How much rent?

Quinny92

I'm 18 and about to start an apprenticeship. My parents expect me to pay rent, which I completely agree with, but we can't decide how much. I will be earning £700 a month, paying £200 toward my car each month and £25 for my phone bill. Which leaves me with £475 for rent and general expenditure. Please can you advise what you think a fair amonut of rent per month is?

Kara_P

It depends on what is included in your rent e.g. food for lunch, cable tv etc.

When I was your age I was paying £80 a month but I only had a part time job.

MacMickster

Your parents will no longer be getting child benefit (about £20 per week) or child tax credit (about £10). Also, as you are now earning I would expect you to contribute a bit more than this - say £200 per month.

McKneff

Your car pyments and mobile phone bill is irrellevant, paying for your food and keep is first on your list to pay.

At least £55 a week £250 a month. It'd be a lot more if you moved out and lived independantly.

And congratulations on getting an apprenticeship.

Catblue

I would think about 200 per month is about right, just less than a third of your take-home pay. That leaves you enough to live on and maybe save a little bit.

I think you should keep all of your first month's salary though - maybe treat your parents to a meal out or something?

theartfullodger

You should pay roughly what it would cost you to rent a room in similar conditions nearby... oddly I can't work out what that would be..

Have a look in local papers/newsagent windows/Gumtree...

Good for you for at least planning on paying your bit! Too many seem just want to sponge off parents...

olias

I would say it depends entirely on your parents expectations. Are they expecting just a 'token jesture' to help with the bills, and to get you used to the big bad world of financial commitments, or are they expecting a full market rent for a rented room.

Personally, I disagree with a parent wanting a proper market rate rent from their own child, however I do agree with them requiring a contribution towards expenses.

I would say £50 p.w. sounds about right in your situation.

Olias

neverdespairgirl

I'd offer £200 to £250. Congratulations on your apprenticeship, hope it goes well.

Paul_the_Painter

I think Catblue has it about right, 1/3 of your take home pay. This is what a thread on mortgages came to the conclusion was "about right" as a proportion of your salary to spend on housing.

It could be argued that you should contribute a bit more as you are being fed as well, but on the flip side you would probably prefer a place of your own.

Your take home will be about £675pcm so £200 and a bunch of flowers on payday for your mum would sit about right.

leaves you £250 for spends

soccermom

I cant get my 22 year old to pay more than £30 a week without kicking off. He thinks we have a duty of care have threatened to kick him out I just need to follow through.

I would be happy with £200 in fact at your age and just starting out I would ask for £30 a week to start. Raising with each birthday.

Well done on the apprenticeship and good luck.

Ulfar

soccermom wrote: »

I cant get my 22 year old to pay more than £30 a week without kicking off. He thinks we have a duty of care have threatened to kick him out I just need to follow through.

I would be happy with £200 in fact at your age and just starting out I would ask for £30 a week to start. Raising with each birthday.

Well done on the apprenticeship and good luck.

I think you have answered your own point, you need to follow through. Your duty of care ended at when he ceased to be a child.

As for the Op's question 1/3 of income is fair.