Would this be reasonable?

WolfSong2000

Okay, situation as it stands is that I am living in a house with a good friend of mine while I do a masters degree...the house is a really good size and has an extra bedroom so over the last few months I've been having a uni friend to stay over the odd night.

Over the two few, weeks, however, the friend has been over pretty much constantly - I think she went home for 2 days, but other than that she's been at my place. To be honest, I've been glad of the company as my housemate is still at her parents (she went back for christmas and comes back next week), but I have become aware of the extra costs incurred, re: electricity, food, etc.

I don't begrudge paying this whilst housemate has been away, as, as I said, it's meant I've had company, etc, but friend is now talking of staying over most of next week, and I was beginning to wonder whether it would be out of order to ask her to contribute toward some of the bills if she intends on staying for extended periods, so my housemate and I aren't too out of pocket.

The current plan is that I will draw up weekly meal plans and calculate cost (been discussing this with housemate prior to christmas as a way to bring food costs down). So could I ask friend to contribute by either paying a few pounds, or providing some of the ingredients herself if she plans on coming over? Or is this excessive? Other option could be to charge her £2/3 pounds per night to cover cost of food, electricity, etc.

Part of me feels bad, but on the other hand, having an extra person in the house more or less constantly is going to really hike up the bills. Before christmas, she came and stayed the odd night, which was fine, but now she's looking to stay more or less all the time (yes, she does have her own place, but it's not very nice) a contribution toward the bills would be really, really useful.

McKneff

I dont think its a bad idea to ask.

If you dont your housemate is going to feel resentful at having to pay half of your friends extra use of water,electricity etc.

And lets face it, if this person is staying with you a lot, she's not paying any electricity etc at her own place.

Teenie_D

Sounds reasonable to me. Could you not make it a more official arrangement and she can move in permenantly and then you can split the bills 3 ways?

pupsicola

Your friends has her own place so she is well aware of the costs of running a place. As an adult she will know that if an extra person moves in it increases food bills, phone bills etc etc. If I were in your position I would say to her that if she is planning on staying regularly she would need to contribute financially. Your friend really shouldn't have a problem with this.

sueeve

Really the start is whether or not your housemate wants this person to be there more or less all the time. If that is OK it's really a 3 way split for things.

renegade

It is not unreasonable to ask for payment to cover her costs for staying with you, if she had anything about her she would have volunteered payments.You need to discuss how much with your other permanent housemate as she/he is also paying bills rent etc., and any extras need to be discussed.

McKneff

How good of a friend is she,
A really good friend would have offered by now.

pupsicola

McKneff wrote: »

How good of a friend is she,
A really good friend would have offered by now.

Good point

Oldernotwiser

If her place isn't very nice and you have a third bedroom, why doesn't she move in full time so the rent, as well as the bills, can be split three ways?

BitterAndTwisted

I wouldn't mention about anyone making any contributions to anything until I had discussed it formally with the house-mate. Two's company and three's a crowd and all that. There's a spare bedroom so if the house-mate had really wanted or needed a third person's contribution I suspect that they would have already found someone by now. Please don't put your house-mate on the spot with this one. I certainly wouldn't appreciate feeling press-ganged or being presented with a fait accomplit

McKneff

Talk to your housemate on their own.
See what they say first.