Legal Options for girlfriend moving in with me

GSXRCarlos

jamie11 wrote: »

I see no problem with renting her a room under the rent-a-room scheme, you could charge up to 4250 per year without paying tax, she would be a lodger. You only have to give reasonable notice to remove a lodger.

Mind you, I don't generally approve of sleeping with your lodgers, I've never been that lucky...

Is this really possible?

If so, what would i need to do - is there certain paper work to complete, or a website where i can find out more?

split_second

i thought it would take years for equity between now and the future date to become an issue?

HappyMJ

GSXRCarlos wrote: »

Is this really possible?

If so, what would i need to do - is there certain paper work to complete, or a website where i can find out more?

No it's not. You can't sleep with lodgers. You need to rent her a room. You sleep in your room she sleeps in her room. The advice that has been given to not accept 1 penny nor 1 minute of free labour towards household expenses such as mortgage and maintenance is the only way to help protect your investment. It is still not a 100% sure fire way though.

Teresa_Green

Please would someone like to explain why it is ok for you to profit from her by taking rent money off her towards your mortgage whilst openly admitting that you are not happy for her to have any claim over you for this arrangement?

Also think about what if something happened so that one of you wasn't earning for a while, which is increasingly likely in the "current economic climate", as you would be assessed as a couple for your income regarding any claim of benefits in those circumstances.

Would you expect her to pay all the bills including your mortgage if you lost your job?

Are you prepared to let her off the rent / lodger money if she lost her job?

What if either of you become ill or were injured and unable to work for a while?

What if she became pregnant and wanted to keep the baby?

I understand you wanting to protect yourself but please don't put her at a disadvantage in the process.

MushyPeas

Hi, I'm in a similar situation.

There's some really good advice on the DirectGov website about living together (cohabitation) and also how to protect yourself financially. I realise it's not very romantic but it's about protecting both people in the partnership:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/governmentcitizensandrights/yourrightsandresponsibilities/dg_10026937

I found the guide really helpful and easy to read. We're now drawing up a 'terms of agreement' so everything is sorted before we move in together. I believe it makes for a healthier relationship if we're more upfront about money, saves misunderstandings later on.

What about the rent a room scheme? Could you go down that route? See below:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/Taxes/TaxOnPropertyAndRentalIncome/DG_4017804

Would be interesting to know what you decide.

Edit: Just noticed someone else already discussing rent a room, sorry for duplication!

HappyMJ

Teresa_Green wrote: »

Please would someone like to explain why it is ok for you to profit from her by taking rent money off her towards your mortgage whilst openly admitting that you are not happy for her to have any claim over you for this arrangement?

Also think about what if something happened so that one of you wasn't earning for a while, which is increasingly likely in the "current economic climate", as you would be assessed as a couple for your income regarding any claim of benefits in those circumstances.

Would you expect her to pay all the bills including your mortgage if you lost your job?

Are you prepared to let her off the rent / lodger money if she lost her job?

What if either of you become ill or were injured and unable to work for a while?

What if she became pregnant and wanted to keep the baby?

I understand you wanting to protect yourself but please don't put her at a disadvantage in the process.

There are different stages of a relationship as we are all aware of. You don't suddenly go from dating to sharing your entire life together (normally). The OP wants to try sharing his life with her and if it works out then it will all change.

I'll answer them as if they were directed at me.

I will pay all the bills even if I lose my job as I have insurance to cover that as I would do now.

I will be prepared to not accept any money whatsoever. I would have spent it anyway so not getting any will not affect me.

If I become ill I have insurance. If she becomes ill I would expect her to have some contingency plan for that but I would not expect any money towards household bills. I won't be paying her loans, phones or anything personal though.

If she becomes pregnant despite using protection all plans go out the window and we will share our lives together if we agree to.

Teresa_Green

So that makes it OK for you to profit off her whilst you take your time deciding if it is going to work out?

I understand where you are coming from, and it seems to be the modern way, but living together / sharing properly is hard work and the lack of true commitment from the start makes a self fulfilling prophecy of it not working out in the longer term in a lot of cases. The couple concerned then conclude that it wouldn't have worked out anyway because they are not compatible. Catch 22.

The system is open to abuse from both sides of the coin is what I am getting at here.

GSXRCarlos

HappyMJ wrote: »

No it's not. You can't sleep with lodgers. You need to rent her a room. You sleep in your room she sleeps in her room. The advice that has been given to not accept 1 penny nor 1 minute of free labour towards household expenses such as mortgage and maintenance is the only way to help protect your investment. It is still not a 100% sure fire way though.

Thanks for you post, what counts as household expenses?

Can i accept money for council tax, gas, water, elec etc

I understand the "better safe than sorry" story of don't accept a penny, but she'll have the "advantage" of my house, without all the risks associated with owning her property - surely she'll benefit more than me as she'll be getting a free ride?

BitterAndTwisted

Giving her a "free ride" is the other side of the coin to you protecting your investment.

What would I do? I'd set up a separate bank account in my own name and have all of her contributions paid into it, transfer funds from my normal current account for my share and pay the bills from it. That way, there can be no confusion about what she has and has not contributed towards. I would expect her to pay the difference between the 25% single-person discount of the Council Tax and the full amount as that would be an additional expense which you wouldn't have to cover if she wasn't there..

GSXRCarlos

Teresa_Green wrote: »

Please would someone like to explain why it is ok for you to profit from her by taking rent money off her towards your mortgage whilst openly admitting that you are not happy for her to have any claim over you for this arrangement?

Ignoring the emotional relationship stuff, how is this any different to having a lodger who pays rent (which surely will cover some mortgage payments and bills)???

Teresa_Green wrote:

Also think about what if something happened so that one of you wasn't earning for a while, which is increasingly likely in the "current economic climate", as you would be assessed as a couple for your income regarding any claim of benefits in those circumstances.

We'd assume that the house was mine, and mine alone, so i bare the brunt if the worst should happen to me, i wouldn't be claiming benefits and would sell and move back to my mum and dad's should it get that far

Teresa_Green wrote:

Would you expect her to pay all the bills including your mortgage if you lost your job?

No, see above

Teresa_Green wrote:

Are you prepared to let her off the rent / lodger money if she lost her job?

yes, but not indefinitely (nor would she want that)

Teresa_Green wrote:

What if either of you become ill or were injured and unable to work for a while?

In my case, it'd be up to me to sort it, as others have said, if she became ill, i'd expect her own insurance etc to kick in

Teresa_Green wrote:

What if she became pregnant and wanted to keep the baby?

Who's is it? (lol) then we'd have to make some decisions together, but the fact that we're sleeping together means i (and i alone) run that risk everyday and a choice i'm happy to make, we'd then become a commited family relationship and the house would be ours, marriage etc to follow ...

Teresa_Green wrote:

I understand you wanting to protect yourself but please don't put her at a disadvantage in the process.

I'm certainly not looking to disadvantage her, but she's already at a disadvantage paying rent out every month, if she moved in with me i'd make sure she was saving money to build us some cash reserves, maybe even buy into the house at a later date?