Should I be charging my partner rent?

Josie_jo

Hi, so here's the situation. I've just bought a flat, and as I bought it with inheritance, I've managed to buy it outright, no mortgage. I'll be living there with my boyfriend, once the renovations are done. I'm trying to work out whether to charge him rent, if so how much, as he knows that I'm not paying into a mortgage. He's happy to pay towards bills, even suggested paying all the bills himself, with no contribution from me. I was thinking that we could both pay a certain amount into an account each month, and then use that money for anything that goes wrong with the flat. We've been together for 2 and a half years, and have lived together for most of our relationship. Any advice or thoughts on the matter gratefully received! Thanks 

wegptrem

How about he pays the bills, and you put your share of the bills into a bank account each month to cover anything going wrong with the flat?

Your investment will gain value over time, so you are both living rent-free as it were.

Your costs are being split, which is fair if you are both earning.

And you will be able to use the savings for further improvements further down the line.

If your boyfriend is paying all the bills, I'm not sure it's fair to charge rent on top.

My opinion, only.

gettingtheresometime

Get him to save the amount, in an account in his name only, an amount you both agree with.

If the relationship continues to go northwards, he'll have savings that he can use as a joint deposit on a joint purchase.

If it goes south, he'll have savings for a rental deposit.
 
Split bills.

dimbo61

If you want to get to know me come and live with me !
If you don't know and trust your bf after 2 years of living together will you ever ?

[Deleted User]

Josie_jo said:

Hi, so here's the situation. I've just bought a flat, and as I bought it with inheritance, I've managed to buy it outright, no mortgage. I'll be living there with my boyfriend, once the renovations are done. I'm trying to work out whether to charge him rent, if so how much, as he knows that I'm not paying into a mortgage. He's happy to pay towards bills, even suggested paying all the bills himself, with no contribution from me. I was thinking that we could both pay a certain amount into an account each month, and then use that money for anything that goes wrong with the flat. We've been together for 2 and a half years, and have lived together for most of our relationship. Any advice or thoughts on the matter gratefully received! Thanks 

What’s the going rate for a place in your bed? 

Stubod

I would think it best to simply split and share equally all your "living" related bills (house costs, eg energy, water bills, council tax, food, insurance, broadband).

You could each put "X" amount into a joint account each month and pay all the above bills from that, then if there is money left over either split it, save it or splurge it?

springmagpie

Do you need to consider any future claim he might have on the property should you separate? 

Petriix

No. If he's your 'partner' then you shouldn't be charging him rent, unless you want to allow him to buy equity in the property over time.

Just enjoy the lower living expenses, split the cost of the bills and start saving individually for a bigger place.

[Deleted User]

I can see where you're coming from, but I wouldn't; want him having any claim over my flat if I was in your position. 
So I'd just split the bills if I was you. 

Beeboo23

Spilt the bills and you pay for repairs to the flat. He shouldn’t pay for repairs unless he also has ownership. It’s my understanding that if he invests money into the flat he may also have a claim to some of the equity down the line. 

kazwookie

Be very careful how you do this so he doesnot have a vested interest in your place, if you split he could calim half or what ever ££ by claiming he did repairs / painting decorating etc.

If you charge him anything he pays towards bills and food only. DO NOT call it rent.