Your situation
What this home would cost to rent
Service charges, property tax spread monthly, insurance, upkeep. Without the mortgage repayment.
Your monthly contribution
Your share: 50%
Actual-costs basis
€160 per month
You share the home's running life, not its financing: the mortgage stays with the owner.
Market-rent basis
€550 per month
You pay your share of the home's use value, as if you were renting together.
Many couples land between these two amounts. The key point: your payment should not repay the mortgage principal, which builds the owner's equity alone.
WeZioo then tracks this contribution every month, along with the rest of your shared expenses.
Download WeZiooThe real issue: not funding your partner's equity
When one partner owns the home, the question is not really "how much rent?" but "what exactly am I paying for?". Repaying your partner's mortgage means growing their wealth while owning nothing in return. It is the point that breeds the most resentment over time, often discovered at the worst moment: a separation.
Hence the two bases in this tool. The actual-costs basis: you share what the home costs to run (charges, property tax, insurance, upkeep) but not the mortgage. The market-rent basis: you pay your share of what living there is worth, as if the couple were renting. The first protects the person moving in, the second recognises the value the owner brings. The fair number for your couple often sits between the two.
Once the basis is chosen, the sharing rule remains: 50/50 or in proportion to income, exactly like your other shared expenses. And whatever you decide, write it down: an agreement in black and white prevents misunderstandings, and can be revisited when life changes (renovations, a baby, new salaries).
Frequently asked questions
Should I help repay the mortgage?+
Not the principal: every euro of principal repaid increases the owner's wealth alone. If you still want to contribute to it, do so in writing (a loan acknowledgement, buying a share of the property), otherwise that money will be very hard to recover if you separate.
Is paying half the market rent fair?+
It is defensible: you consume half of the home's use value. The classic objection: this "rent" enriches your partner, whereas a real landlord is a third party. That is why the tool also shows the actual-costs basis, usually lower, and why many couples settle in between.
Is this contribution legally rent?+
In general, contributing to household costs between partners is not a tenancy. An actual rent, however, can create obligations for the owner (declaring rental income, depending on the country). This is educational content: for your specific case, check with a professional.
What should we put in writing?+
The amount, what it covers (running costs or use of the home), and what happens in case of major works or a separation. Contributions to everyday costs are not recoverable; a contribution to the principal absolutely must be documented to exist legally.
Our other free tools
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Open the toolNever do this math by hand again
WeZioo tracks your shared expenses, applies your splitting rule and tells you every month who owes what. Bank sync, savings and joint projects included.
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