Mortgage free - what should my boyfriend pay when he moves in?

Beatrix49

Hi,
I hope I'm posting in the right area, I hope you can give me some advice.

I'm a university student that owns my house (50-50, mortgage free) with my sister after the death of our mother. My boyfriend and I have been talking about having him move in after my sister starts uni in September. The plan is to attempt to get the house into a rentable condition over the next year and then my boyfriend and I would move into a rented house elsewhere.

What I need advice on is what I should ask him to pay while he's living with me.
Obviously my sister & I would pay for all home improvements. Should we just split the bills & food and leave it at that or should he be paying me (or my sister) some form of rent? He doesn't want to feel like a free-loader but I equally don't want him to feel too much like a lodger. He works full time by the way.

I've never lived with a partner before and am keen to have the financial situation clear for all parties. Also I don't know what The legal situation might be of having him live with with me.

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

Mr_Thrifty

Depends how old you are? If over 30 and it's serious, I would say a nominal £250/month as a contribution to bills plus give your sister £250 "rent" as it's half her place.

Beatrix49

I'm 21 and my sister is 19. My boyfriend is 24. While we are serious, there is no talk of marriage on the horizon at this age! He is paying about £300 rent at his current place so I shouldn't like to take any more off him than that really.

DRP

Beatrix49 wrote: »

I'm 21 and my sister is 19. My boyfriend is 24. While we are serious, there is no talk of marriage on the horizon at this age! He is paying about £300 rent at his current place so I shouldn't like to take any more off him than that really.

if your sister isn't living there then I think he it is only fair he pays her a decent rental charge.

Then you and him should go halves on your utility bills, food etc.

Perhaps someone here who is knowledgeable on what constitutes a lodger, a tenant or a live-in partner and their respective legal rights could advise you further

sammyjammy

I think as its half your sisters house and she is not going to be living there then he should pay rent to her rather than you. This would be better for your relationship as you're then not his landlord then you can just share the bills and food as they happen. £250 sounds reasonable.

Okydoky25

Mr_Thrifty wrote: »

Depends how old you are? If over 30 and it's serious, I would say a nominal £250/month as a contribution to bills plus give your sister £250 "rent" as it's half her place.

Bit strange mentioning age? My husbands 27 I'm 32 and a SAHM so he pays EVERYTHING?

What is you sisters opinion? If she's happy to go with what you decide I woud take what he was paying for Rent & Bills a his old place, share this with your sister. Food etc should be split between the pair of you. I woud also ave some sort of agreement written up to state he is nt entitled to any financial gain. I'm sure one one on here cod help with more details on that.

SuzieSue

DRP wrote: »

if your sister isn't living there then I think he it is only fair he pays her a decent rental charge.

Then you and him should go halves on your utility bills, food etc.

This sounds fair

princeofpounds

You must be careful how you do this; if the arrangement is not sufficiently formal and arms-length he might end up with a beneficial interest in the house.

RenovationMan

With the HMRC's 'rent a room' scheme, you are allowed to charge £350 per month completely income tax free, you don't even have to notify the taxman.

I would have a look at comparable rental in the area for similar properties and charge him that. As you own the house 50-50 with your sister, you should pay half the rent to her and then decide whether you want your boyfriend to pay the other half to yourself or not.

If you don't then it completely gets rid of the feeling that you are your boyfriend's landlady, and yet your sister does not miss out. Plus because he is paying rent, it ensures that he will struggle to lay any claim to your home if you live there together for a number of years.

Kynthia

Be careful as if he pays rent to someone who doesn't live in the property he may become a tenant with rights. You'd need to give him 2 months notice to leave and get a court order if ge refused to go. If he pays rent to you, as you live there he has much fewer rights as a lodger.