Work-From-Home Woman Gets Bothered By In-laws, Gives Them A Choice: Pay Rent Or Move Out

Leona Martinez
Dec 12, 2023
Dec 12, 2023

Supporting family members without a home is an act of compassion that goes beyond mere words. Providing a temporary place to stay, whether in a spare room or an available living space, can offer much-needed stability during challenging times. However, kindness is sometimes not reciprocated.

In this story, Redditor u/Decent-Reputation231 (OP) and her husband let her sister-in-law's family stay in their basement because they lost their home. When the OP's husband got a job opportunity, he asked his sister to help him babysit; she agreed. But then she left the kid with her 13-year-old son to take a nap.

The situation becomes more complicated when the sister and her husband are jobless and relying on unemployment benefits. To protect against potential issues, the OP had them sign a lease. But when the OP asked in-laws to pay the amount on the lease, leave, or help around the house, the sister-in-law accused the OP of tricking them into signing a lease agreement.

What do you think? Do you think the OP was wrong? Scroll down to read the entire story and share your thoughts with us in the comments!

Work-From-Home Woman Gets Bothered By In-laws

Source: phillymag.com (not the actual photo)

This is how the story begins:

OP and her semi-retired husband welcomed her sister-in-law, husband, and two teens into their basement rental suite after they lost their home

OP welcomed her sister-in-law, husband, and two teens into their basement rental suite

Source: Decent-Reputation231

OP's husband asked his sister for babysitting, but she delegated the task to her son and took a nap instead

Source: Decent-Reputation231

The OP and her husband decided that her in-laws should start contributing financially according to the lease

Source: Decent-Reputation231

In-laws accused the OP of tricking them with the lease

Source: Decent-Reputation231

OP gave them a lease due to concerns about potential issues with people falsely claiming to be tenants

Source: Decent-Reputation231

The in-laws should be asked to leave

Source: imothro

"People are so sensitive"

Source: Agreeable_Tale1305

That's what normal people do

Setting healthy rules and boundaries, including the lease, is reasonable and not threatening

Source: SquatCobbbler

The in-laws family doesn't deserve the OP's help

Source: Helpful_Hour1984

The SIL should have instructed the kid to wake her up if needed rather than bothering the aunt

Source: BeBrave920

The adults should either pay rent or find alternative housing

Source: WonderReal

Asking the family to uphold their end of the agreement by contributing to household responsibilities is reasonable

Source: florida-raisin-bran

The issue might not be isolated

Source: chronberries

Good question!

Source: earazahs

Have you ever navigated a situation where family support turned into unexpected challenges? What are your thoughts on setting boundaries and establishing agreements in such scenarios?

Share your insights or similar experiences in the comments!

Work-From-Home Woman Gets Bothered By In-laws, Gives Them A Choice: Pay Rent Or Move Out

This is how the story begins:

OP and her semi-retired husband welcomed her sister-in-law, husband, and two teens into their basement rental suite after they lost their home

OP's husband asked his sister for babysitting, but she delegated the task to her son and took a nap instead

The OP and her husband decided that her in-laws should start contributing financially according to the lease

In-laws accused the OP of tricking them with the lease

OP gave them a lease due to concerns about potential issues with people falsely claiming to be tenants

The in-laws should be asked to leave

"People are so sensitive"

That's what normal people do

Setting healthy rules and boundaries, including the lease, is reasonable and not threatening

The in-laws family doesn't deserve the OP's help

The SIL should have instructed the kid to wake her up if needed rather than bothering the aunt

The adults should either pay rent or find alternative housing

Asking the family to uphold their end of the agreement by contributing to household responsibilities is reasonable

The issue might not be isolated

Good question!

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