Son tells stepmom she can't stay in a house he bought for his dad, sparks furious debate

Many people try to stand by their families in hard times and do whatever they can to help. However, sometimes people might expect too much from those close to them, forcing them to draw a line. A son faced a similar issue with his dad's girlfriend when he had to tell her that she had no rights over the house he had purchased for her and his dad. The man, u/OwlOOlis, took to Reddit to share his situation and to ask the internet for advice.

"5+ years ago I used my 401k to put a down payment on a house for my dad and his longtime girlfriend. I am a co-owner with him," the son began.

The woman pays $400 per month for the house. "They’re poor and on fixed incomes, I grew up poor but have a good job. Dad was a good dad. She has always been incredibly negative and full of complaints," the 41-year-old revealed.

"They are aging poorly. I wanted to look at selling their house and buying a large multi-generational home this year. Dad told me she was freaking out and I said she could keep freaking out. She thought I was selling their house, leaving them homeless, and buying myself a house," he added. The woman yelled at the son on the phone and issued threats, saying she wasn't going anywhere.

"After the call, she made comments about how much rent she has paid and how she deserves something, and threatened my dad with it and said she'll get a lawyer," the son continued. "I was absolutely devastated she would even think I would do that. I have been quite generous, always fair and forward. [I] Paid the water bill at almost 200/mo. Buy a pallet of pellets each winter. Got them new kitchen appliances a few years ago," he added.

When the girlfriend realized she was wrong she pretended nothing happened and wanted to sweep the argument under the rug. "I couldn’t let it fly. I sent her an email explaining I owe her nothing, that's not how rent works, she has no say in the sale or share in the proceeds, and she should reconcile with her own child (local, alcoholic, also poor) so if my father passes first she will have some support because I will not support her in any way including rent the house to her," he wrote. 

The man also emphasized that his offer for the multi-generational home doesn't stand anymore and wanted his dad's girlfriend to start paying the $200 monthly water bill.

"She called when she got the email and tried to pretend half of it never happened, that she never insinuated it would take 20k to make her go away. My dad chimed in and she caved," the son recounted. "I didn’t believe her and she called me evil. Then it was Dad’s fault for not giving her enough detail and that’s why she flew off the handle. I told her it didn’t matter and have a nice life," he added. 

People took to the comments section of the thread to express their thoughts on the same.

u/MisaOEB wrote, "Just be careful that your dad doesn’t leave her his share of the house. I’m not sure what way the deed was set up, but just check that that can’t happen." u/ImNotBothered80 commented, "Look into putting the house in a trust. That will prevent her from inheriting. A legal advisor told me a trust is harder to challenge than a will." u/Competitive_Sleep_21 remarked, "Do not buy a multigenerational house for them. Sell and get them into a low-income senior apartment."