What is a reasonable amount?

kelloggs36

My DD says she is coming home to live in a few months (returning from uni). She will be working and announces that she will be paying £80 per MONTH in rent - which is to include all bills, food, washing etc. I told her that this is far too low, and said that she should expect to pay £150 per month. She then went into one and said she wasn't paying that!! I told her that she was welcome to find her own place for that figure all in.

So my question to you is: what is a reasonable amount? Assuming a minimum wage job, with everything she needs included in the rent price.

cloverfan

my mum used to do thirds........a third rent all inc...third savings and a third for me!

MrsTinks

a third as cloverfan says is a good starting point. Also look around at what renting would cost her including bills and ditto renting in a houseshare... I expect she'll soon feel that maybe it isn't that bum a deal

MrsTinks

Oh and if she doesn't do 1/3rd savings then she pays 1/2 her wages for board and food etc

ali-t

I charge a lodger £350 a month for a single bedroom and he has the use of another bedroom as a seperate living room. I don't cook for him or do his washing but he has full use of facilities. the price was never quibbled. That will put the fear into your daughter!

oystercatcher

Why not look in the local paper and find out the average price for a room in a shared house in your area. I bet it's a good bit more than £20 a week !

I suggest you show that to DD and find suggest a price that is reasonable from your point of view but enough so DD is making a saving.

I'd also suggest that she starts doing her own washing she must have been doing this at Uni. I trained my boys to do theirs once they started sixth form.

Oldernotwiser

The thirds rule is often quoted on threads like these, so seems quite reasonable and would amount to slightly less than you're suggesting.

I'd be very clear with her that you'll decide how much is reasonable rather her deciding how much she ought to pay. I think any parent who lets a child get away with paying £20 keep and keeping more than 6 times this amount for pocket money isn't helping their child prepare for real life.

In addition, if she's claiming JSA for a period (you don't mention this as a possibility) she needs to remember that this is awarded to pay for food and bills and not just for pocket money; many young people stay on JSA for far longer than they should because they can manage quite comfortably on £50 per week.

Be strong - you're in the right!

kelloggs36

oystercatcher wrote: »

Why not look in the local paper and find out the average price for a room in a shared house in your area. I bet it's a good bit more than £20 a week !

I suggest you show that to DD and find suggest a price that is reasonable from your point of view but enough so DD is making a saving.

I'd also suggest that she starts doing her own washing she must have been doing this at Uni. I trained my boys to do theirs once they started sixth form.

she would, but it still uses my machine, electricity, washing powder etc - her labour of shoving it into the machine doesn't count. She certainly won't be allowed to sit around and expecting us to do all her dirty work for her!

C_Mababejive

Refer her to https://www.spareroom.co.uk

kelloggs36

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

The thirds rule is often quoted on threads like these, so seems quite reasonable and would amount to slightly less than you're suggesting.

I'd be very clear with her that you'll decide how much is reasonable rather her deciding how much she ought to pay. I think any parent who lets a child get away with paying £20 keep and keeping more than 6 times this amount for pocket money isn't helping their child prepare for real life. This seems to be one lesson she is not willing to learn so far, but I am trying to force her to. She has debt collectors calling me here and sending letters for unpaid bills and overdrafts - yet she refuses to contact them and sort it out. She is driving me mad with her irresponsibility - I'm not paying them for her as it teaches her nothing. She is working and should be able to pay the debts off - but won't tell them when she is getting paid, and so they keep calling!

In addition, if she's claiming JSA for a period (you don't mention this as a possibility) she needs to remember that this is awarded to pay for food and bills and not just for pocket money; many young people stay on JSA for far longer than they should because they can manage quite comfortably on £50 per week.

Be strong - you're in the right!

...............................................................

dieselhead

I'm afraid I agree that she should pay what you want her to pay or she dosen't come home. You haven't told us what her income will be and I think that will have a bearing on what you charge her. A couple of years ago my parents charged me £50 per week to live at home. However they were (probably way to soft) and allowed me off the last months rent so that I could put together the deposit for my own place (I know should have been saving ;p )

I suppose christmas is coming up and you want to enjoy it but I think you should be firm and make sure she pays her way.