36-year-old man refuses to share ownership of home with girlfriend or let her have a say in household decisions, yet wants her to contribute more than €200/month in living costs, claiming she is now earning well: 'Won't pay towards house she doesn't own'

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  • "I feel resentful seeing her bank account grow while I keep pouring money into the house”
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  • AITA for asking my girlfriend to pay more than a symbolic rent even though the house is only in my name?

    A few years ago, I (36M) met my girlfriend (31F). Back then she had just moved to Germany for her studies, had very little money, and was living in a sublet situation that wasn't working out.
  • I invited her to move in with me. My rent at that time was about €900/month, and since I didn't have higher costs from her living with me, I only asked her for €100/month as a symbolic contribution.
  • Two years later I bought a house (mortgage about €1,380/month, in my name only). We both moved in together. By then she was a student and working part-time, so we agreed she'd pay €200/month as her "rent."
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  • There's no rental contract, it's just an arrangement between us. I also cover all the additional costs: taxes, insurance, utilities, repairs, etc.
  • Now, she has graduated and works full-time making good money. I also earn well. Over the past three years I've put a lot of money into the house: new floors, furniture, big TV, and more recently a solar system (~€13k).
  • I pay for all of that. She uses and enjoys everything of course.
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  • Here's the issue: she still pays me only €200/month. If we were renting an apartment together, we'd split rent 50:50, and her share would be much higher.
  • When I bring this up, she says she doesn't want to pay more toward a house she doesn't own. She even offered once to pay me half of the mortgage if her name got added to the deed, but I said no, I want the house to remain mine.
  • Another detail: I installed solar panels, and she's been charging her electric car for free with the surplus for over 6 months now.
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  • Technically it costs me nothing, but it does feel like she's saving money thanks to my investment.
  • She contributes more with cooking and cleaning, while I do the gardening work and home repairs. We split groceries about 50:50.
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  • She has offered multiple times to buy furniture or pay for contractors, but I always declined because I wanted to handle the house myself.
  • Sometimes we argue about money, and I admit I feel resentful seeing her bank account grow while I keep pouring money into the house.
  • AITA for thinking it would be fair if she paid more than just €200/month toward our living costs, even though she's not on the deed and I don't want her to be?
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  • ChakraMama318 Okay, you two have been together for years. What is your long-term plan? Are you looking at marriage or just co-habitation? Where do you see this going?
  • I don't think it is wrong for you to ask her to kick in, but I think it would better serve you to talk about your financial situation and if you want this to be a long term thing or get married- discuss those goals. Does she want to own her own place? Would you want to go in on a house together? Get married? And then have a plan for a fair division of bills so that you are reaching toward common goals.
  • parodytx You can ask. She can say no. Then you can accept her answer and keep the status quo, or you can tell her she needs to move out. That's about the gist of things.
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  • mybfisperfect So what im hearing is. You are upgrading the house entirely on your own. She has offered to pay for furniture and you have said no. That is your fault, if you want it to be split 50/50 then the house also needs to be 50/50 and you cant be upgrading it without her say so either. Theres no asking her to contribute more if its not equally her space.
  • Choice_Bee_1581 Yes YTA. Rent payments are gone forever, money down the drain. Mortgage payments build equity in your investment. Your gf is smart.
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  • TangerineCouch 18330 I guess it all depends on what your plans are for future with this woman.
  • Outrageous_Rabbit842 You decline her offers to purchase furniture because 'l want to handle the house myself'. This isn't her home. It's yours. And you're making sure she knows it/feels it. Frankly, if you'd said that to me I'd be moving out. Is Her kicking in extra rent going to change your attitude? Or will she just be paying more to still have no say in the house?

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