I have a dilemma
For the last year I've been living with another guy in Edinburgh while I'm at uni there. Next year, his girlfriend is moving in to live with us in our two bedroom flat. For various reasons, I'm not particularly against this (I'm very often out in the evenings and as he doesn't have transport I feel bad leaving him on his own etc.), but my problem is the rent. His position is that his girlfriend will pay one third of food money and utility bills, but he doesn't think she should contribute toward the rent on the grounds that she will be living in his room.

I'm not really happy about this, but he is a good friend of mine and I'm not the easiest person to live with, so he does sometimes put up with quite a lot.

Any suggestions?
( Hdjejjwsjdjjf LOOK, Wed 14 Apr 2010, 21:18, 18 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

3 people, go thirds in the rent. End of discussion.
( enoughblueskyforsailorstrousers, Wed 14 Apr 2010, 21:22, Reply)

Why not do a provisional arrangement?
Try the first term, and then decide how you feel. I assume it's a monthly rent?
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Wed 14 Apr 2010, 21:30, Reply)

Does she have nice breasts?

( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Wed 14 Apr 2010, 21:41, Reply)

Unless he's sharing the girl, she should share the rent.
Why should she get a free ride?
( Wanderer, Wed 14 Apr 2010, 21:42, Reply)

Free rides for all!

( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Wed 14 Apr 2010, 21:48, Reply)

How much difference will it make?
And is it worth kicking off over said amount? You could always put it to him that if you left would he ask her for a share of the rent or pay it all himself?

Failing this, shag her when he's out.
(porkylips looks better as the sun goes down., Wed 14 Apr 2010, 22:19, Reply)

I would stand to save about £90 a month
Which is a decent bit, as a student...
( Hdjejjwsjdjjf LOOK, Thu 15 Apr 2010, 0:31, Reply)

If it was your own house
and had a room to rent, wouldn't you charge for the room and not the number of people in said room? If the bills & food are to be split 3 ways, fair enough, I reckon
( Batshitmentalist is sane for once, Wed 14 Apr 2010, 22:22, Reply)

Yeah, but...
One more person with an opinion on what to watch on the telly. One more person who is going to use the bathroom meaning queues, one more person using the kitchen and all that sort of thing.

I'd say paying a third is quite fair.
( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Wed 14 Apr 2010, 22:43, Reply)

Those are the factors that would weigh me towards an extra levy on the couple
How about compromising on a 60/40 split?
(bill, Wed 14 Apr 2010, 23:08, Reply)

seems like
a fair solution to me.

she should definitely be paying something, that's for sure.
(bamboozled Can hear you getting fatter, Wed 14 Apr 2010, 23:46, Reply)

This
Is probably what I'll do.
( Hdjejjwsjdjjf LOOK, Thu 15 Apr 2010, 0:33, Reply)

Splitting rent three ways is totally fair
That's exactly what I did when living with my mrs and a friend from uni.
(Bazongaloid, Wed 14 Apr 2010, 23:24, Reply)

A three way split is the fairest
No other way to my mind
(SpunkyMcSpunkbubble Diddled your nubbin on, Wed 14 Apr 2010, 23:32, Reply)

Three way, all the way
*squirt*
(Cancer Joy was short lived, Thu 15 Apr 2010, 0:07, Reply)

I was living in a house with two bedrooms
and rented the other room out to another guy, the moment I moved my girlfriend in I lowered his rent. Its not just the bedroom you are renting but the whole house. If she's not paying any rent she should have to stay in the bedroom and not be allowed to use any other room in the house.

Alternatively you could start a harem and move 4 women in to your room and pull the same crap on him.
( Peej, Thu 15 Apr 2010, 9:08, Reply)

She is taking up room in the communal areas as well as his bedroom and should therefore pay rent

( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Thu 15 Apr 2010, 9:15, Reply)

Tricky.
She'll be sharing communal areas (living room, kitchen, bathroom), but they'll share a bedroom. I think they should pay more than half the rent between the two of them, but I don't think they should pay 1/3 each - they won't have quite as much space as you, and therefore shouldn't have to pay and equal amount to you.

You could say that yes, they pay half, you pay half, she pays 1/3 of the bills, but they also do something slightly extra every month that you don't have to do (buy a couple of communal bottles of wine? Cook a storming Sunday roast once a month?)

However, will this cause friction? Could it possibly lead to an end to your friendship? If so, it's not worth quarreling over what is possibly a not huge amount of money.
(The Empress it seems you CAN polish a turd!, Thu 15 Apr 2010, 10:06, Reply)