Should my partner be charging me rent?

NameUnavailable

Albermarle said:

RHemmings said:

I can't imagine charging a partner rent for a property I own completely. Even if they were richer than me. The way I would do things is to divvy up the bills, e.g. maybe they pay the energy bill, and the council tax. 

It seems to be assumed ( not just by you ) that if you own a house there are no further costs apart from the usual regular bills.
What about maintenance/one off costs?
New washing machine, plumber call out, decorator, new carpets, new furniture, new TV etc. and that is not including anything major /expensive cropping up.
Not sure I would be happy forking out for all that with no contribution from someone benefitting from them.

In reality they should work out some kind of compromise, and the fact they are struggling to do so is not a great sign for the future.

The OP did say they suggested paying into a fund for furniture etc. if you read the thread.

Tabieth

Albermarle said:

It seems to be assumed ( not just by you ) that if you own a house there are no further costs apart from the usual regular bills.
What about maintenance/one off costs?
New washing machine, plumber call out, decorator, new carpets, new furniture, new TV etc. and that is not including anything major /expensive cropping up.
Not sure I would be happy forking out for all that with no contribution from someone benefitting from them.

In reality they should work out some kind of compromise, and the fact they are struggling to do so is not a great sign for the future.

I don’t see that anyone has assumed that. Most of the replies have talked about sharing costs, there’s no reason for you to assume that doesn’t include one off costs. 

ryanm8655

FlorayG said:

I think he's a bit bl00dy entitled and I wouldn't be staying there. He's been gifted the flat and wants to charge his partner rent? That's not a relationship I would be pursuing. Share of bills, yes, fine, quite normal to expect you to pay 1/3 the council tax and 1/3 the service charges. (A third because there are three people living there)
Never heard anything so outrageous I'd be on my bike ASAP

This.

If he had a mortgage I'd understand contributing but otherwise I personally wouldn't make my partner pay if it was me.

Murphybear

If I were the OP I would be looking for a new partner 

lr1277

As there is no tenancy agreeement, nor will there be one, when an owner spends money on maintenance or upgrades, that is usually because it will help the value of the property. The owner gets all the benefits of that spend when selling the property.

The OP at the moment will not get any benefit when the property is sold.

So share of the bills is fine but any more and you should get a stake in the property.

mlz1413

I don't see a problem with you paying to stay in the house, you would pay to live anywhere else.

But in my mind you either pay a rent OR pay towards bills (of which you see)

You say a different house share would be approx £800pm but is that including all bills?  Because if so you would be better off with your own place and your own room!   With your current arrangement if you fall out you have nothing.

Myci85

I'm sorry OP but I echo what a lot of people have said. Your partner is refusing to be open with you about what bills you are helping to pay towards, and he is then telling you that you are the one being unreasonable and suggesting you move out if you don't like it. 
It is hard to make judgements on a relationship based on the few bits of information given here, but from what I have read, I have concerns of coercive and controlling behaviour, and him trying to make you question your views, acting as if you are just trying to cause issues.
If you both see a future in this relationship, a sensible way to do things in my eyes is for you to put into savings the amount you would pay for rent otherwise, plus more if you can, with a view to one day being able to buy into this (or a future) shared home so that you both have the security that comes with that. 

caprikid1

lr1277 said:

As there is no tenancy agreeement, nor will there be one, when an owner spends money on maintenance or upgrades, that is usually because it will help the value of the property. The owner gets all the benefits of that spend when selling the property.

The OP at the moment will not get any benefit when the property is sold.

So share of the bills is fine but any more and you should get a stake in the property.

But they are not being asked to pay towards maintenance they are being asked to pay rent, reads a bit AI personally.

FlorayG

A second thought occurs; perhaps the flat owner has been told that if his partner pays no rent but contributes to all costs then if they were to split up the partner would have some interest in the property? Whereas if she pays rent then she would have none?
This would definitely require a written agreement in order to work, though

A friend of mine is in almost exactly the opposite situation - she is genuinely only sharing her flat with a male friend and he is contributing half the costs. I keep telling her that she should be charging him rent instead otherwise he's potentially developing an interest in the property and if he should leave and make a claim she would be hard pressed to prove they were not a couple, especially as they socialise together and lots of people who see them out together think they ARE a couple

prowla

Start charging the partner for "services"?