How much rent should I ask from my son

exiled_red

It is up to you how much you charge him, I would however think about what your motivation is for charging him rent - to cover your costs, to give him a taste of what the real world is like, to teach him the value of money, or fairness to everyone in the house etc. Bare in mind how much you charge could influence his ability to save up for a place of his own (if that is what he wants). Which may mean that he is living with you for longer.

I assume that he doesn't really know how much things cost, electricity, gas, water, telephone, internet, council tax, TV licence etc that is before you consider food and anything such as washing, ironing or cooking that you might do for him. There are a number of ways of thinking about this the first being what he costs you above what you would pay if he wasn't living there or a split of all the costs between all of you living there.

Peter333

I think £75 a week from your own son sounds too much .............

I would only charge my adult kids what they were costing IYSWIM:- and that would not be more than £100 a month.

I know a woman RIGHT NOW who decided to charge her sons £375 EACH a month (about £86 a week,) with cries of 'see if you can live any cheaper than that anywhere else!!!'

So she was getting £750 a month from them. And no way were they costing that!

Upshot was, she was a single mum and lost about £700 a month in tax credits and child benefit suddenly, as they left full time education together (they were 18 and 19...one lad did an extra year at college as his A level results were not great first time round.)

If she had been nice and explained things, and said she really needs the money, that may have been OK - but she demanded the money... And as they were both getting £900 a month within 6 months of leaving school, they accepted it. They thought it was normal until some of their mates said they pay £150-200 a month.

And she wasn't nice at all. She made them feel they should be grateful to be in her house, they were not allowed visitors, they could never cook, (but always had to do the washing up and cleaning, and their own washing,) and they also they had to do the food shopping. She shouted at them 24/7, and never let their girlfriends stay over, or any friends. They were also not allowed fast food in the house, or even netflix!

So a month ago, they both left. Both went to live with their girlfriends. They all live together in a 3 bed house that they are renting privately for £450 a month. The 2 boys rent they were paying their mother will cover that, with £250 left towards bills and food! PLUS they have the rest of their joint wages. (This is £1800, so after the rent they'll have £1350 a month.) And this doesn't include the income from their girlfriends.

Plus they can have netflix, pizzas, friends, and whatever the heck else they want!

And mommy dearest is £750 short a month now! She is flaming mad and has stopped speaking to both of them, and has unfriended and blocked them on facebook like a 12 year old would.

Won't be long before she has to take in lodgers!

So just a suggestion, but I would be a little more reasonable with your son.

Especially if you depend on his money.

Jackieboy

JReacher1 wrote: »

If you're downsizing and no longer having a mortgage to pay then I would be tempted to reduce the amount of money you are charging your sons. You are making about £600 a month of them both which seems quite high to me when they are your sons.

Most people would think that £50 per week per adult would barely cover expenses.

JReacher1

Jackieboy wrote: »

Most people would think that £50 per week per adult would barely cover expenses.

It's not £50 per adult. It's £75 for one son and £65 for the second son.

I think that should be enough to cover the cost of having them in the house.

Jackieboy

JReacher1 wrote: »

It's not £50 per adult. It's £75 for one son and £65 for the second son.

I think that should be enough to cover the cost of having them in the house.

You've forgotten the girlfriend.

JReacher1

Jackieboy wrote: »

You've forgotten the girlfriend.

No I haven't. The girlfriend is irrelevant as whether or not she was in the house the mother would still charge the eldest £65 and the youngest £75.

gettingtheresometime

We 'charge' our son £250 a calendar month but that's his food cooked (we eat together) unless he wants something special, electricity toiletries ( toothpaste, soap - again anything special he buys) - he does do his own laundry but as he works with his dad it also includes travel to work.

Fortunately he hasn't once suggested he's being overcharged, nor has he asked to see the bills - and if he did he'd be politely told where to go!

Spendless

I think it's a bit unfair to charge according to how much money someone has lost in child related benefits. We get frequent posts about how generous these can be. At the point this income stops, reasons for the parent working less hours have gone as the child should have become more self sufficient and childcare not needed.

I think you should take the bills as if you were the only one left living in the house, what are the bills you have to pay over and above the amount (ie caused by other people living there). This is what they should pay.

Sooetie

Thank you all for your replies they have been very helpful. Sorry i haven't responded sooner but I have had a manic week.

I was always going to lower the rent once I got rid of my mortgage and he knows that. He also is well aware of the costs as we have discussed them for when he gets a place with his GF which should be soon.

I do all the shopping including food, packed lunches, toiletries, underwear and socks etc etc. I do all the cleaning and laundry including buying the products. I cook most evenings, pay the bills and am a free taxi service. The only thing I don't do now that I did before he started work in August is give him pocket money. I didn't ask anything the first month as he was paid at the end of the month.

I am a divorced mum and their father hasn't contributed for over 10 years.

I am just trying to keep them fed, clothed and a roof over their head, not make money from them. They both know they could have my last 10p if they needed it.

I was a bit upset at his attitude as my elder son actually offered me more when he got a pay rise.

I'm sure it will all sort out once we have moved.

Spendless

Sooetie wrote: »

Thank you all for your replies they have been very helpful. Sorry i haven't responded sooner but I have had a manic week.

I was always going to lower the rent once I got rid of my mortgage and he knows that. He also is well aware of the costs as we have discussed them for when he gets a place with his GF which should be soon.

I do all the shopping including food, packed lunches, toiletries, underwear and socks etc etc. I do all the cleaning and laundry including buying the products. I cook most evenings, pay the bills and am a free taxi service. The only thing I don't do now that I did before he started work in August is give him pocket money. I didn't ask anything the first month as he was paid at the end of the month.

I am a divorced mum and their father hasn't contributed for over 10 years.

I am just trying to keep them fed, clothed and a roof over their head, not make money from them. They both know they could have my last 10p if they needed it.

I was a bit upset at his attitude as my elder son actually offered me more when he got a pay rise.

I'm sure it will all sort out once we have moved.

That is something I would probably stop doing. If he's old enough to be earning, he's old enough to buy his own clothing, which includes the 'boring' stuff. Alternatively he'll start appreciating the customary socks and underpants christmas present he gets from an older/pratical relative (assuming there is one).

I'd also buy generic/basic toiletries and if they want anything more fancy, then they buy that themselves too.