No one is being sexist here. This arrangement was NOT equitable. She moved into his house. Why didn't he move into hers or why didn't they find a place of their own to rent? Only in the latter case would equal division be reasonable. Expecting her to pay more than she used to pay when now she's sharing a bedroom with another person and everything else isn't right. You're all a bunch of fucks arguing from his standpoint and I'm actually giving honest advice from a place where his girlfriend is. He can take whichever advice he wants but one of them is clearly from a more relevant side.You know I'm going to try this strategy next time I make an offer on a house. I'm going to let the seller's agent know what my current rent is and ask them the salaries of everyone I'm bidding against. That way I can say really dumb shit like "It's not fair, my last house was only $X/mo, my next house should cost the same amount regardless of living conditions!"
This is 2013, women are empowered and have all the facilities and tools available to them that men do. It's actually pretty sexist to expect a man to still take care of a woman just because she's a woman. If there is a big difference in income then working out something equitable for the two of you is obviously something that should be discussed. But she should always be pulling her weight. If she makes way less money and can't afford half she should be doing stuff around the house, if she thinks you're a sexist pig for recommending such an arrangement then dump her stupid ass and find a woman who isn't worthless.
Why do people keep saying this? Does this happen?I wouldn't go the 1/2 mortgage route that's for sure. If you actually say it's 1/2 the mortgage then come breakup time it's possible she can make an argument that she owns an applicable portion of the property and fight for ownership of it or you buying out her portion at current market value (a killer if the value has appreciated noticeably...bought an apartment for $40k, worth ~$260k now and I'd be fucked if I had to buy back 1/2 of it for example).
Other than that I'm not sure what the answer is but I do think splitting the bills, food etc is appropriate if you don't have a shared account of some sort and then whatever you both decide is fair.
She is not a renter, she is now common law. Totally different scenario.Why do people keep saying this? Does this happen?
This would be like a renter or a boarder claiming equity in your house. I really don't believe this is how the law works.
it happens quite easily over here. I'm not sure of the specific time period but once a relationship is considered defacto marriage all rights that would be applicable during divorce proceedings become applicable even if not married. If a couple move in together and one (or both) have been claiming government benefits, be it unemployment, single parent etc, the government will stop the benefits (or reduce or increase) to bring them inline with what would be appropriate if the couple were married....and they will send someone around to check on living arrangements such as where clothes are kept, how often beds are slept in etc if you try to claim you are dating but not actually living together even though you live in the same house.That only applies in certain states, and even then just moving in together does not automatically make it a common law marriage. She is, effectively, a boarder.
Calling bullshit on that one. It has more to do with taxation and benefits and the government never cares if you announce shit to the public. They take their best guess and its up to you to prove them wrong. And common law has nothing to do with marriage. If it did, you wouldn't be in a country still trying to prevent gay people from getting married.Yeah here even in states where they have it, in most of them you have to actually represent yourself as a married couple in public for it to take effect. Nowhere near like up in Canuckistan.
You realize this is the internet, and this information is freely available. It was even posted in this very thread a few pages back. They absolutely do not just "take their best guess." Or are not supposed to, according to the law.Calling bullshit on that one. It has more to do with taxation and benefits and the government never cares if you announce shit to the public. They take their best guess and its up to you to prove them wrong. And common law has nothing to do with marriage. If it did, you wouldn't be in a country still trying to prevent gay people from getting married.
In the end its safer to protect your house by not letting her pay for a damn thing until you phone up a lawyer and both of you talk with them. I have seen too many people from my hometown get burned because they assume the law or think things work logically. All I can say is don't listen to any legal advice from this thread and seek a lawyer (solicitor in the states I think as Canada combines barristers and solicitors). Girls have taken assets from men just by doing house chores. The government will see that "rent" payment as helping towards the mortgage if you like it or not.You realize this is the internet, and this information is freely available. It was even posted in this very thread a few pages back. They absolutely do not just "take their best guess." Or are not supposed to, according to the law.
You are either a sucker, or just plain stupid. "I used to live in a 600 sq ft efficiency and payed $550/mo, the fact that I now live in your 1800 sq ft 3 bedroom 2 bathroom house with way better accommodations and way more privacy doesn't mean jack shit, I should still only pay $550/mo because I'm a woman and I have dumb as shit opinions on what's fair and equitable"No one is being sexist here. This arrangement was NOT equitable. She moved into his house. Why didn't he move into hers or why didn't they find a place of their own to rent? Only in the latter case would equal division be reasonable. Expecting her to pay more than she used to pay when now she's sharing a bedroom with another person and everything else isn't right. You're all a bunch of fucks arguing from his standpoint and I'm actually giving honest advice from a place where his girlfriend is. He can take whichever advice he wants but one of them is clearly from a more relevant side.
B.C.'s Family Law Act
3 (1) A person is a spouse for the purposes of this Act if the person
(a) is married to another person, or
(b) has lived with another person in a marriage-like relationship, and
(i) has done so for a continuous period of at least 2 years, or
(ii) except in Parts 5 [Property Division] and 6 [Pension Division], has a child with the other person.
(2) A spouse includes a former spouse.
(3) A relationship between spouses begins on the earlier of the following:
(a) the date on which they began to live together in a marriage-like relationship;
(b) the date of their marriage.
(Source: Family Law Act)
Making assumptions makes you look like a drooling retard. We have no idea what the individual expenses are.You are either a sucker, or just plain stupid. "I used to live in a 600 sq ft efficiency and payed $550/mo, the fact that I now live in your 1800 sq ft 3 bedroom 2 bathroom house with way better accommodations and way more privacy doesn't mean jack shit, I should still only pay $550/mo because I'm a woman and I have dumb as shit opinions on what's fair and equitable"
Where she lived before hand and what she was paying shouldn't even factor into the equation, it's what's fair and equitable in the current living conditions. I used to live in my parents house for free once upon a time. So I guess if I had left to move in with a girlfriend I should have expected to not pay anything right? Dumbass.
Think of it as a test to see if she's reasonable and responsible. Find out if you're wasting your own time.So what's the consensus on this? There's a good chance my gf will move in with me in the next year, but I am not looking forward to having a rent conversation. We both earn the same amount, so it's not an ability to pay, but it just seems weird to be living somewhere, affording it fine, and then have your gf move in and then suddenly she should start paying for some of it. It would be much more clear-cut, in my mind, if we moved to a new place.