Should I charge my Nephew for 2 rooms?

[Ibrahim Yamini]

Me and my wife are having a disagreement.  We currently live in a 4 bedroom 2800 sq ft house and my nephew, who will be 21 this summer lives with us.

After he graduated high school, I told him that he would have to go to work or get a job and he would have to pay rent.

I charged him $300 a month which is waaaaay below market value.

Anyway, he’s studying to be a notary and he wanted to use his brother’s room (he moved out last year) as an office.

I let my nephew know that the room isn’t free and if he wants another space, he’ll have to pay what his brother was paying; $300.  

So $600 a month total, $300 for a new office space and $300 for his current bedroom. 

My wife says I’m being unreasonable, but if he’s trying to build a business using my property, shouldn’t he pay for it?

I know he’s family, but my wife says I keep trying to extort him, but I don’t see it that way.  

Am I in the wrong?

[Joe Splitrock]

I have heard of people charging their children rent, then refunding part of all of it back to them when they move out. They don't tell them they are doing this. It ends up being a nice bonus to help them get started in life. Maybe this isn't what you had in mind, but you could tell your wife that half or a third of the money will be given back. This incentivizes them to move out and is a compassionate way to help a young person get started. You wife may think it makes you seem more kind. Just for reference, your wife is ALWAYS right...