Can You Let a Family Member Live Rent-Free?

Once I might have said yes to the idea of letting a family member live rent-free. Now, after experiencing the complexities of housing support, I’ve come to a different conclusion. You can’t afford to be overly generous with your accommodation. Those who receive your kindness will eventually take advantage of it.

Even if you offer rent-free living conditions, there are numerous responsibilities involved:

Utility payments Yard work and home maintenance Dishwashing and laundry Food shopping, especially for specific dietary needs like steak three times a week These tasks can be time-consuming and demanding

There are certain standards that should be met before you consider allowing a family member to live rent-free:

Conditions for Rent-Free Living

Here are the necessary conditions:

No smokers No alcoholics No drug users No unemployed individuals No criminal records No overweight or unfit people, as they must be physically active to earn the free housing No sociopaths or unstable individuals No one with dysfunctional relationships or friends No lazy people

With these conditions in place, you need to be aware of the daily chores involved:

Drying laundry on lines daily Manual bread-making Using brooms instead of vacuum cleaners Manual wood heating year-round Hand-watering food plants twice a day Chicken care and egg collection Dog care, including exercise, training, and maintenance Walking to any destination within a 30-minute radius or using a bike Using public transport for longer journeys

Considering the conditions and daily responsibilities, here is a brief scenario:

Scenario for Rent-Free Living

**Sure, but there are conditions:
No smokers
No alcoholics
No drug users
No unemployed persons
No criminal records
No overweight or unfit people
No sociopaths or unstable individuals
No people with dysfunctional relationships or friends
No lazy people

Would you still be willing to live in these conditions?

Yes, but can they please understand the house rules and conditions? If so, let's move on to the next step...
*Can they move in now?*

The honest answer is: Of course not. Responsible living is essential. While I shouldn’t allow irresponsible behavior, what should you do if you still want to offer rent-free accommodation to a family member?

Supporting your accommodation financially is one solution. After all, it is your choice to say yes or no. However, often this leads to family conflicts, additional expenses, and hurt feelings. It is better to err on the side of caution.

If you must proceed, clarify the timeline and try to get it in writing, especially if they are staying for more than a couple of days.