son's live-in rental charge

[crackernut2]

Can anyone give me an idea as to what rental to charge our 33 year old son who still lives with us?
He has his own room in which he has a Playstation plus all the applcations which is constantly in use when he's not out at work, plus a 42" DVD TV, a small fridge and a coffee percolator.
To be fair, he buys his own food, (he loves steaks, cumberland sausages etc), and he cooks his own, when he feels like it.
We do all his washing and ironing plus general housework.
I am 64, on Incapacity Benefit, my wife is 59 and in full time employment, we have a mortgage and our water, gas elecricity bills amount to £200 per month.
He currently pays £240 per month. Is this a fair amount?
We are on good terms, I don't mean this to appear as a witch-hunt, I would just like an opinion.
Many thanks.

[albaqwerty]

My OH reckons a third of wages for diigs, a third of wages for saving and the rest to do with as you like.

240 is pretty fair, but couldn't he run the hoover over occasionally? Maybe ask him to up it to 260 per month.

[bednobs]

have to agree witht he "third" thing. if you are worried about the electricity, perhaps split the bill in 3 and add it on top of the rent? How much does he earn?. I would also charge extra for the washing etc or ask him to do his own.

[redcrx]

you dont say how much hes earning, but i reckon £240 a month is pretty low

[ummmm]

I think £240 is a good price but stop doing his washing and ironing and get him to pull his weight round the house.

[lady-janine]

have to agre 240 a month seems really low. how much would he have to pay for a place of his own - one room flatlet in the area and then he would also have to pay all the bills and see to his own washing and ironing and cleaning. sounds to me as though he is getting a pretty good deal. understand that he is your son but unless he appreciates just how good he has got it now he is never going to be ready for the outside world.

[ChuckFickens]

Do you want a lodger?

£240 a month is very cheap living. the going rate for a room in a house share round this way is closer to £400 a month and you'd not get your washing etc done for that and I see nothing wrong with charging him closer to what he could expect to pay if he had to find somewhere to live on his own.

[chelle7272]

£240 seems low considering all housework washing etc is done for him. I'd increase it slightly or ask him to help out if that is more useful to you

[lady-janine]

he is 33 and not 16 in his first job so presumably he can afford a bit more. surely he should be helping you and your wife.

[mccfluff]

more than fair, i live on my own and rent bills etc are roughly £600 pm

[ChuckFickens]

↑ roughly the same here.

[hc4361]

You say he buys his own food, but I bet he doesn't buy all of it - the cooking oils, gravies, bread, cheese, biscuits, cereals, fruit.
I don't suppose he buys his own detergents either, or his personal hygiene stuff such as shower gel, soap and toilet roll. It might seem picky but it all adds up. Don't forget his share of the tv licence, telephone bill, satellite or virgin tv, house contents insurance and council tax.

Stop doing his laundry, make him take his turn at the housework, gardening, shopping - especially so when he is out at work.

[milly143]

I pay half of everything for the house I share with my Dad. This works out to be roughly 650 per month. I do all the cleaning and he does all the cooking so it works out pretty fair. I reckon your sons getting a good rate.

[Schlomo78]

I know a few parents who charge a bit more than you are for rent but put a percentage of it into savings for when their young 'un moves out so they have a deposit towards a house/rent etc.

[bushbaby_de]

The going rate for a lodger round here is about £300 a month plus you are giving him extra services on top of that so it seems cheap - but obviously rent varies wildly around the country so £240 could be average in your area for all I know!

[albaqwerty]

My 17 year old lobs in 30 a week. He pays for most of his packed lunch stuff, (I make it up tho)
We seem happy with that arrangement.

[jackie76]

I'm 34, still living at home, and I stump up £160 a month rent. I do my share of the housework and cooking, and buy a lot of my own groceries. What I pay may seem low, but I only work part-time.

[ladyalex]

I think you're lucky to get any rent off him...

However, maybe looking at all the bills and getting him to cough up a third might be a good idea.

[hannah40]

my 27yrold still lives at home and pays 250 a month,he earns more than my hubby and i together but he is not responsible for our bills rent ect.he is saving hard to buy his own place and have fun which he should be.V.ery soon the time will come when he moves out and has is own responsibilities.I lived at home until i married and i didnt pay much at all so i guess im just copying how i was brought up.My children will always have a home with me what ever there age

[xxstephcxx]

I live with my parents following a nasty divorce, and I pay them £300 per month. This does include bills etc. I am aware that this is very generous on their part, and as my mum is registered disabled and my father is now her full time carer, following 22 years in the RAF and 20 years in the Prison service, but I ensure that I do plenty around the house - I cannot do this during the week normally as I am in fulltime employment but I do as much as I possibly can during the weekends etc. However my sister is also living at home and pays £250 per month, and does very little. I think you have to sit down and talk to your son and request that he helps you with daily chores etc so the burden is not all on you and your wife. You are after all allowing him to continue living in your home at a more than generous rate! xx