Daughter-in-law threatens to evict her mother-in-law after she and her other son painted their navy living room white, does thousands of dollars in damage: 'They wanted to brighten the place up for my mom'

Author image for Emmy Pratt
Emmy Pratt • Senior Editor
Oct 2, 2024 8:00 PM EDT

If you're staying in somebody else's home as a long-term guest, there are some things that you shouldn't do. You shouldn't ask them to provide all your expensive toiletries for six months, refuse to help with chores, or paint their walls without permission. It's one thing to paint your walls white when they used to be cream in a rental, but doing a complete hack job on the home of a loved one is grounds for eviction. An adult son of a struggling mother recently went viral on Reddit after sharing his woes regarding his mother and brother painting the inside of his house horribly. He and his wife took in his mother when she was struggling with medical debt. Instead of thanking him for helping their mom, his brother decided to paint their navy living room white to "brighten up the place for mom." Now, his wife is left to pick up the pieces. 

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    Cheezburger Image 10411906560
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    AITA for telling my mom it's time to lawyer up? My mom moved in with after she sold her home to avoid medical bankruptcy. Things have been rocky because my mom was always my house my rules type of person.
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  • 03
    I have an older brother Scott who helped my mom with home repairs but Scott and my wife do not get along so he doesn't come over much. Me and my wife went away for a weekend getaway and Scott and my mom repainted our living room white. It was navy with built in bookcases and pantry. The job was done so and the original paint job with the bookcase cost us thousands to remodel.
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  • 04
    My wife started crying and my mom and brother said they wanted to brighten the place up for my mom. I didn't know this at the time but my wife called my SIL (my wife's brother wife, who is a lawyer) and the contractor who originally did the work on our living room remodel.
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  • 05
    My wife is getting ready to press suit against my mother and Scott and has already handed my mom legal eviction notice. It's deserved and I back it 100% because this paint job was done so and without the home owners permission. My mom is saying with an eviction for property damage she will not be able to find a place and my wife needs to stop. My wife has installed cameras in the home and is getting the court orders in place for my mom and brother. My wife's family is paying for this and at this
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  • 06
    My and brother told me my mom has rights and I said I guess it's time for my mom to lawyer up on her dime because I'm not touching this and it's my wife's lawyers pushing things through (I did sign off on the lawsuit and possible criminal charges coming) My mom said she would contest the eviction and I need to man up and make my wife do the right thing and drop the eviction and lawsuit.
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  • 07
    ExternalSignal2770 NTA for telling your mom to lawyer up, YTA for not immediately demanding your mom and brother fix the problem, politely asking your mom to move out, and otherwise defending your wife against your family.
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    Various Vehicle3904 OP I don't want them to touch anything else in the house. The and I want the original licensed paint job was so contractor to fix it.
    via u/Various_Vehicle3904
  • 09
    Sweetcilantro demand they fix the problem by paying the contractor to fix it
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  • 10
    Various Vehicle3904 OP With what money? My mom moved in because she has medical bills and was trying to avoid bankruptcy and my brother is an addict. That's what the lawsuit is for and the possible criminal charges.
    via u/Various_Vehicle3904
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    ExternalSignal2770 If they don't have money then suing them isn't going to magically make them have money. It sounds like your family situation is a bit more complicated than you originally described and for that reason I'm gonna rescind my YTA ruling.
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    TogarSucks Did your brother not paint it with her? Does he not have money or assets. This was a power move by your mom to establish herself in your and your wife's home. Still something up that kicking her out and having her or so her accomplice pay for it. You are a huge for trying to play the middle here. You obviously know who is right and who is wrong. You're also an because it seems the only reason you are "kind of" on your wife's side is because you are afraid of divorce. If you keep actin
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  • 13
    You brought your mom into the house that she damaged. Apologize to your wife and begin taking the lead on getting your mom out and getting the room restored. You should not be backing your wife up, you should be the one taking charge against your mom and brother for what they pulled. If you have combined finances the repair costs better not come out of that account or you can expect that divorce. YTA.
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  • 14
    redrummaybe54 I think YTA solely because you're just upset they did paint job and not that they painted to begin with. You said it in the post and in the comments. a out Fix your attitude, tell your mom to get the and start getting your hands involved. Back your wife. Your mom overstepped, she has zero plans of moving out with the evidence of she painted the place to brighten it up for her. No one does that if they plan on leaving. She plans to live there forever. Grow up and Protect your wife o
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    ironchef8000 My brother told me my mom has rights She does. But you know who else has rights? The homeowner, who has the right to decorate their house and not have to worry about visitors intentionally damaging the decor. NTA P.S. criminal charges for what, exactly? I'm legit curious because I struggle to imagine what would stuck in this situation.
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    Various Vehicle3904 OP vandalism
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    Apprehensive War9612 ESH except your wife. your mother is completely outrageous. What she did is we beyond what tenant, guest, or in law should do. ⚫ your brother is a complete moron. He knew you were out of town and never stopped to think that maybe you wouldn't want the home you remodeled painted? Your mom is concerned about her. you have been entirely too neutral. There is no staying out of this. Your wife is going so ballistic and so extreme because you are not taking a stand. You should've
    via u/Various_Vehicle3904
  • 18
    If your mother does not want an eviction with property damage on her record, I suggest she pack her and get the out of your house. That is the only way to resolve this. If she insist on trying to fight it then I guess she'll have to deal with the record.
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    SnooBunnies7461 YTA because you choose not to get involved in all this instead of backing your wife. Breaking it down; your mother and brother painted the living room without permission and waited until you and your wife were gone to do it. Instead of telling them they needed to hire someone to fix it you left it to your wife to be the bad guy in all this. Your wife is 100% correct to evict your mother and is doing so legally. Your mother has no more rights to live there then a stranger who is r
    via u/Various_Vehicle3904

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family drama daughter in law brother mother paint Painted paint jobs lawsuits lawsuit mother in law eviction family painting evicted Reddit paint job son
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