"He said he was low on money": Boyfriend demands girlfriend pay him rent despite owning the home and not paying mortgage, she refuses, leading to relationship tension

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Briana Viser • Writer and Editor
Mar 12, 2025 5:00 PM EDT

These days, rent prices have skyrocketed so much that it feels impossible to keep up with the prices. Wages stay low, while rent takes up over 50% of our monthly income, not to mention the price of eggs! Our parents didn't know how good they had it, growing up and starting their life when the economy was actually manageable. Anyone could get basically any job they wanted and just save money to buy a house. These days, even with 3 degrees, speaking 5 languages, and 4 years experience in something, it never seems to be enough. 

Despite the high rent prices, people do buy houses. If you are young and lucky enough to own a home as well, then you've pretty much hit the jackpot. If you're lucky enough to own a home while you're young and you want to let your girlfriend live with you, it should obviously be free since you're not even paying. 

In the story below, the boyfriend owns his own home and doesn't pay mortgage or anything. He finds himself under a financial burden and decides to start charging his girlfriend, but she doesn't seem to think that's very fair. Read the full story below for all the juicy details.

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  • 01

    AITAH for refusing to pay my boyfriend rent?

    RENT
    via formatoriginalphotos / Canva

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    I (f24) moved in with my boyfriend (m27) 10 months ago. He bought his house 2 years ago and paid the down payment himself but his parents have paid his mortgage since. We split all house expenses and utilities 50/50 but recently we've been spending a lot more money on shopping and trips so our expenses have been higher
    via u/No-Print-6103

  • It's such a red flag that he asked his girlfriend to pay an expense that he doesn't even have. It would be one thing if he paid rent, but he doesn't. Why doesn't he ask her to help out in other ways, instead of paying rent when he lives for free? Also, usually people spend most of their income on rent, so why is he low on money if he doesn't even pay?

  • 03
    than usual. He said he was low on money so maybe I could start paying rent to him. I said that didn't seem fair to pay him rent since he doesn't pay his mortgage but he said the arrangement is between him and his parents and not between me and his parents. AITA for not wanting to pay rent?
    via u/No-Print-6103
  • 04
    Update: we had a long conversation about our financial arrangement and agreed on more clearly defined contributions to our joint expenses. We are planning a budget and to cut back on our spending. We agreed that what I would be spending on rent should instead go into saving for a
    via u/No-Print-6103
  • 05
    down payment on a house together and he would use equity from selling his house so we both contribute the same to a down payment on a house together.
    via u/No-Print-6103
  • 06
    [del... I'm concerned that even having no monthly mortgage or rent payment he's still broke? half of the bills is perfectly fair but more than that, it's just spending money for him. He wants an
    via Reddit
  • 07
    allowance. I wouldn't live there, at least if you pay rent elsewhere you don't have to share your space.
    via Reddit
  • 08
    [deleted] You should be paying rent. BUT NOT without a legit rental agreement. And that money should go to the parents. Not for his petty cash.
    via Reddit
  • 09
    aspermyprevious The answer is yes you pay rent but not without a rental agreement. Protects both parties.
    via u/aspermyprevious
  • 10
    shammy_dammy Answer is obvious, you can find your own place and move there.
    via u/shammy_dammy
  • 11
    This CantBeLife Well, honestly, I would break up with him. Not because he's asking you to pay rent, which he should have done from the beginning, but because he's only asking because he's low on cash
    via u/This CantBeLife
  • 12
    now. If you choose to stay, contact the parents and ask for a lease and offer to pay them rent....you never know they might say you don't have to pay rent either.....
    via u/This CantBeLife
  • 13
    [deleted] I would move out and pay my own rent. Let him figure out his financial situation on his own. Because I get the feeling he won't help you out if you're ever having financial difficulties.
    via Reddit
  • 14
    Lave... I'm a little perplexed by all the comments saying OP should definitely pay him rent, and saying that she's freeloading there. They split all the expenses 50/50 already and his parents are
    via u/LavenWhisper
  • 15
    paying his mortgage, so I'm not sure how she's freeloading at all. Mortgage would be the same whether she lived there or not. Plus, why would she pay HIM rent if she was paying at all? He literally only wants it because
    via u/LavenWhisper
  • 16
    he's "low on money," not because she actually owes him anything.
    via u/LavenWhisper
  • 17
    Queen_Andromeda So you pay 50% of all the house expenses. I'm assuming that means groceries, ac/heating, water, electric, etc? That's rent? Unless you're only paying for basics like food and hygiene
    via u/Queen_Andromeda
  • 18
    stuff? I guess I'm asking exactly what you pay for now.
    via u/Queen_Andromeda
  • 19
    Eggplant|||4927 Oh dang! You guys are spending more together, as in you are both expending more money doing fun stuff together, and his answer is to reduce your available income
    via u/Eggplant|||4927
  • 20
    while increasing his by rent? That's seriously Seriously. up.
    via u/Eggplant|||4927
  • 21
    Impossible-Put-2793 NTA. And i would leave him. Theres no way im charging my significant other rent that Im not even paying. Especially if we are already going 50/50 on other expenses. He is trying to use you.... And everybody else
    via u/Impossible-Put-2793
  • 22
    talking about she is freeloading. How?! Yall sound mad that yall parents didnt pay your rent.
    via u/Impossible-Put-2793

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