I've been paying board since I was 16. I don't mind it. My mum buys food with it (I eat alot), pays bills etc. So it's only fair. Even tho I'm rarely ever there I still don't mind!
I think everyone should be paying board from about 16, whether that be with auststudy or what you earn at work. You can't just let kids live for free and then send them off into the real world only for them to realise life aint that easy. That being said, some parents don't feel it's necessary and love taking care of their kids and can afford to.
So I agree with your dad on that point.
What I don't agree with is the way he's handling it. And to say it the nice way..I think he's a **** head. Sorry but I'm going on what I read!

I honestly don't know what advice I can give that you haven't already thought of, but all I can suggest is that you and your girlfriend find a place of your own (possibly with other friends to make it more affordable).
As it's your dad's home aswell as your mothers and basically he has a 50/50 say of what goes on regardless of your opinion.
As for you mother... if it is domestic violence, I suggest you convince her to get the hell out of there!
It isn't hard to get a place of her own with your sisters and she doesn't even have to tell him where she is!
If she works, easy, if she doesn't, Sole parent pension depending on how old your sisters are. I don't know how the Commision of Housing works in Sydney, but all she'd need to do is apply, tell them the situation and they would bust a gut to allocate you to a house/flat/unit. The rent is fairly good depending on what your earnings are, basically they take 25% of what you earn for rent.
So maybe you should get her to check that out. It really is worth a look anyway if it can get your mother and sisters out. They seem to work harder for mothers with a few kids.

[ January 03, 2004, 03:56 AM: Message edited by: CaRBoNeTTe ]

I agree with you in every way about paying board. I've also been paying board since i was 15, because I left school to get some work, then I went back to school, and back on austudy and still pay board, I have no problem paying the money, but that isnt the whole issue, Mr nuttr should be able to do what the hell he wants in that house, he is paying his way to live there, just like his mum and dad, and as for his mum, you will find that a lot of ladies in relationships simply can't leave, including my own mother, so I know exactly where he is coming from, but I still believe that his mum has to get out of there for sure.

-Dale

Don't worry carb's everyone seems to have the same opinion of him... Like dale said, mum doesn't really want to leave now, etc, as she's just not "ready" for such a big change i think... She doesn't work much atmo, i don't mind paying board at all... But i'd expect something more than a place where i do stuff like mow lawn, clean the pool, clean the driveway, do this, do that, not allowed to have people over and stuff... kinda sucks, but hey.. I don't know where to go short of leaving with everyone!
Aaron

If your ever going to take action agenst violance. DO IT BY THE BOOK.
doing it behind the law will make things worse, and will get you in more trouble. In life if anything ever needs to be done, be it harrasment or compants at work or home. do it thru the proper channels.

Nutter, if you have channels avalable at work for advise, i suggest you use them. QANTAS has a very good system to help employees with any problems be money or relationship ect

macca has a good point about the support channels at work, but just use some good tact when finding out info about them.

Its obvious that the only soloution is to get your ass outta there, but i can feel where ur comin from, what with bills, car loans etc... its hard to make a start alone.

Your mum probably feels the same.

Anyway, back to your question, your best help to find out information about shared households and what rights you have, may be to contact a social worker or mabye even someone at your local university, they often have people on campus that help students out with this kinda stuff (im sure u can bluff your way into being an IT student) or get a close friend to get some info for you. So yeah, a second idea would be to approach a local real estate agent and explain you are seeking some information regarding share households, or even by making an annonymous enquiry to the police and they may be able to point you in the right direction.

Also, can i suggest with your valuables, possibly hide those things dearest to you. Even though im aware you consider your sub amp to be dear ( ) im talking abotu the important stuff (ie gifts from loved ones etc..)

Thanks guys... will be ringing the dept of fair trading on monday to confirm with them, but looks like i'm a "tenant" without a legal agreement... Basically, according to that then, i'd be allowed to do anything i want, so long as it's within the law
Aaron

Just my opinion, but I don't think that parents should be charging board to their children in the first place. I don't think that I could ever do that to my children (when I have 'em of course!), simply because of the fact that you should be doing everything that you can to help your kids. This is of course unless they are not willing to get a job, do something constructive around the house etc, then of course it is justified.

I don't think that as I've grown older that I have eaten more or used more power, more of the telephone bill etc. In fact, I would say that my consumption in all those areas has gone down as I'm out of the house more. I look at it as I have more money to be more independent because my parents don't charge me board. If they did, then I wouldn't be able to do a lot of the things that I do, and I would have to stay home, eat more, use more power etc.

Just my $0.02

Cheers...Mitch

If your parents are married, why don't you set a tenancy agreement with your mother? Check it out, might be possible.

As a "tenant", you should be able to get contents insurance....... if he trashes your gear, the insurance company may want to have words with him?

I feel for you: hope your situation improves. Good luck.

Wayne

Thanks guys
Yeah wayne, it IS supposedly already all covered.... Thats a good idea too wayne
Basically, before they started making me pay board, i was ALWAYS out, but once i started having to pay, i made use of it! So bills have gone up, etc I'd charge my kids "board" but i'd simply put it aside, and let them know that, as forced savings, could come in handy one day.... what sucked more is that i was working for 8mths full time and then dad came out and said that he wanted me to backpay those 8mths that i was working full time as well..... and i had savings from a 21st present from him/mum, because i didn't back-pay, i lost all of that too... which is pretty ****ed
It's a pity i have to wait to a week day to ring anyone about stuff like this
Aaron

Came across this while browsing the government website...

http://www.nsw.gov.au/life_sub.asp?AREA=DO...ICTIM_LIFE_SNSW

And also in regards to your tenancy rights etc... You would be best contacting the Tenancy Enquiries Department of the DFT on #9377 9100.

Info online can be found at www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au

Try not to fight with your parents, or dont make things too complicated, thing might settle down when you move out for a while.

You may need them someday!

I am with eMitch on this one. My rule is you should not have to pay until you leave. If you leave, fail dismally, and return home THEN you are a tenant and have to pay. Like eMitch said, it is not like you eat more or use more stuff etc. I earn a resonable salary and still live at home which makes it easier to save so when I do move out I will be able to move into a nicer house than into a crappy one that I really don't want but can't afford any better. My dad earns more than me and my sister does not live at home so he should be fine with it anyways.