Should parents charge their adult children rent?

Personally, I believe that adult children should move out and live independently. But in the event that they need to come home and live together with their parents once more, I think that they should share with the bills. As for paying rent, it's a possibility, but there's a lot of social mores and cultural ethics involved that... It's really better that adult kids move out, you know?

After I graduated high school, I went to a 2 year community college and worked full time. Then I transferred to a university to finish my bachelor's degree, while continuing to work. During that time, I lived at home and commuted to and from school. I was not charged rent during that time. However, after I graduated college, I continued to live at home, and was charged rent, but it was about half of what and apartment would cost to rent. I had no complaints of paying rent and I thought it was fair. I am now on my own and have lived in two apartments since leaving the nest. I personally think it is fair to charge your adult child rent after a certain age, or if your child is NOT going to school or working. It is good to cut them a break if they are working or in school, but I think after a certain age, I think it's fair to charge rent. Paying rent promotes some motivation and responsibility for the real world.

When I was an adult and moved back home, I gave my mom a token amount of rent money once I got a job. I even did that when I was only twenty. When my son moved home after quitting school, once he went to work he paid rent. He is thirty four and pays rent now, much less than if he had to get a home. He got a divorce and also lost his home a couple of years ago. He uses our power, he eats what I cook, I pay more utilities because he is here. It would not let him have self respect to pay nothing and live here like a little child, he is an adult. If I was not in such a bind financially, I would be like the parent who saved the rent money to give back to the child. Right now my son, my husband, and I are all supporting each other.

I say no. I think that that is stupid. If they are unable to find a job, then how would they pay rent? It would just be very cruel to even suggest it, especially if they'd just graduated college, clearly they had been working hard.

I think if they didn't have a job it would be kind of pointless to charge them rent wouldn't it? xD How would they pay the rent? And what happens if they don't pay? They're your child and could you really kick them out because you chose to charge them rent knowing full well they had no means to pay you? I would encourage them strongly to get a job, however, and not rest until they did since at that point they should be working somewhere. At that age I believe they should be at least somewhat self-sufficient rather than living off of us as their parents, but I would still want to support them because in the end they are still my child. I do plan on charging my children rent as soon as they get their first job, though, like my grandmother did with her children. Something small and reasonable that goes into an account for them so that if they need money in the future it's there. I like that idea because it basically forces them to save for the future without letting them know that's what's happening.

Abso-freaking-lutely! If they don't have a job they can always work for me, which I guarantee will encourage them to get a job quickly! I'll help them out as much as I can but I won't completely coddle them, 'cuz I want them to be successful or at least be able to support themselves when I'm gone. Now the true crime is charging a rat rent to live in your garage. Do you hear me, Fat Man?

Let me tell you with an open mind that my interactions with western culture and way of life is only thru mylot and it is in mylot that I first came across the concept of parents charging their adult kids for staying or parents renting out their kid’s rooms to augment their own income, since that kid has grown up and gone away and wont be needing that room anymore. I’ve come across quite a few mylotters here charge their kids and they were so casual and commonplace about it, that I thought that this was the way of operation in the west...once kids grow up and start earning, they cant stay for free with their parents (one particular person spelt out the costs clearly saying that their adult son was temporarily moving back with them since he’s lost his job at the gas station in some other city and that they would expect that son to pay about $7 a week as fooding & lodging, even saying that this was way cheaper than what he’d have to pay if he’d decided to stay back unemployed in that other city)… all this was definitely a shock to my oriental upbringing and its only now, thru this discussion that I’ve come to know that not all people are like that… personally, as I said its my Indian background that would never even allow me to contemplate such a thing and yes, to me and my culture, its immoral to put a fixed financial deal between parents and offspring. If they have no job, no question of paying anything…once they do have a job, they can pay part of the bill and contribute to the expenses in general or save for their own future…it totally depends on them. Actually the very concept of moving out of the parents’ home is a new concept in India…usually, men marry and stay back with their parents as a joint family where all responsibilities are shared.

if they work, I'd ask them to contribute to grocery, mortgage and utility doesn't have to be big, any amount is good if they don't work, I'd ask them to help around in the house I did this in my youth when I still lived with my parents

It would depend on the situation, really. So much depends on the kid and why they are still at home. If they did not have a job but were honestly looking then, no, I would not make them pay.My girls have all moved back in because they have broken up with a boyfriend or things fell through with a room mate. I did not charge them rent because they were working and saving to get a place of their own and charging them would have just made it harder. Once one of them moved in because rents were too high unless she had a roommate. Because I live in subsidized housing,my rent goes up according to their income if they are staying more than a couple of weeks. I did ask her to pay the amount that my rent went up because I really couldn't afford it. It wasn't much and she earned plenty enough to afford it.

I expect (once the whole process of spawning progeny is completed) to do the same thing my parents did with me: if I had a job, I paid my "keep"; if I didn't, I didn't. As soon as I had a job, they expected some money - admittedly, a small, nominal sum to cover food and to say "thanks" for them being there for me. It's much better that way, in my opinion: the kid gets a lesson on what life's really like with a gentle parental touch in the reduced amount (and flexibility if they lose the job). I would also expect to live by their house rules, the same as when I was under 18. In fact, if they were alive today, I'd STILL live by their rules if I went to stay with them for a while. It's their house. Personally, I see the whole "parental rent" thing as perfectly normal. Why should they support me if I'm an adult?

Ouch! What parents regulation is that? Parents are responsible for their kids until get an stable jobs to live freely on their own. That is a kind of abuse...they know that the kid did not find a jobs yet then charge him/her for a rent. it seems not your kid...

No, I won't. Because they are my children. I don't have a heart to charge them a rent. I will understand them that looking for job is not easy. Then I will encourage them to struggle harder and harder. That is better I guess. And I hope my children will be more spirited. Thank you.

Adults should always make at least a contribution toward the household. An unemployed adult child would not be given free rent any place but in his/her parent's household (or grandparent). That is the way things work, you live here you pay here. If finances are not available for rent or bill paying then labor is. Sitting on the couch all day watching TV, eating food provided by someone else's labor, using water, heat, air conditioning...hygiene products...these can be paid for by labor, cleaning, cooking, lawn care among other chores which can be found. There is no free lunch as we all know, always there is some type of payment. Charge kids rent? Kids should volunteer to pay it.

Charging children?Obviously not.No matter wether they employed or unemployed,they are still our kids.

If your child is back home because they're unable to find a job, how do you charge someone rent who has no money to pay rent? I think a parent would help that child get back on his or her feet. If your adult child is living at home and working full time and has the means, I think that child should help contribute to their living expenses. This could be chipping in for groceries, paying the gas/electric or water bill, or paying a monthly rent. For an adult child who doesn't have a job, I don't understand how you would expect them to pay you rent!

I think if the child is working, I would encourage them to contribute to the household bills , but to call it rent might not be accurate. If they didn't have a job, I would hope that they would help around the house in order to stay there. At least as much as what they were doing when they were younger. It seems like in most homes the kids were expected to do some kind of chores so if they were unable to contribute monetarily due to no job, they should at least continue that practice. I like the suggestion that at least one reader made that the money the child paid in "rent" went into an account that would later be returned to them.

Yes. an adult child who is living in his parents home should at least contribute towards groceries and utilities. If they can afford to pay rent in addition to that, that's even better. Our grocery bill doubled when our son returned to the nest. The electric bill and water bill also increased. I was glad when he got a job and moved into his own apartment.

If the parents know that their adult child is not having a good job, how can they still ask for money to pay the rent? If the adult individual has to stay with his/her folks it also depends if the parents would allow them to stay for free or without anything to pay in return. Lets view it this way,most Asian countries do have closer family ties, even if their kids have their own family, they still do stay with their folks. If your Westerner, at your age of 18, you already separate yourself from your parents and live life independently. It is really a big difference on how the viewpoint is also different. For me I won't charge my own, its free! everything I have I share it with them. I won't ask anything in return especially my kids.

It is really sad if they do, but I know there are adults (my cousin) of 34 years old, that doesn't work and she doesn't plan to get out anytime soon...So in that case as much she could be hurted to have her parents asking for rent, what she's doing is awful.

I would say it depends on the situation. If they are fresh out of college and really doing the work to find a job and get on with life then I would cut them some slack. However, If they are spending most of the day with friends, eating all your food and generally being pretty useless I would say it is time to give an ultimatum. You don't have to charge rent per say but I would at least require some choirs out of them and that they spend "x" number of hour looking for a job a week or volunteering outside the house in order to live there. Maybe the nagging will be an incentive to move out and look for a job as well.