OPENING her monthly spreadsheet of expenses on her laptop Rachel Taylor, 29, inputs this month’s bills.
Then the carer turns to her boyfriend of 18 months and reminds him his rent of £350 is due.
2
2
Looking up bar manager Joe Hutchins, 26, grimaces before transferring the funds to his “landlord girlfriend’s” account.
“I charge my man rent and I would not have it any other way. He may be my lover and baby daddy but when it comes to finances I am all business,” Rachel tells Sun Money.
“This Valentine’s Day we’ll celebrate our love. I will also be celebrating my tough approach to finances.
“It’s my flat and Joe has to pay rent. His Valentine’s daygift to me can be roses and paying his rent on time.”
Read more on rent
“I know people will troll me. Others will tell me my attitude is selfish. I am sure some people will claim I’m profiting off my fella and that makes me a bad girlfriend!”
“When I told some of my pals I charge my man rent they were genuinely shocked. In fact, one told me I was greedy.
“Initially I was shocked but I’m not a doormat. I want good relationship boundaries and adopting a clinical business-like approach to money is the best way to do it.
Rachel’s no-nonsense landlord girlfriend approach making her fella pay up at the end of each month isn’t unusual.
Most read in Money
Half of people would charge their partner rent
A survey by TurboTenant has revealed that 51% of people would charge their significant other’s rent to move into a property they own.
The study found three out of five women (59%) would charge their partner rent.
While one third of respondents would want separate rental agreements when moving in with a partner.
The survey found financial security and the fact that more single women are buying properties themselves than ever before are two of the major reasons behind the increase in “partner rent charging”.
In Rachel’s case, she bought her two-bedroom flat three years ago for £130,000 in Exeter, Devon putting down a £19,000 deposit.
“I worked part-time from the age of 15 on weekends doing babysitting. Then when I left school I worked in admin and the care sector while studying for a counselling qualification,” she says.
“I saved every penny to get on the property ladder. The flat isn’t anything fancy but it’s security for my future.”
Rachel’s mortgage is £600 a month and she charges Joe £350 and she pays the remaining £250.
“I think that shocks people the most that I make him pay more than half the mortgage in rent,” she adds.
The couple split their other expenses fifty-fifty including council tax, heating and water bills.
“We each pay our own phone bills. If we go out we split the costs. It works for us,” she says.
I was shocked by her no-nonsense approach
Rachel’s partner Joe
Rachel met Joe on Tinder when she swiped on her man’s profile in April 2022.
Rachel then travelled to Truro a month later to meet Joe.
“He was working there. We hit it off and I visited again two weeks later,” she says.
“I’ve had a number of different relationships. I wanted a fella who wasn’t all about ‘looks’ and was genuine.
“In my past relationship I’d been generous with money and two boyfriends left me with debts they’d run up on my credit card. This time around I wasn’t prepared to let that happen,” says Rachel.
“Joe was three years younger than me. I thought he’d be a ‘jack the lad’ instead he turned out to be a proper keeper.”
Joe moved up to Plymouth for work as a bar manager within three months of them meeting.
“I invited him to move in but told him he would have to pay rent. I told him my past relationships had made me wary of mixing love and money,” she says.
Rachel explained she wanted them to love each other but to initially keep their finances separate.
“I was shocked by her no-nonsense approach. But I understood.
“I didn’t expect a free ride. I’d had girlfriends who’d left me with bills and I respected Rachel for being so business-like,” says Joe.
How couples can manage money to avoid arguments
WORKING out how to manage your finances with your other half, and not fall out, can be tricky – but there are methods to help.
JOINT ACCOUNT
You both pay your salary into your bank accounts but pay the same amount into a third account each month.
Bills and general expenses such as groceries are likely paid from this.
You’ll both have access to your joint account, to keep an eye on how much you’re spending.
PERCENTAGE METHOD
You’ll have a joint account but pay different amounts into it.
This approach is often used if one person earns much more than the other.
If, for example, you have regular bills of £1,500 a month, and one of you has take-home pay of £30,000 and the other £20,000, you might agree the higher earner pays in three fifths, or £900 a month, and the lower earner two fifths, or £600.
This has the advantage of making the bills equally affordable for both of you.
PERSONAL ALLOWANCE
As the only earner, you put money into your partner’s bank account to cover their personal expenses.
This may work if one person is at home looking after kids, or off work for some time.
You need to decide together on a reasonable amount, and what you expect it to cover.
However, there are disadvantages and it’s important to look out for signs of domestic abuse.
SHARING THE LOAD
You have separate accounts, and take responsibility for different bills.
For example, you pay the household bills, but your partner pays for holidays and kids’ stuff. You could split just one bill, such as the mortgage.
This could work if you prefer to keep your finances separate and don’t want a joint account.
Within two months of moving in, Rachel discovered she was pregnant and the couple welcomed their first child, Arthur, in March last year.
“Being pregnant didn’t change my ‘landlord girlfriend’ approach. It made me glad I was so financially savvy,” she says.
Now the couple split the costs for their son equally.
“It’s a relief that we can talk about our finances so openly and honestly. It’s not a lovey dovey subject but not everything can be hearts and roses,” Rachel explains.
The pair also have an agreement to each save £200 or more a month in separate accounts so they can buy a house together.
“We have set goals together. I have my flat and when we buy a house together I will either sell this property or keep it as a rental.”
Joe, who admits he often likes to splurge on clothes or nights out, admits his partner’s no-nonsense approach to money has taught him to be a better saver and to control his finances.
“I know what my rent is every month. I know what savings goal I have to hit and what expenses I pay,” says Joe.
“It’s made us stronger as a couple and with our little boy it means we feel secure about our future and his future.”
Joe admits if he owned a house and Rachel moved in he’d charge her rent.
“It makes sense. I see so many couples fall in love and the relationship ends because of fights over money.”
“Rachel isn’t controlling, she’s sensible. She’s inspired me to know my worth and to be a better saver.
According to Rachel, many people claim her approach is “unromantic” and takes the love out of her love-life.
“It doesn’t. If anything it makes our life easier. We never argue over money,” she says.
“That means we are more relaxed and supportive of each other’s careers and raising our son.”
“I reckon if more singletons did this they would be single on Valentine’s Day.
“In fact, charging your partner rent keeps you together.
“I know people will claim it’s a taboo thing to do. Some say if you love someone you should not make them fork out rent.
“Others will say it means I don’t trust the relationship will last long.
“Those comments make me laugh. They are just old fashioned. I love my man. I love our life and I know it’s a forever relationship. But in the matter of money I don’t think with my heart, I think with my head.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
“As long as Joe pays his rent on time and gets me some flowers for Valentine’s Day I’ll be happy.
“I’d rather he save more money this month for a house than splurge on February 14. Valentine’s lasts for one day, money and budgeting is forever.”
