Parents Say 17-Year-Old Daughter 'Owes' Them Rent, Totaling Half Her Monthly Paycheck

Yahoo

27-07-2025

She's already paying for most of her own expenses and contributing to various household bills
A 17-year-old girl's parents believe she owes them rent after landing her first job, despite already paying for "the majority" of her own expenses.
The teenager took to Reddit to share her predicament, explaining that now that she has a minimum-wage job, her parents are charging "rent," which amounts to roughly "half" her total paycheck.
"I recently got a part time job to help cover my personal expenses, like saving up for driving lessons, a car, university, days out, shopping trips etc," she explains.
"However this job doesn't pay very well, it's minimum wage and I get my hours cut often," she explains. "I often only bring in around 250-350 a month, and my parents want me to pay 100 for 'rent' a month."
If she agrees to that number, she would only be saving around $200 a month. On top of that, the poster notes that she already helps her parents out financially.
"I already pay for majority things myself, like clothes, give them money for other bills, my luxuries ect, they want more ON TOP of this just for 'rent,'" she explains. "It equates to literally HALF of my paycheck, I already offered a fairer price, but they aren't having it. "
http://people-app.onelink.me/HNIa/kz7l4cuf
Still, her parents argue it's not enough.
"They think I 'owe' this to them as it's now my responsibility to make a living, but I disagree, as they are still legally responsible for putting a roof over my head and feeding me," she writes. "They said if I don't pay I can 'get out then' or I can 'buy my own food and if I don't then that's my own problem.' "
The disagreement is now "causing major issues" in the family, as her parents claim she is being "disrespectful" and has a "disgusting attitude problem."
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However, commenters unanimously agreed that the teen was not obligated to pay her parents rent, as many pointed out that she's still classified as their independent. Thus, her parents are "legally obligated" to provide her with any basic needs, including housing.
"It's strange to make your child pay rent to live in their own house to be clothed, fed, and provided with necessities, which is the bare minimum," one wrote. "How are you expected to reasonably save enough for your future if you have to pay them for the bare minimum?"
"That said, put as much as you can away and have your documents ready," another user added. "They will charge real rent or kick you out the minute you're 18. They clearly don't care about you."
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