Have you 'lodged' with your parents? How much did you pay?

elvenlomadia

We have just moved in with my husband's mum for 2-3 months whilst we renovate our new house. We are paying her £50 per week as a share of the utilities and bills, bearing in mind we also have a mortgage to fund. She has told us several times not to bother, but we're both on 20/30k salaries and didn't want her out of pocket as she's doing us a big favour (and is happy to cook the dinners!).

apple_muncher

The going rate round here for a double rrom in a house share is around £400 minimum. It is the same amount in the area where dss will be studying. This includes bills but not food.

Alchemilla

I think you are doing them no favours if you make life too easy, either in practical or workload terms.

They are choosing to live as a couple, as though married, and that comes with some responsibilities. Best they get used to them.

Far better to start off strict then relax somewhat than to wonder six months down the line why you are skint/exhausted/can't get into your own kitchen.

These are grown adults. Dave Ramsey is quite interesting on this topic, having had an adult child living at home.

silvercar

apple_muncher wrote: »

The going rate round here for a double rrom in a house share is around £400 minimum. It is the same amount in the area where dss will be studying. This includes bills but not food.

I doubt that is the going rate for a student child living at home whilst studying.

Alchemilla

silvercar wrote: »

I doubt that is the going rate for a student child living at home whilst studying.

I think the couple are in their 20s.

silvercar

Alchemilla wrote: »

I think the couple are in their 20s.

All students at university are over 18. Does the actual age matter?

t0rt0ise

I seem to be the mean one here. My son and I share house, couldn't afford to live alone in London, and we split the rent and bills down the middle. Mostly we cater for ourselves for food and things although we aren't too strict on that.

lazer

This isn't an 18 year old who has never left home.

Assuming he was living indepently in Oz, then all the ideas about charging him more keep than necessary and saving the rest to return as a deposit etc are not required - he doen't need to learn about the real world, he has lived in it, and will live in it again in time.

On one hand you want to treat them as an adult by charging rent etc the next you want to treat them like a child by not letting them save their own money, and you doing it for them.

I think as son is studying and gf won't be working then until this changes charge them nothing more than the incremental cost of them living there
The increase in heating, electric, water and food bills. (Assuming you are providing food). I would expect them to help out around the house as i would regardless of if they are contributing or not.

When gf starts working increase the rent so that everyone pays their share of the bills - ie: divide all bills by 2, you and husband pay half, son and gf pay half. (If you have a mortgage only include as long as it is less than market rent for a room, if its more, only charge the amount for a room).

This way you aren't profiting of them, but they aren't freeloading off you.

FWIW - i moved home when i changed jobs back to my home area, while i was looking a place to buy - i paid no board, my parents wouldn't take any off me. (The only thing i was allowed to pay for was the internet, which i got put in)
Instead I brought home takeaways, bought groceries, bought them more expensive birthday/christmas presents etc.

Alchemilla

silvercar wrote: »

All students at university are over 18. Does the actual age matter?

My point was that these are not children, as lazer points out.

greensalad

To be honest, If you're going to change them the market share you may as well just tell them to get their own place. I thought the whole point of living with parents was to help them save money and get a start in life. If I wanted to move in with my Mum and she wanted me to pay market share then why on earth would I? Why not just leave?

If you need the money, take the money that would leave you out of pocket. If you don't need the money, and want them to move in so you can help them get a start in life then why on earth would you profit off them?