How much rent should I Charge my son each month for rent?

clarew0305

Hello 

I'm just wondering what is a reasonable amount of rent my son should be paying me each month.  Now these are my circumstances and I'm not spinning a sob story but I am a Disabled single Mum after being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1998 and Divorcing my childrens Dad 5 years ago (not my fault - just saying!!)  Now my elder son has already moved out to live with his girlfriend leaving my nearly 19 year old living with me.  After completing his A levels this year my 19 year old son has started a full time job and is Picking up about 1200 - 1300 a month.  After having a chat with his Dad they agreed that he would pay me £200 a month.  I am unable to go to work because of my health.  So I'm now receiving less a month, Child benefit has now stopped and my universal credits have been reduced by £290 and then there is an increase in Council tax too. so would am I being reasonable for wanting a bit more money off my son to I'm not financially down especially as none of my bills have been reduced?

SunnyCyprus

Don't discuss it with ex at all. None of his business.  Your son can chat with him, but not come to any decision on what to pay you.
 
If £300/350 (or whatever amount) is what you need to cover costs, put that to your son.  If he is unhappy paying that, he can move in with his dad or private rent. 
Job done. 

maisie_cat

In our family the standard has always been 25% of take home pay as "board" so £300- £325 in this case.
You appear to be down around £360 so it's no far away as some of the costs that those benefits cover will now be paid for by the young man.
You could also compare with the costs of a room in a shared house locally so he has something to compare to.

DullGreyGuy

maisie_cat said:

In our family the standard has always been 25% of take home pay as "board" so £300- £325 in this case.
You appear to be down around £360 so it's no far away as some of the costs that those benefits cover will now be paid for by the young man.
You could also compare with the costs of a room in a shared house locally so he has something to compare to.

I had to pay a percentage of my money and hated it... why if I do a massive amount of overtime should I pay more rent? That isnt how it works in the real world. Similarly if I get a promotion why does my rent suddenly go up? Mine wasnt the sort as some of my friends where their parents gave them the rent back towards a house deposit or such at a later stage. 

I always felt a fixed rent was fairer and more reflective of things really work.

I'd agree looking at the kind of rates people are charging to lodgers and using that as a yard stick. 

To balance the picture though, what happens if he decides that if he's going to be charged commercial rates he'd rather live with mates? Whats the impact for your finances with the savings of him being out the house -v- the loss of his income to you? 

Ath_Wat

DullGreyGuy said:

maisie_cat said:

In our family the standard has always been 25% of take home pay as "board" so £300- £325 in this case.
You appear to be down around £360 so it's no far away as some of the costs that those benefits cover will now be paid for by the young man.
You could also compare with the costs of a room in a shared house locally so he has something to compare to.

I had to pay a percentage of my money and hated it... why if I do a massive amount of overtime should I pay more rent? That isnt how it works in the real world. Similarly if I get a promotion why does my rent suddenly go up? Mine wasnt the sort as some of my friends where their parents gave them the rent back towards a house deposit or such at a later stage. 

I'd agree with this.  Any rent should be based on the cost of having him living there, not on how much money he makes.  That makes no sense at all to me.

DullGreyGuy said:

To balance the picture though, what happens if he decides that if he's going to be charged commercial rates he'd rather live with mates? Whats the impact for your finances with the savings of him being out the house -v- the loss of his income to you? 

And again, yes - don't look at the amount of money you have lost in benefits -  that is gone.  You should just be looking at most to make sure that if he lives with you, you break even compared to not having him there at all.

pinkshoes

clarew0305 said:

Hello 

I'm just wondering what is a reasonable amount of rent my son should be paying me each month.  Now these are my circumstances and I'm not spinning a sob story but I am a Disabled single Mum after being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1998 and Divorcing my childrens Dad 5 years ago (not my fault - just saying!!)  Now my elder son has already moved out to live with his girlfriend leaving my nearly 19 year old living with me.  After completing his A levels this year my 19 year old son has started a full time job and is Picking up about 1200 - 1300 a month.  After having a chat with his Dad they agreed that he would pay me £200 a month.  I am unable to go to work because of my health.  So I'm now receiving less a month, Child benefit has now stopped and my universal credits have been reduced by £290 and then there is an increase in Council tax too. so would am I being reasonable for wanting a bit more money off my son to I'm not financially down especially as none of my bills have been reduced?

Start by looking at cost of renting a room locally! In the cheapest area here it's £600 for a double room including bills, then you pay food on top, so £200 is ridiculously low.

Loss of child benefit, reduced universal credit then increase in council tax from 75% to 100% as 2 adults in the house - so at the very least this should be the amount in rent, plus extra for food and perhaps then a bit more that you could put aside for him as a deposit for later in life. £400 a month would be reasonable which then gives him a spare £200 a week which is plenty!!

It's nice that he and his dad has agreed £200 a month. Perhaps he should move in with his dad if it's that cheap??

Mojisola

clarew0305 said:

I am a Disabled single Mum

After having a chat with his Dad they agreed that he would pay me £200 a month.

The money is too low but it's the way your son has treated you by discussing this with his Dad and then telling you what they've decided that would be a bigger issue for me.

If your son isn't going to treat you with respect, I wouldn't want him in the house for any longer than necessary.

RAS

Is this as discussion about rent? Or is the son expecting the sum to cover CT, utilities, food and sundries?

WhiskersTheWonderCat

You shouldn't really be focussing on your lost benefits. You are no longer entitled to those benefits, and that's not your son's fault. If he had moved out into his own place, you would still be down those benefits. You should be charging him based on what it would cost him to have similar accommodation in the local area. Which might actually turn out to be more than what you have lost in benefits anyway. I guess you should also decide whether to make your rate appealing to him. If you charge him the going rate for the area, he might decide that moving out is a good option. Which who knows, you might want yourself. But it would mean you being down a lot of money. 

silvercar

If he did move out, what would you gain? I assume that you would then get a council tax reduction to allow for the single person discount. Would you also see an increase in benefits because of any independent person deductions? You would also have slightly lower water bills and electric, possibly gas too. Work out what all this is. If you charge him more than this, you may well struggle when he does move out. Then consider how much support he gives you around the house, plus his company; maybe you want to encourage him to stay with you rather than charge him a rate that pushes him out of the door.

tooldle

If your situation is unlikely to change, now might also be the time to consider and plan for your future. Is the existing home affordable and suitable for you living alone? Your son is thinking of his own wants and needs, no reason for you not to do the same.