Buying flat with brother, girlfriend to move in, what "rent" does she pay?

shiny76

Mojisola wrote: »

But the GF will be using the whole house, not just the brother's half.

True. Perhaps a % split on her rent would be a fairer solution. And rather than 50-50, something like 70-30 in the brothers favour.

That way the brother is compensated for sharing his room (disregarding the other benefits he may receive ) and the OP gets some recompense for the reduced privacy of the kitchen/lounge

nev87

Again thanks for the varied input here. I appreciate that we're unlikely to reach a conclusion here but I would like to be able to show my brother this thread and show him that the debate is two sided. So please keep the responses coming.

shiny76

nev87 wrote: »

Again thanks for the varied input here. I appreciate that we're unlikely to reach a conclusion here but I would like to be able to show my brother this thread and show him that the debate is two sided. So please keep the responses coming.

Will he appreciate you airing your laundry in public???

krlyr

I agree with you in that I'd want more of a financial incentive to let her move in than just splitting the bills 3 ways. Utilities aren't the only communal things she will be using - presumably she won't spend all her time in your brother's bedroom. Her being there will add "wear and tear" to the flat overall, you will be sharing the bathroom (unless your brother has an en suite), having to share your living spaces and presumably work around things like her wanting to watch the TV, her needing to use the kettle/microwave/oven, etc.
I think that the suggestion of doing your costs 50:50 between the two of you then charging the girlfriend the going rental rate is a good one, though I do think that perhaps your brother should benefit slightly more than you because he will be sharing his bedroom. You say her rent now is about £600 so you could go £400 - you get £175, brother gets £225, as an example. £150/250 if he feels he deserves a greater lump. I think you're in the right to insist on some form of monetary gain from the situation though.

adamantine

i would charge her the going rate for a comparable houseshare in your area as rent.

i think its unreasonable for him to benefit from her moving in by sharing his mortgage payment with her but for you to lose a bit of privacy and have to share more of the house with someone else and only save on the bills.

claire16c

peachyprice wrote: »

As far as I can see, the only fair way of this working is for you and your brother to continue paying your halves as you will be for the first 6 months, when his GF moves in she pays the going rate for a house share in the area which is split equally between you and your brother .

In this scenario you are both still paying equal amounts towards the mortgage/loans, your bother is benefitting financially by having his GF in residence, you are benefitting financially for having to share your living space with another adult.

IMO, trying to base her contribution on the mortgage is over-complicating things.

I think this it the best idea.

I think for her to pay 50% of your brothers share is unfair because he is then being subsidised by her - and you are not - but you are both living with her.

Yes he shares a bedroom with her - but surely thats the point of her moving in - hardly a downside for him :rotfl:

I think 1/3 of the bills is fair. Then she should pay an amount that both of you come up with, and it gets paid to the both of you - which you could then put towards your mortgage or furniture or whatever.

McKneff

Leave the word 'mortgage' out of the equasion altogether, it could open a can of worms up in the future.

Charge her rent, which she pays to both of you to include a share of everything except food,

rachbc

Mmm tricky - I do beleive you should gain soem financial benefit form her being there beyound the reduced bills yes. I think the rooms thing is a red herring as prsumably he doing so because he wants to live with his gf not because he needs the rent! I would change her the going rate for a room share and split equally between you as yo are both her landlords rather than asking her for a proportion of the mortgage

LillythePink

I agree with some of the others........

The mortgage/loan should be split between you two as you both own the house - she shouldn't be involved in that.

Bills should be split 3 ways or you just charge her rent at the going rate for a house share and either split the money between you two or put some into a joint bank account (you and bro) for say emergencies then maybe once a quarter/half year you could share some of it out between the two of you leaving an emergency fund (so to speak)

If you find that the boiler breaks or you need a new washing machine etc - who would pay for that - would you expect her to chip in or would you consider it a house thing therefore only you and your brother pay - would you have that sort of money??

I don't think that he should benefit more than you in this - whilst he is going to share his room - it's his choice (ok you are happy for her to move in etc) but if he is going to get it written up that she is just paying rent and won't benefit in respect of any house value etc then isn't he then saying that he is her landlord - but then how could that be if the house is in joint names - you would both be the landlord.......if you get my meaning.

onlyroz

Mojisola wrote: »

But the GF will be using the whole house, not just the brother's half.

Which is why she should contribute a third towards the (non-mortgage) bills.