Quote: (06-29-2014 11:24 PM)Katatonic Wrote:
Smart man. If she pays rent, then I don't believe common law will be recognized(if they live together for 7 years in California), and she will have no right to his income or property if they split up. Also, a rental agreement protects him even further from being stuck with her in the home for an indefinite period of time if shit ever goes bad. The lawyers in here will know more than me on the subject, so please correct me if I'm wrong.
Not sure about the US but here in the UK a rental agreement bestows rights as a tenant and may become difficult to revoke should the relationship turn toxic.
Extending an act of friendship does not bestow rights as a tenant and can be revoked without resorting to lawyers.
In short, charging a girlfriend rent can be seem as a cheap shot and a cause of un-neccesary resentment buildup. If however she cooks, cleans and is a nice person to be with around my place and I can afford the place without any help then I dont see why I would charge her rent.
It is when she starts dictating the comings and goings of the household that would get me. That is power-creep and sets a very dangerous precedent for the future.