28-year-old tries to evict uncle who has been living in the basement of the $400K house she inherited from her grandma: 'My uncle thinks that he is entitled to inherit the house instead of me'

Author image for Emmy Pratt
Emmy Pratt • Writer and Editor
Jun 9, 2025 8:00 PM EDT

The question of who to will a house to is a tricky one. A lot of aging people plan on willing their house to their family member who is the least financially responsible so that they'll at least have a stable place to live or a solid chunk of change to help get their life together. However, money and assets will not solve financial irresponsibility. Others might choose a young, responsible family member who hasn't had their hands on a lot of money yet to receive large, life-changing assets. They know that the house they spent decades paying off won't get wasted away by an irresponsible drifter who can't take care of himself. The worst thing you can do is will everything to one kid and nothing to the other without telling them that that's the plan before you pass away. It's good to be honest with your kids about these matters before you leave this world.  

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  • 01

    AITA for evicting my uncle from the house my grandma left me?

    I know this is going to sound crazy but just hear me out. My grandmother passed last month and I've been handling her estate. She left me her house valued at about $400,000 but here is the twist no one knew until now.
    via u/Resident-Aerie-5611

  • The mother in this story willed her house to her granddaughter instead of her son, who was living in the house. Despite writing the will in 2023, objectively recent as far as wills go, her son is claiming that it is out of date, and he's the one who was supposed to get the house. 

  • 02
    Cheezburger Image 10515742208
    via Yunus Tuğ

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 03
    Cheezburger Image 10515742464
    via Dillon Kydd

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 04
    My uncle has been living in the basement of the house for 3 years. Not visiting, but living. Grandma never told any of us where he was. He lost his job during co id, got divorced, the entire sham. Apparently, grandma let him stay living in the house and nobody in the family knew and she didn't want him to feel embarrassed telling anyone.
    via u/Resident-Aerie-5611
  • 05
    Cheezburger Image 10515742976
    via Hosein Sediqi

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 06
    Now, my uncle thinks that because he was "taking care of grandma" (which honestly none of us knew about) he is entitled to inherit the house instead of me. He is saying she only left it to me because she didn't have time to take her name off the will before she passed.
    via u/Resident-Aerie-5611
  • 07
    But she had 3 years to take it off, if she wanted! And the will is dated for 2023, so it is not even an old will.
    via u/Resident-Aerie-5611
  • 08
    Now he is refusing to move and is saying that he is legally entitled. to fight for the house in court. My parents think I should just let him keep it because according to them, he is family. But I'm just 28 and frankly this house would change my entire life. I would be a homeowner, instead of throwing money away on rent. Aita if I get him evicted?
    via u/Resident-Aerie-5611
  • 09
    donname10 Nta. Honor the will. Serve the eviction notice. Time to change. Family is family when they're being good to you not taking advantage of you.
    via u/donname
  • 10
    Resident-Aerie-5611 OP Thank you! Time to serve those papers
    via u/Resident-Aerie-5611
  • 11
    Usual-Canary-7764 Lol a will from 2023 and he has been living there for 3 years? Grandma knew exactly what she was doing and did it anyways. Evict away. It would be different if he was saying...please give me 12 months or something to get my act together and then I will be out of your hair. No. He is saying he deserved your property. Don't give him an inch...he will claim a mile. NTA
    via u/Usual-Canary-7764
  • 12
    mmm1441 What grandma knew was that unemployed uncle would neglect all upkeep and eventually lose the house to a sheriff's sale and nobody in the family would get it. Uncle is legally entitled to challenge the will. His chances of prevailing are likely not good. Go ahead and serve eviction notice and let the chips fall where they may. If I let someone park in my driveway for a few years it doesn't mean they own my driveway or my house. NTA
    via u/mmm1441
  • 13
    TomMakes Podcasts His chances of affording a lawyer seem pretty low
    via u/TomMakesPodcasts
  • 14
    Laurel Canyoner I think grandma left the house up OP as it was the only way to get uncle out of her house. I bet she's been trying for years but Uncle would never share that. Tell your family, since family is family, that uncle needs a place to stay so who is taking him and giving him a job since family is family!
    via u/LaurelCanyoner
  • 15
    Bet no one takes you up on that offer. Keep the house OP. I bet Uncle will end up showing his colors and they will eventually see what a sponger he is first hand. Definitely NTA.
    via u/LaurelCanyoner
  • 16
    RebelRaven1122 Let a deadbeat keep a $400,000 house that was willed to you? Not in a million years. Sometimes I read these things and get shocked at how much family doesn't act like family, especially parents. This is one of those times. Keep the house. Grandma wanted you to have it. Period.
    via u/RebelRaven1122
  • 17
    LushieSkies 51 NTA. Grandma's house, grandma's rules. If she wanted him to have it, she would have put him in the will. Hold your ground.
    via u/LushieSkies_51
  • 18
    Resident-Aerie-5611 OP Exactly what I keep telling myself. She had 3 whole years to change it if she wanted to.
    via u/Resident-Aerie-5611
  • 19
    Big_Noise6833 If the will is from 2023, your uncle was already living there (and had been for around a year) when she wrote it. She made a conscious decision to give the house to you and not to him
    via u/Big_Noise6833
  • 20
    happymom-2 Honestly, even if you wanted to give him the house... it's not that easy. There is quite a bit that has to be done to transfer the home to him. But for the sake of family relations, there is probably something you could work out (in the middle). And I'm just really surprised your parents would suggest giving the house to him... did they inherit something? Do you already have funds and means well above your uncle?
    via u/happymom-2
  • 21
    Perhaps consider letting him live there for a period of time; have him sign a lease; you move in upstairs and have him cover costs of things. No one knew he was in the basement... he might be a decent tenant. But giving him the whole house... that just doesn't seem like a compromise at all. Unless of course you inherited more than the house.
    via u/happymom-2
  • 22
    basic_username_9890 Nah, this is asking for trouble. A basement-living unemployed 50-something (?) is not going to be reasonable - and he's going to pay rent with what income? Suggesting that this young woman live upstairs with him in the basement? No thank you - he's already sounding unhinged.
    via u/basic_username_9890
  • 23
    I personally object to using need as a method of determining inheritance, unless it's for someone with special needs. Folks that are good stewards of money or have worked hard through education/career are sometimes punished for it when funds are left to the family f-up because they "need it" more. That sure doesn't help family relations. Usually a good amount of family resources have already gone to bailing that person out. Grandma offered years of free rent and likely utilities, board, etc for
    via u/basic_username_9890
  • 24
    OrderOk21 NTA, it was legally left to you. Do whatever it takes.
    via u/OrderOk21
  • 25
    Resident-Aerie-5611 OP Thanks, probably gonna cause a lot of drama, but you are right
    via u/Resident-Aerie-5611

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divorced nephews family drama inheritance house money problems grandma niece uncle eviction family grandmother home owner home money unemployed
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