Paying parents rent.

[Davih]

To start, I'm gonna give you some background about me. I live in Scotland and that I am 18. 10 people live in my house, my Mum, Step-dad, sister, 3 Step-Sisters, 1 Step-Brother, my Cousin and my Cousin's 3 year old son. And of course me. I finished school in June and my Sister nad Step-Sister finished school June 2010.

I start University on Monday and I get money from SAAS/SLC for doing so. I get ~£550 a month from them combined, and just over £1000 in September combined (I don't know why more in September, i guess for books and stuff.)

To keep costs down going ot Uni (by the time I finish my course I'll be ~£16000 in debt, possibly more, since the Government pay for 4 years of University) I decided to stay at home, thinking my Mum was reasonable since my Sister has been at Uni for a year and didn't have to give my Mum anything.

Anyways, she turned round to me, my Sister, and my Step-Sister today and said the she needs £100 a month of us in "rent". I don't mind giving her money, but she owes me ~£700 from the money I've let her borrow over the years since i was about 14. Her reasoning is that the three of us left school, her income has been decreasing because of the money she gets from the government when we are at school. My Mum and Step-Dad also don't have a job, so I think it is compeltely unreasonable to siphon money from us because they are too lazy to go out and get a job. It just pisses me off that she refuses to get a job.

Should i give her the money? Do you or did you have to pay your parents rent whilst doing your studies? How much did you have to pay them?

 

[Malaclemys]

Tell her to take it out of the money she owes you, or find another place to live.
The second one should be lots more fun.

 

[The Bucket]

She wants to treat you like an adult and make you pay rent? Thats a-ok. However

but she owes me ~£700

You pay adults money you owe before you go looking for more.

 

[weker]

Tell her to take it out of the money she owes you, or find another place to live.
The second one should be lots more fun.

I second this, however I think you should say the first as her reaction will be more entertaining... for the Escapist I mean.

 

[yuval152]

Pay her for now and once you have enough money,move out.

 

[Elysis]

Well, you're lucky to have a home. I was kicked out of my house when I started Uni ("You're 18 now, GO LIVE YOUR LIFE")

You can't do anything about it, and it seems you don't really a choice. Or you pay 100£, or you have to get a place of your own and you'll definatly have to pay more.
One of my friend doesn't pay for his rent at his Mom's house, but he pays for his food and shares the house charges too.
If you really want your independance, get a place of your own with some room mates. That's what I did and it's awesome! Of course, it'll cost you more money..

 

[Mr Thin]

She's getting less money from the government because she doesn't need to support you any more, thus alleviating the drain on her expenses. At least, that's the idea. But if you still live there, you're still a drain on the expenses.

So it's fair that you pay rent, but if she already owes you, you're well within your rights to demand she pay that back first, even if 'paying it back' in this case means getting to live there rent free for 7 months.

Also, that's quite the family you have. Does she get paid for all of those kiddies?

 

[Trivun]

If she owes you money, then I see a perfectly reasonable solution, that you can offer her as an idea that you could discuss like mature adults. That is, until it's paid back, the rent comes off that amount. Afterwards, yes, pay rent as she wishes, until you move out. You're an adult, she's an adult, and adults pay rent.

I've finished university now, save for exam resits, and I'm 21. Until I can find a full time job, I'm living with my parents, back home, working part-time in a supermarket. When I didn't have a job, my parents were okay with me living with them without paying rent, but they did insist that I spend hours each day online or out and about looking for work, and at university applying everywhere for a student job. When I did manage to find work, they asked me to pay rent, and I felt this was perfectly reasonable. I actually expected to be paying standard rent, given my old student flat was £325 per month - I was pretty surpised when my parents asked for a much more modest £50 per month, paid by Direct Debit, more as 'living costs' rather than proper rent. Which is completely reasonable, and I readily agreed. To be fair, they also paid for my deposit on each of the three places I lived at while at university, so yeah...

 

[emeraldrafael]

Id say tell her that she owes you money and you should leave it alone, but its not like shes going to get an extra hundred pounds out of her ass or anything.

so pay her for now, and then tell her that once its done and you have a home and stuff she can work on a payment plan with her.

...

though really you should never ask your parents for money, because regardless of what you gave her and how much you do for yourself, she can always show you a MUCH MUCH larger number of debt that you owe her for supporting you over the course of 18 years. Clothes she bought you, the electricity such that she used to care for you while you were a baby, the taxes she paid to let you go to school (though I think you have a different system about itt hen teh US does).

 

[Sovvolf]

Tell them to take it out the debt first. Then pay them rent. As everyone here as said, your an adult now, you want to live there you need to pay rent to live there regardless of what you think about your parents or the morality of their actions. If you don't want to do this then find a new place to live.

or as the Emerald dude above me said, unless this is a direct loan of £700... you really shouldn't start acting petty and asking for that money back.

 

[electric_warrior]

She should repay what she owes you, but outside of that, £100 is very reasonable. If you don't like it, move out. You'll probably have more fun that way anyway, I can't fathom wanting to stay at home. Your loan should have been going on accommodation anyway, so that money should be spent this way.

Edit: My mum charges me rent when I'm at home, and I have to pay rent on my student house too. I spent £1200 on accommodation over the summer!! I could have moved to Southampton sooner, but I didn't want to spend my summer alone.

 

[PureChaos]

£100 a month isn't too bad but as she owes you money, mention that and that would cover the a while. when i was at uni i paid ~£70 a week for student house so you will still be better off paying £100 per month. i've graduated and now work but still live at home and i pay £100 a week rent

 

[RobCoxxy]

£100 a month is nothing, I was paying £60 a week in student accomodation, then £20 for food (I LIKE TO EAT) then £10/20pm for electricity, £10-15pm for broadband and £10pm for my phone.

So £100pm is a steal for rent.

 

[Craorach]

If she demands rent, demand a legally recognised tenancy agreement, and that you are registered as a tenant with all the protections that come from that.

 

[Zantos]

Compared to moving out, £100 a month is incredibly reasonable. Including bills, that's less than I pay per week. Does she acknowledge the debt owed? Talk to her about that.

The thing is, I can imagine that in a house of 10 costs start to run high, so I can see the reasoning as to why if you have some money coming in you'd be asked to contribute. If you aren't happy with these terms than you should find a place for yourself in halls or a spare room in a flat or house with other students. It'll improve the experience no end to live out.

 

[Sgt. Dante]

You could argue that since she owes you the money that you should get 7 months free. But it doesn't sound like that'll fly.

I paid Digs to my family when I was at home. Only seems fair to help out around the house seen as I'm earning now, but my dad only asked when i started making money. your SAAS doesn't really count as an income (but it is pretty health compared to the £90ish per month i used to get)

 

[Baneat]

I start University on Monday and I get money from SAAS/SLC for doing so. I get ~£550 a month from them combined, and just over £1000 in September combined (I don't know why more in September, i guess for books and stuff.)

Hey I start in 2 weeks, can you help me set these things up? No idea where to start.

 

[Ashannon Blackthorn]

I have to agree with the majority here. the 100 isn't all that unreasonable. It's a good way to get used ot how things will be when you finally leave home, help you learn to budget and learn financial responsibility. However that's a two way street. If your mother does owe you 700 and she admits it, get that paid back. If she really raises a stink about it, honestly just smile, nod and plan to move. You could get your knickers in a knot over it, but she is your mother and unless she's some kind of female Hitler incarnate, being on goods terms with mum is worth a bit of money.

 

[Bigsmith]

I will be starting uni this time next year, and I have the option to stay home and can understand why I'll need to pay my mum rent.

But, I really want to move out, it'll be WAY more fun.

My advise, pay her until you can afford to move out, a job maybe? Then once your our ask her about the money and get her to pay it back in small amounts so it doesn't cripple her.

 

[electric_warrior]

I start University on Monday and I get money from SAAS/SLC for doing so. I get ~£550 a month from them combined, and just over £1000 in September combined (I don't know why more in September, i guess for books and stuff.)

Hey I start in 2 weeks, can you help me set these things up? No idea where to start.

You should have gotten on that weeks ago, seriously, you've left it far too late.