A confusing question about wages and rent

[oligopoly]

the rent for our flat comes out of my account every month, which my housemate then pays me back each month. he gets paid 13 times per year and consequently reckons he should get a month off (ie a month free of rent) with there only being 12 months in a year.

thoughts?

[Ethel]

Divide the annual rent by 13, not 12.

Then he will pay the same each year, but less each month.

[oligopoly]

Ideal if the tenancy was for a year or 2 exactly. we are about 9 months through and unsure how long we will continue in the flat.

Regardless, is he right when he says that he should have a month's free rent?

[Pete1956]

If he pays you every time he gets paid, he is paying you every 4 weeks, not every month. If you agreed a monthly sum, then he should only pay that 12 times a year otherwise he is over-paying you.

Alternatively, do as Ethel suggests. 13 payments of slightly less money. The total amount paid per year is the same.

[Pete1956]

Oops, our answers crossed. Yes, I think he is right, and so is Ethel. If you work out how much you want from him every MONTH, multiply that by 12 and divide that by 13 and that will give you the amount he should pay every 4 weeks regardless of how long you keep the flat.

[oligopoly]

Damn! Thanks guys

[SaxyJag]

Whatever mathematical equation you use to work it out, don't let him fleece you. He should end up paying you 50% of the rent due to your landlord. Whether he ends up paying a year's rent in twelve or thirteen instalments is what you have to agree on.

[Tadpole_30]

if it comes out of ur acount each month then could he not set up a direct debit from his acount to go in to your acount at around the same time? surely that makes the most sense.

[JudgeJ]

Why is this complicated? If the rent is paid on (say) the first of every month, then all he has to do is to pay you half of that sum on (or ideally before) the first of every month. His pay arrangements are unusual and he must realise that household bills that are due monthly are due 12 times a year and not every four weeks. The notion that he should receive a "free" month is misplaced and complicates an otherwise simple matter. Lastly, he gets paid more frequently than you so he should have no difficulty paying you twelve times a year whilst he is being paid thirteen times a year.

[rd14962]

Your rent is paid calender monthly, the fact your flatmate gets paid 13 times a year is irrelevant, if he was paid weekly would you expect him to pay you 52 times a year? of course you wouldn't.

Leave it as it is, you are not losing at all. Work out your annual rent and halve it, the amount he pays you should meet this sum.

Regards

Rupert

[pagey]

EG: If his rent is �100 per calendar month he should be paying you �92.31 every 4 weeks.

[tell-me-more]

All the above is true, but for your own convenience and peace of mind, it really would be easiest for your housemate to pay by the calendar month rather than every four weeks.

If that's when the rent's due for you, that's when it's due for him.