Student accommodation or rent from boyfriend

rchl

In September I start a one year postgraduate course but because it's postgrad I cannot get government funding. I've saved up for my course fees and will have around £2000 extra saved up plus maybe £200 a month from my parents. Obviously I can try and get a part time job while I study but I don't know how long it will take to find one so don't want to rely on it. I've scrimped before so am more than happy to do it for another 9/10 months.

Student accommodation would cost me around £300 a month before food and any bills not included. I cannot see how I could make that work without taking out a bank loan. However my boyfriend is buying a house and we have been talking about moving in together. I would need to get a bus pass, as he's trying to buy about 30 mins from the uni, which could cost about £75 a month.

My question is would it be fair to offer my boyfriend £200 a month towards my expenses? All he seems to want is for me to cover the increase in bills while I'm a student but as I've only rented with bills included before and he has only paid board to his parents I don't know if this is enough.

PheoUK

Would he be getting a lodger in if you weren't there? How long have you been in the relationship.

Basically, this is more of a relationship question than a housing one! You two as a couple have to decide who will pay towards what. If you are moving in together it is presumably reasonably serious, so general market comparisons to what Joe Bloggs would pay are perhaps not so useful.

rchl

He can afford the mortgage, bills etc on his own so wouldn't 'need' a lodger but I can't say he'd never get one.

It'll be 18 months by September but we tend to do several overnights a week together as it is. We know it's early but we have talked about me moving in around then regardless of the uni situation. I lived with someone before and this isn't something I'd jump into again without being sure the relationship is long term and stable. We don't like the distance (he lives about 35 mins away) and both feel like this is a long term relationship. I would love to live with him but I just don't know how much to pay.

kerri_dfw

I moved from London to Cardiff when my OH started his final year. He paid into our joint account what he could afford and I paid the rest. We'd been together 2 years. It's definitely a test of your relationship. However we now have a small person and cats, so if you think you want are at a stage for moving in together then take that leap. I doubt he'd suggest it if he weren't ready to commit

Prothet_of_Doom

This boyfriend? It's not going to last is it? You are going to be skint, and he wants your money to help towards the bills on a house he can afford to live in.
I'd offer to cook once a week and if that's not good enough look for other digs.

PheoUK

Sit down, do a budget together, and work out how much you can afford to contribute while still having some standard of living.

CharlieRabbit01

to me 18 months isn't too early, if its right its right.

My OH was a student when we got together and I worked.

We moved in together after 8 months, we split the bills according to how much we could afford and we're still together 6 years later.

I dont think as some one else has suggested that you should just offer to cook a meal once a week.

He is your partner not your parents and you should contribute towards the costs as best you can.

lee111s

Prothet_of_Doom wrote: »

This boyfriend? It's not going to last is it? You are going to be skint, and he wants your money to help towards the bills on a house he can afford to live in.
I'd offer to cook once a week and if that's not good enough look for other digs.

Bit strong.

Did you miss the point where she would be paying £300 to live elsewhere? Whilst I don't take any money for bills from my Girlfriend who is studing her masters as she's only working 8 hours. If she was offering to pay or was provided money from her parents for living costs then I don't think it would be unfair for her to have to pay.

rchl

Thanks guys. We've decided that we do want to live together, that's not the problem, just I have no idea how much to contribute.

He can afford the house by himself but his concern is the increase in bills if it's two people living there. I want to contribute but obviously I can't afford to split the mortgage etc 50/50. I'm aware I'll also take on most of the housework (I'm way fussier about cleaning and laundry than he is) which we both consider part of my contribution.

I will do a budget to work out how much I could reasonably offer him and see what he says. We don't want to move in together while money is so tight for me if student accommodation is much cheaper. But if we can agree on a decent "rent" then I won't have to take out a loan. I just don't want to offer way under what I should be paying and he not say anything!

lee111s

I think paying half the utilities is fair. Don't contribute towards the mortgage, that makes things complicated. Take all other househole bills, water, electricity, gas, internet, council tax (sky TV should you wish), house insurance.

The mortgage should be paid solely by him as it's his property.