Should I charge rent?

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TheIndianGirl

Guest
#1
#1
My apartment has been empty for months while I have been paying rent (I'm not too happy about it, the main reason being it is uncertain when my work will call us back into the building and I will need a place to stay when they do). Most of us are teleworking right now. My friend and her husband may soon have a job in my city. My friend has always loved my studio apartment, and she has hinted to me that they can stay at my place. The thing is, they have been basically unemployed for a year, and prior to that she was a student with stipend while he took a lower paid job unrelated to his field due to where lived. However, they are not in any financial hole since they lived at their families' places. My friend wants to stay at my place since it is fully furnished and they will be a few months to find a place, get furniture etc. We haven't talked about rent. I don't think I should charge rent since friends should stay for free esp in their situation. At the same time, I am paying rent as well and it's not like I'm living in a fully paid home that's mine. Another issue is that I am considering ending my lease as I will likely telework into next year, even though I do not want to since I have a "good deal" in terms of apt, location, landlord, etc.
 
Roughsoul1991

Roughsoul1991

Senior Member
#2
Sep 17, 2016
8,784
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#2
TheIndianGirl said:
My apartment has been empty for months while I have been paying rent (I'm not too happy about it, the main reason being it is uncertain when my work will call us back into the building and I will need a place to stay when they do). Most of us are teleworking right now. My friend and her husband may soon have a job in my city. My friend has always loved my studio apartment, and she has hinted to me that they can stay at my place. The thing is, they have been basically unemployed for a year, and prior to that she was a student with stipend while he took a lower paid job unrelated to his field due to where lived. However, they are not in any financial hole since they lived at their families' places. My friend wants to stay at my place since it is fully furnished and they will be a few months to find a place, get furniture etc. We haven't talked about rent. I don't think I should charge rent since friends should stay for free esp in their situation. At the same time, I am paying rent as well and it's not like I'm living in a fully paid home that's mine. Another issue is that I am considering ending my lease as I will likely telework into next year, even though I do not want to since I have a "good deal" in terms of apt, location, landlord, etc.
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Nothing wrong with expecting rent. Real world with real problems. Of course, you can negotiate a reasonable price. If they're extremely desperate then give them a deadline without rent so they stay motivated to get on their feet.
 
Ruby123

Ruby123

Well-known member
#3
Mar 1, 2019
11,912
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#3
Maybe you can charge them a low rent and of course they will be responsible for the amenities of elec, water, gas etc.
 
Magenta

Magenta

Senior Member
#4
Jul 3, 2015
55,817
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#4
TheIndianGirl said:
I don't think I should charge rent since friends should stay for free esp in their situation.
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No, your friends definitely should not live rent-free in an apartment which you are paying for, especially since it is not a situation where they would be staying with you. If you were living there and they came to stay while you helped them get back on their feet financially, that is one thing. What you are suggesting is something completely different. Nor should they expect to live in your apartment without paying rent. If you were to allow them to live in your rented apartment, these things should be clearly communicated. Money issues can be prickly and problematic, particularly if one of the parties involved has even so much as a hint of a sense of entitlement, such as their friendship with you might allow them to entertain. Then there is the matter of you sub-letting your apartment. Would your landlord allow that? What about when/if you get called back to work? How quickly could you reasonably expect them to move out? How secure can you be in knowing they would allow you to resume living there when you wanted to? I would not leave any of this to chance.
 
Subhumanoidal

Subhumanoidal

Well-known member
#5
Sep 17, 2018
3,669
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#5
This isn't asking to borrow $20 so they can afford to eat or buy gas to get to work. They're wanting to move in to your apartment, that you're paying the rent on. Expecting at least minimal compensation seems reasonable. If they complain it seems they already have someplace to live, rent free. So they can continue there.
But my guess is people that went that long not working, living for free elsewhere now wants an upgrade to a place where they won't be living with anyone else, probably expect to not have to pay.
But really there seems to be a lack of wisdom in letting people stay there when they don't even have jobs.

But if you do agree to let them stay, for free or with reduced rent, get the details in writing and have them signed to make it legal. Situations like this often tend to end poorly for the one helping if not.

Also bear in mind any damage to the apartment is on you, legally, without a legal agreement stating they will be responsible.
And that's assuming your legal contract would be valid, as it may be rendered invalid depending in your apartment complexes stance on letting others live there.
Legally you have the right to live there, no one else. And some apartments put it in the contracts that letting anyone else live there breaks the contract and leaves you open to being kicked out.

It may seem a bit overboard but situations just like this often end up in court. Friend/family member helps out and things turn sour and with no legal documentation the friend doing the good deed has a very solid chance of losing. And it's always someone they thought would never do it to them.

Video of the place beforehand is also recommended in the event of damage.
 
Lanolin

Lanolin

Well-known member
#6
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
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#6
its your landlords apartment to rent out not yours. The landlord needs to decide the terms.

Dont take a hint. You tell them to talk to your landlord if they want to stay, the landlord might end your lease and let them take over, in fact, that is better that you find someone to occupy the the place rather than the landlord then has to hunt around for tenants. But they need to be responsible for paying rent not you.

what you can do is put a good word in for them as their reference. Your landlord might be compassionate enough keep the rent the same and not raise it.
 
Platosgal

Platosgal

Active member
#7
Mar 17, 2020
282
179
43
#7
TheIndianGirl said:
My apartment has been empty for months while I have been paying rent (I'm not too happy about it, the main reason being it is uncertain when my work will call us back into the building and I will need a place to stay when they do). Most of us are teleworking right now. My friend and her husband may soon have a job in my city. My friend has always loved my studio apartment, and she has hinted to me that they can stay at my place. The thing is, they have been basically unemployed for a year, and prior to that she was a student with stipend while he took a lower paid job unrelated to his field due to where lived. However, they are not in any financial hole since they lived at their families' places. My friend wants to stay at my place since it is fully furnished and they will be a few months to find a place, get furniture etc. We haven't talked about rent. I don't think I should charge rent since friends should stay for free esp in their situation. At the same time, I am paying rent as well and it's not like I'm living in a fully paid home that's mine. Another issue is that I am considering ending my lease as I will likely telework into next year, even though I do not want to since I have a "good deal" in terms of apt, location, landlord, etc.
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Legal issues will arise
And you will lose your apartment
And have a strike against you when you look for another place

The Good Samaritan did not bring the stranger to his house

He took him to an inn
Do not do this

I did this once and it was a mess
And the " friend" would not leave
Please hear wisdom ob this
 
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TheIndianGirl

Guest
#8
#8
I checked with my landlord and he is fine with subletting due to COVID. A lot of people left my city for the time being because we are teleworking. Many people have ended their leases. Because of COVID it is not really safe to fly, deal with packing/moving to storage, fly back, etc without the vaccine. I am also trying to delay getting the vaccine.

This is one of my best friends. So that is something I considered. They are Christian and very responsible. They won't be like the tenant from the movie Pacific Heights. My friend may be offended if I ask her to sign a document.

I do think if I was living there and I had a spare bedroom I would be more confortable letting them stay, because ultimately I am still responsible. I still have some personal things there. If I had a guest bedroom and I was living there, I probably would not charge rent, or charge a reduced rent if they are staying long-term. Obviously I would just charge for the bedroom and not the whole mortgage. But the situation with the apartment is different because I'm not there and the rent is fixed by the landlord.

My friend may be thinking, "She has an empty apartment anyway. Why can't we just stay there?" So I was not sure what the Christian thing is to do. But based on the above posts many agree it is fine to charge full or partial rent. On rent, I am not sure about her thoughts, but she may offer rent/partial rent as a formality but may expect me to say they can stay for free given their circumstances and since I decided to continue the lease and am paying rent anyway. I know her financial views on other issues and she believes the "rich" should help the "poor" almost like an obligation. However, one of them would have a job. Now I have this other friend who would definitely want to pay the full rent (if she could) or as much as she could, she would not believe she is owed a place.

So what I guess bothers me about this situation may not really be rent itself, but the expectation from me. One friend expects/has some entitlement issues, the other doesn't (if she asked). In any case, I have just told her that I'm not too happy about paying rent and may end the lease soon, so she is aware of this.
 
Dino246

Dino246

Senior Member
#9
Jun 30, 2015
24,681
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#9
TheIndianGirl said:
...

I know her financial views on other issues and she believes the "rich" should help the "poor" almost like an obligation. However, one of them would have a job. Now I have this other friend who would definitely want to pay the full rent (if she could) or as much as she could, she would not believe she is owed a place.

So what I guess bothers me about this situation may not really be rent itself, but the expectation from me. One friend expects/has some entitlement issues, the other doesn't (if she asked). In any case, I have just told her that I'm not too happy about paying rent and may end the lease soon, so she is aware of this.
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You would be supporting your friend and enabling her entitlement if you let her stay for free. You owe her nothing; don't let her wacky ideas about obligations bind you; it is likely that you will lose out (money, reputation with the landlord and the friendship) if something goes wrong. Your friend's entitlement is a huge red flag.

I suggest that you draft a tenancy agreement similar to the one you have with your landlord. Have your friend sign it and pay rent and deposit like any tenant would. If she balks at paying right away, that tells you that she wants free handouts, and the friendship is dependent upon her getting her way... in other words, it's not really a friendship at all.

I would encourage you to check out Dave Ramsay on YouTube; he is a Christian financial advisor who regularly deals with situations like this.
 
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DJZawada

Active member
#10
Jul 25, 2020
114
31
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www.yomyhwh.com
#10
Acts 2:44-45
Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.

If you carry the burden of paying the rent for your friend, this is not righteousness to you.

For only through Christ Jesus will you find your righteousness.

If they have need, then as Jesus has said - if they ask for your shirt - give also your coat to them (what would you do for your children?)

If your conscience struggles (because you have not attained such faith yet) - then ask them what they can do for rent and help them with the rest.

are you not to help the poor among you?

For our Adonai Jesus has said, feed my sheep, feed my lambs, tend my sheep.
 
HoneyDew

HoneyDew

Senior Member
#11
Apr 30, 2011
2,308
352
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#11
It's easy to let them in. Not as easy to get them out.
 
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MoonCresta

Guest
#12
#12
Right on, brothers and sisters (all who responded here). Charge rent. You can make it low - subletting sounds like a great idea - puts the responsibility for everything on them - which is definitely where it needs to be. This is not a good/bad thing - this is about protecting yourself in a VERY VERY legalistic society.

(Right on - where did that come from??)
 
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TheIndianGirl

Guest
#13
#13
Thanks all. Sometimes I'm uncertain on these types of issues because it is very easy to play the guilt card on a Christian, as Christians are to be giving, generous, etc. As @DJZawada pointed out, there is sometimes even income/wealth redistribution going on. It is sometimes difficult to pinpoint where we draw the line.
 
Lanolin

Lanolin

Well-known member
#15
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
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#15
rent pays for the wear and tear on the building when you occupy a place.
Its separate from the power and water that you use when you live somwhere (bills)
so if the building gets damaged, or a window gets broken or the oven stops working, the rent money paid would cover the cost so the tenant shouldnt have to fork out for it.
If nobody paid rent they would just be squatting and so cant expect the place to stay warm and dry.

I just post this to make you aware of what rent used is for. Its Not just to make landlords rich lol.
 
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