a question for all you flatmates out there

[skid]

My daughter and partner are about to take a 4 bdrm rental ($700)with 4 other people (5 total) They will share 1 of the bedrooms which is a bit larger than the rest.
Just wondering what is the most common fair way to divide the rent (by the person--by the room--or something in between)for them.

[Leftette]

By the room should make up the bulk of the split, but I can see why 'by the person' should play a part too - for instance, use and enjoyment of common areas - living room, kitchen etc. That should count only as a small proportion though, in my opinion, so long as everyone takes responsibility for damage equally, so if either of them breaks something, they've bought it.

How you calculate the split is a tough one though. Especially if one of the two gets more use of common areas (say is home for longer hours) than the others. You could really go to town on how it's calc'd - to the point where a statistician and actuary is needed, so I'd suggest the simplest form is by room for 80% and by person for 20% of overall share. Something like that anyway.

[Damap]

Usually, based on my kids experiences, the head tenant has a fixed price per room for a single and slightly higher for a couple for the rest. If they can structure it to minimise their own cost then good on them as they have to pick up the slack when rooms are vacant.
If everybody is on the lease then they should start looking for another house already. Not likely to work well.

[skid]

I suggested that for the larger room they pay Approx $200($100ea.) and the rest pay $167 per room =$701 -Does that seem reasonable?

They would not be on the lease

[harmonist]

Agree on the fixed price per room scenario, I advertised my ensuite room as $235 for a single or $320 for a couple, then everyone pays the same fixed price for bills.

[skid]

Apparently theres an ensuite as well--am I still in the reasonable ballpark?

[Gladdynook]

I suggested that for the larger room they pay Approx $200($100ea.) and the rest pay $167 per room =$701 -Does that seem reasonable?

They would not be on the lease

seems about right, maybe a bit more as it has an ensuite - and then split all bills 5 ways.

[TomW]

By the person