How much rent should I charge?

Question

My daughter is married and lives on her own but her 19yr old friend has moved in with me & my husband..She has lived here since october she works a full time 40hr week job she makes $7.50 an hour..How much money would it be reasonable to ask her to pay for rent??She does not contribute to anything in the house such as groceries,laundry soap,toilet paper.She has not paid anything since she has been here .The only time she is here at the house is to do laundry eat or sleep otherwise she is alway's at her boyfriends.We finally set a curfew and told her she had to be in the house by 11:00P.M. I feel like she is totally taking advantage of me & my husband so i need to know what to charge for her staying here eating our food and using our washer & dryer & soap ect..

Answer 1

I think, you need to scout through local roommate listings (in the paper, on craigslist, or a similar place), and see what the "going rate" is to be renting a room in your area. You may choose to "cut her a deal", and charge a little less, because she's your daughter's friend, but it helps to know the base rate. Also, sit down with her and work out the rules and regulations. Perhaps, you need to treat the whole set-up as a roommate situation - in which case, she would be responsible for part of the utility bill in addition to rent, and for providing her own food, laundry soap, etc. You are in no way obligated to give her free roam of your house. Talk it over with your husband, and draw up a plan, then have a meeting with the girl. It doesn't need to be a confrontation, don't let your resentment build up - she is young, and needs to be gently taught responsibility, good manners and social graces. Good luck.

Answer 2

It's best to definetly charge her rent. At the hourly wage she makes, a reasonable charge would be $300-$350 per month. You might be taking half her pay check away, but THAT'S LIFE. As a 19 year old, it's a good start for her to learn about responsibilities, bills & especially a taste of the real world (being INDEPENDENT). Nothing is for free in this world.

So, now that you are going to charge her rent, you should LAY OFF on the 11:00pm curfew because she's a tenant. You can't do that to tenants, she's also an ADULT, why on earth do you need to set a curfew for her anyway? she's not your daughter! so, take that curfew OFF. because it's just going to cause you some unnecessary drama.

Answer 3

You need to set up a rental agreement or else you will get screw at the end. I don't mean a make up one, get a proper one made. You can probbaly pick one up from the book store or download it online. I would charge her $375 per month (laundry only, no food, if you want to include food, charge her $450). If she does not like it, ask her to leave and change your lock on your doors. I know it's your daughter's friend but you cannot be taking advantage of. You deserve better. Good Luck!

Answer 4

She is 19 years old. She should respect your house rules but you shouldn't have the authority to set a curfew for her if she is paying rent. By asking her to pay rent you enter a tenant / landlord agreement.

Sit down and talk to her. Talk to her about her goals, her future plans for living arrangements, school etc. Ask her about her boyfriend and what her plans are with him. Tell her the expenses : laundry, water, hydro, food etc for general living. Explain to her that you feel she should be contributing to this and see how she replies. Ask her what she feels is reasonable. No matter what happens you dont want to feel like you simply pushed her out as her parents may have.

Answer 5

A couple hundred dollars. $200-$400 (Also depending on where you live, rent is different everywhere). She is renting a room, but since she's eating your food and using your stuff, she should be paying for it. You shouldn't set a curfew. That's retarded. If she wanted a curfew, she'd just go live at her parents or something. Tell her to move in with her boyfriend if she doesn't want to pay rent.

Answer 6

400.00 a month. Then she will get the hint to either move in with her boyfriend or get her own place. She probably doesn't know what it takes to be responsible. So once she starts paying you, she will then get up enough courage to move out.

So she is bringing home at least 225.00 a week or more. She can afford 400.00 a month even with utilities. I hope she is saving her money, because if she isn't then she is mooching off of you and blowing her money. She is so lucky. Her and her boyfriend should move in together...

Answer 7

I would charge her at least $300.oo a month if not more.. that is a fair amount.. and she will still have money left to get things that she needs if that isnt fair i would charge her 75.oo a week and she has to buy groceries and other asseries and pay a 1/3 of the water bill :) its what my mom charged me 300.oo a month

Answer 8

There are two separate items to figure: rent, and board. Rent can be determined from newspaper ads for comparable accommodations. Board would be determined as follows: if she shares in cooking and cleanup, then a fair share of the grocery bill; if she does not, then inexpensive restaurant prices.

Answer 9

I'd look in the newspaper to see what the going rate is for rent in your area....then perhaps cut $100 off, since she is your daughter's friend. If she can't hack it, then she has to move. Then she will realize that she had something good with you two and blew it.

Answer 10

charge her $200 a month and make her buy her own food and soap for laundry since she never there.If she obeys take off the curfew , shes grown.