Should my partner help pay for mortgage in my name?

MoneySad

My partner and I have been in a relationship for about 6 months and we are now contemplating living together.
She would stop renting and would move into my house for which I got a solo mortgage about a year ago.
The objective is for her/us to save the money spent on rent and for us to live a more convenient and intimate life as we are currently spending a few days per week alone and a few days per week together at one of the two properties.

What would be the most fair way of splitting the cost of the mortgage once she moves in?

We both agree that the relationship is too young for me to consider adding her to the mortgage.
If we see the mortgage as an investment if feels like I would be taking advantage of her if I asked her to contribute into it. If we see it as debt or if we see me as a landlord and her as a tenant then she should probably pay me every month. And if that’s the case then how much would be fair?

Very confused right now so any help is much appreciated.

Brie

I think there's a big difference between her paying towards the mortgage and the two of you splitting the other bills.  The first would give her rights to the house itself while the second wouldn't.  You've been together such a short time I would be treading carefully before entangling your lives so completely.  

So as for fair?  Well if you pay the mortgage as you already are and she pays 50% of the bills that would be fair.  She would then also presumably have money that she can stash away ready for the two of you taking the next step and becoming a couple in all respects.  Maybe the next time your mortgage renewal comes along both names can go on the mortgage and deeds, she can pay her accumulated "rent" against what's outstanding a bit like a deposit and the two of you can live financially happily ever after.

DullGreyGuy

Presumably you are unmarried?

If they are contributing to paying your mortgage then they may obtain an interest in the property should the relationship not work out. Similarly if they contribute to any improvements (eg new kitchen) either financially or by doing the work. So the first question is if you are happy with this occurring or do you want to protect yourself from this?

 If you formally want to create a landlord and tenant/lodger arrangement then equally be aware of any rights they gain from that.

As to what is fair? Talk it out, there is no right or wrong. Some will say it should be 50/50, others will say it should be proportional to your earnings, some could say they should pay some arbitrary percentage of her former rent. If you aren't sure maybe ask what she's thinking?

Personally, I earned vastly more than my now wife and didnt charge her anything when she moved in. She'd often spend her own income to do the grocery shopping or pay for a meal out for both of us. It worked for us but for many others they'd prefer a more formal agreement. 

AskAsk

i think the fairest way would be that she pays half of what she had paid in rent to you as "rent" so she benefits and so do you, then you split bills 50/50.  so she should pay all the bills if the other 50% equals to "half the current rent"

Marvel1

AskAsk said:

i think the fairest way would be that she pays half of what she had paid in rent to you as "rent" so she benefits and so do you, then you split bills 50/50.  so she should pay all the bills if the other 50% equals to "half the current rent"

What benefits does she have? Come home, bags outside, lock changed.

AskAsk

Marvel1 said:

AskAsk said:

i think the fairest way would be that she pays half of what she had paid in rent to you as "rent" so she benefits and so do you, then you split bills 50/50.  so she should pay all the bills if the other 50% equals to "half the current rent"

What benefits does she have? Come home, bags outside, lock changed.

that she gets somewhere nice to live for half the rent.  i think that is fair.  if she comes home and bags outside and lock changed, then she has chosen the wrong man, and she must take some share of the blame for that, lol

Keep_pedalling

You would be foolish to let her pay towards the mortgage as that would enable her to claim to a financial interest in the house if things go pear shaped.

Gavin83

MoneySad said:

My partner and I have been in a relationship for about 6 months and we are now contemplating living together.
She would stop renting and would move into my house for which I got a solo mortgage about a year ago.
The objective is for her/us to save the money spent on rent and for us to live a more convenient and intimate life as we are currently spending a few days per week alone and a few days per week together at one of the two properties.

What would be the most fair way of splitting the cost of the mortgage once she moves in?

We both agree that the relationship is too young for me to consider adding her to the mortgage.
If we see the mortgage as an investment if feels like I would be taking advantage of her if I asked her to contribute into it. If we see it as debt or if we see me as a landlord and her as a tenant then she should probably pay me every month. And if that’s the case then how much would be fair?

Very confused right now so any help is much appreciated.

You can’t have a landlord/tenant relationship. She isn’t a lodger, she’s your girlfriend. As others have said if she contributes towards the mortgage/house then she’ll likely have a claim for part of the property if you split up.

If you don’t want her to have this claim then don’t charge her anything beyond half the bills. Tell her to save what she doesn’t spend in rent and then if you stay together she has a nice pot of money to contribute towards a joint purchase in the future. Or if you split she’s got the money there to sort herself out.

Emmia

AskAsk said:

i think the fairest way would be that she pays half of what she had paid in rent to you as "rent" so she benefits and so do you, then you split bills 50/50.  so she should pay all the bills if the other 50% equals to "half the current rent"

I feel there have been lots of threads on this topic recently. 

If she pays the OP / contributes to the mortgage directly she arguably starts getting equity in the property. The relationship is fairly new, if she moves in she should pay a share of the bills (the OP will still save) and should put the money she saves by not paying rent into a savings account in her name... 

If all goes well then there is a pot of money to either formally buy into current spot, or to help buy somewhere else together. If it goes wrong then the girlfriend has a financial cushion to help her move out and on quickly.

Marvel1

AskAsk said:

Marvel1 said:

AskAsk said:

i think the fairest way would be that she pays half of what she had paid in rent to you as "rent" so she benefits and so do you, then you split bills 50/50.  so she should pay all the bills if the other 50% equals to "half the current rent"

What benefits does she have? Come home, bags outside, lock changed.

that she gets somewhere nice to live for half the rent.  i think that is fair.  if she comes home and bags outside and lock changed, then she has chosen the wrong man, and she must take some share of the blame for that, lol

Yes thinking about it right, it's a win for her, financial interest.   OP have her pay half the mortgage.

Emmia

Marvel1 said:

AskAsk said:

Marvel1 said:

AskAsk said:

i think the fairest way would be that she pays half of what she had paid in rent to you as "rent" so she benefits and so do you, then you split bills 50/50.  so she should pay all the bills if the other 50% equals to "half the current rent"

What benefits does she have? Come home, bags outside, lock changed.

that she gets somewhere nice to live for half the rent.  i think that is fair.  if she comes home and bags outside and lock changed, then she has chosen the wrong man, and she must take some share of the blame for that, lol

Yes thinking about it right, it's a win for her, financial interest.   OP have her pay half the mortgage.

And be willing to buy her out if it goes wrong... An ex friend of mine (something of a gold digger) got a pay off equating to a fair chunk of a guy's property by doing this and then taking legal action.

It's the fundamental reason she and I aren't friends anymore.