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Money Moral Dilemma: How much should my boyfriend contribute to the flat?

MSE_Sarah
MSE_Sarah Posts: 328 MSE Staff
Part of the Furniture 10 Posts Photogenic I've been Money Tipped!
in Marriage, relationships & families
This week's MoneySaver who wants advice asks...
My housemate owns the flat we live in and it's just the two of us now, but she's allowing my boyfriend to move in. How much is fair to add to the rent, considering we're taking up the same amount of space and it's only the bills going up?

Unfortunately the MSE team can't always answer money moral dilemma questions as contributions are often emailed in or suggested in person. They are intended to be enjoyed as a point of debate and discussed at face value.

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Comments

  • heartbreak_star
    heartbreak_star Posts: 8,289 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker Rampant Recycler
    We had this and we still divided by three. It's per-person.

    HBS x
    "I believe in ordinary acts of bravery, in the courage that drives one person to stand up for another."

    "It's easy to know what you're against, quite another to know what you're for."

    #Bremainer
  • Comms69
    Comms69 Posts: 14,229 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Third Anniversary Name Dropper
    Your LANDLORD owns the flat, and you are a lodger. Basically what's fair is whatever your landlord decides.
  • PasturesNew
    PasturesNew Posts: 70,698 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Get TFO .... a couple in the space of a single never works because they get all shirty and start to boss around the single, making them uncomfortable in the home they own.

    Just get out ..... you know it makes sense.
  • CuppaTea
    CuppaTea Posts: 1,391 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    The landlord doesn't live there, just the couple.
    Live for the moment and plan for the future
  • onomatopoeia99
    onomatopoeia99 Posts: 7,236 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    CuppaTea wrote: »
    The landlord doesn't live there, just the couple.
    Question makes it sounds like the landlord does live there.
    Proud member of the wokerati, though I don't eat tofu.Home is where my books are.Solar PV 5.2kWp system, SE facing, >1% shading, installed March 2019.Mortgage free July 2023
  • elsien
    elsien Posts: 37,795 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Yes, I read it the same way as Ono.
    All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.

    Pedant alert - it's could have, not could of.
  • pickledonionspaceraider
    pickledonionspaceraider Posts: 2,698 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    OP is confusing

    If the landlord lives there, then a third each. Of everything inc the rent

    It isnt just about the rent, it is about the inconvenience of another body in the house, and LL should see some financial relief to balance this - otherwise it is taking liberties

    If the LL does not live there

    Then no reason the rent should go up at all

    I suggest you straighten this out long before partner moves in.
    With love, POSR <3
  • Pollycat
    Pollycat Posts: 36,342 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Savvy Shopper!
    Is this even really a dilemma?
    Has the OP spoken to the 'housemate who owns the flat'?
    If not, why not?
  • Red-Squirrel_2
    Red-Squirrel_2 Posts: 4,341 Forumite
    The friend owns the house and is the live-in landlord

    The 'moneysaver who wants advice' is her friend's lodger.

    Its up to the landlord what they want to charge for another person moving in. Its not an equal situation, the landlord gets to decide, and the lodgers can move out if they aren't happy with the costs.


    Its not a moral dilemma.
  • SuperPikachu
    SuperPikachu Posts: 344 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary Photogenic
    Well you could swap it to 33% each instead of 50/50 if you want to be fair about things (assuming that it is currently 50/50) as you live with the actual landlord of the property.

    Otherwise move out and rent your own place if you or they feel that it is unfair to pay more.
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