Money Moral Dilemma: Should I make my friend pay rent?

happyinflorida

The dilemma doesn't mention your best friends situation regarding where she was living before the break up - is she still having to contribute towards previous rent or mortgage? If yes, she hasn't probably got spare cash - you need to bring this up to find out if she has got spare cash or not to start contributing towards staying with you.

If she is going to be there longer, it is only fair that she pay something - as long as she can afford to do so, if she can't afford to, you first need to discuss with your partner how long you will be happy to have her living there completely free as obviously she is your best friend but it's going to be costing you to have her there.

If both of you are happy to have her stay there but she cannot afford to pay anything, there are other ways she could help without costing her money - doing all your cleaning, washing, ironing - that would help you.

Long term though, if she can afford to pay, I'd get a proper rental agreement sorted out through a solicitor - you might not want to with your best friend, but take my word for it, this is best in case relations sour.

Pollycat

If I'd helped a friend out by giving her somewhere to stay in her hour of need and the stay was longer than expected (but of course we have no idea about more information because it's a MMD :cool:) and she hadn't broached the subject of financial contribution to the household, I'd be questioning whether she really was a friend or a user.

omendata

Does not sound like much of a friend
Yes. Pay or go.
No big loss who needs friends who have no gratitude or common courtesy

pollypenny

A good friend would be contributing to food costs immediately, you've helped her.

She may be struggling to find a flat that she can afford, so a quiet chat and offer to help may be necessary. If you ask her to pay rent, it's tantamount to saying she can can stay long-term.