my own washing etc.