Returning to a parents house to save for a deposit.

Odette

Me and my OH are returning to my parents to live for a 1-2 years whilst we save for a house. We get on well with my parents and there is space enough we will have our own bedroom and living room.
My parents are half rent half buy tenants, I don't know how much they pay but in the last ten years my dad has had several pay-rises and they are comfortable at the least and pension wise for when they retire in 3-5 years. We have also agreed to help with things they cant do anymore, basic DIY and painting as well as start selling their items on ebay so they are ready to downsize when they retire.
So...in this kind of situation, what do you think is the correct amount to charge for rent? Any ideas/opinions helpful.

victor2

If you're buying your own food and consumables, then how about you pick up the utility bills too? Other costs, like maintenance, TV licence, council tax etc. are things they would be paying anyway, although there will inevitably be more wear and tear. Should still give you the ability to save without burdening the parents too much.

Rebecca01

Hi
We are in a similar situation to you. We pay my parents 150 a month. We also help out with other costs when we can. We share food but I will go to the shop and get shopping to, so its a bit fairer.

Person_one

Ask your parents, they may prefer to have you just contribute to the food etc. rather than pay rent to help you get that deposit and move out faster!

Bluemeanie_2

victor2 wrote: »

If you're buying your own food and consumables, then how about you pick up the utility bills too? Other costs, like maintenance, TV licence, council tax etc. are things they would be paying anyway, although there will inevitably be more wear and tear. Should still give you the ability to save without burdening the parents too much.

I agree. When I finished uni I was charged £100 a month, primarily for food. As they said and as Victor points out, their council tax, tv, gas, etc stays the same. They didn't want to charge me loads then keep me at home for years while saving up. I would pay electric bill and halve the shopping (including cleaning products etc.

claire16c

Person_one wrote: »

Ask your parents, they may prefer to have you just contribute to the food etc. rather than pay rent to help you get that deposit and move out faster!

I agree you should ask them and see what they think.

My parents let my boyfriend (now husband) stay with them whilst I was in my last year of uni. He saved some money which meant we could then move out when I finished uni. They had a deal where he gave them £20 a month for food, and had to buy his own snacks (to avoid eating them out of house and home in that dept lol).

He helped round the house, and did a lot of tasks out in the garden to help them, and did any heavy lifting or moving stuff like furniture, bits of diy help. That was far more help to them than any money, when they are much better off than us.

But its totally dependant on your parents situation. Maybe offer to buy the food, and do the shopping for them?

Odette

We have already decided! I just wanted to see what other people did in this situation is all sorry for being unclear.

Mojisola

Odette wrote: »

My parents are half rent half buy tenants, I don't know how much they pay but in the last ten years my dad has had several pay-rises and they are comfortable at the least and pension wise for when they retire in 3-5 years.

We have also agreed to help with things they cant do anymore, basic DIY and painting as well as start selling their items on ebay so they are ready to downsize when they retire.

In a situation like this which is of mutual benefit, as a parent, I would be happy as long as you covered any extra costs to the household as long as you definitely were saving hard! If you started living the high life, I would be having words.

dirtysexymonkey

im doing the same, only in a much different way. my parents moved abroad with my other siblings but two of them (one currently) will be returning for post secondary education here but need an adult with them which is me. i moved back and i save up most of my earnings, and will be doing for the next three and a half years. ill have saved a sizeable deposit by then which i wouldnt have been able to do if i hadnt moved back.

bills and food etc is all covered by my parents though im the one who does the buying for us or wed end up with kit kats and cereal for breakfast lunch and dinner!

if they hadnt moved and hadnt needed me to do this i know they wouldnt have let me contribute while i was saving but i had budgetted for £200 a month to pay my way anyway. but that wouldve been chanelled into my savings which im grateful for.

Oldernotwiser

Will you be buying your own food and is your rent going to include utilities.

Personally, I would buy my own food, split the utility bills in half and then negotiate the actual rent.

Peater

When i was made redundant (again), it coincided with the end of my lease on a shared house. I asked the folks if it would be ok to go back for a few months until i got back on my feet and they happily obliged. A year and a bit later, i have just bought my first place thanks to a whopping deposit!

It's not been easy 'going back', but i am thankful that i have such cool parents.

(i have been paying £150pcm and then the odd treats for m&d)