My boyfriend and I recently made the decision to live together. I own land with a seasonal cottage on it. We decided rather than buying elsewhere, or building we would put our efforts and money into making the seasonal cottage a year round home for us. ( I had no plans of ever living there full time) He gave up the lease on his apartment and we both moved into the cottage in the summer and spent the last 3 months renovating the place.
I paid for everything that needed to be done (material and labour that we could not do ourselves) I also paid for insurance and electricity bills. I have a mortgage on the place that I am paying. I did not ask him to pay for a thing.
We both spent our summer doing the renovations. Being more skilled in this area, he completed the majority of the work and put in many long hours.
Now our relationship has turned sour and he wants to move out. (He doesn't want to end things, but he wants his space-so he says) He has suggested that I pay him for all of the work that he did (at a price of what I would have paid if I would have had things done professionally). I have now moved out, and he is still living there. He says he needs the money to make a down payment on a house so that he can move out.
Is he making a fair request?

Way too fast to live together.

Let him have his space.

The short answer? No, it's not fair in the least. You made the proper adult decision by paying for everything on your property. Apparently, he can't make the same adult decision and realize there was no agreement that he would be paid, and he did it for free because you were together. He's playing with your heart, knowing you still care for him, and is hoping you are gullible enough to fall into his trap. DON'T.

Let me ask you this. I was with my GF for 7 years. I helped her move every year but 2. When we broke up, should I have demanded she pay me 5 different days worth of moving costs, so I can put a security deposit on an apartment? See how ridiculous that sounds?

I would say he's making a fair request. Make a fair request back and charge him rent from the time he moved in. If he says you never discussed rent previously then tell him you never discussed paying for his handy work previously either.

I'm agreeing with Chuff... the only thing I would add is that if the relationship has went a little sour... you need to get the financial matter straightened out ASAP. I wish you luck!

You mixed business, with plearsure, but with no contract, or agreement. Next time get any commitment in writing, be it business Or pleasure. If he doesn't have the rent, evict him.