24-year-old's mother offers to let him and his friends live in her house without charging rent, sparking feud with friend's parent: 'This is our property and we can do what we want'

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Nov 7, 2025 8:00 AM EST

Most 24-year-olds struggling to pay rent would be over the moon to be in this friend group's situation!

This author inherited her mother's home and decided to help her son and his roommates after they needed to live in difficult conditions because that's all they could afford. She decided to let them all live in the house and, rather than charge them rent, felt that it would be fine if they just split the other bills and utilities evenly. 

She drew up a fair agreement that all parties were happy to sign off on; that is, until one of her son's friends, Anne-Marie, told her parent, George, about this arrangement. George did not like that the author was not charging them rent. We would understand if he were concerned about his daughter getting manipulated by the author, but George knows the author very well. They grew up together and ended up raising their respective children together in a tight-knit friend group. He knew the author could be trusted, so what was the real issue here? 

Well, it turns out George wanted to give Anne-Marie some tough love regarding her living situation.

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  • 01
    A young man types on his computer while his friends chat on the couch behind him in an apartment living room.
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • Not everyone needs to “pay their dues” in order to become an adult. Rather, everyone has their own problems to solve and issues to muddle through during their twenties. Our parents can relate to that on some level, but this struggle naturally evolves from generation to generation. George clearly was not empathetic to Anne-Marie's current situation, and he refused to acknowledge how the author's generosity wasn't just coddling. It could be a big help during a tough time for young folks.

  • 02

    "[Am I wrong] for letting my friend's daughter live in our rental property rent-free without asking friend's permission first?"

    When my mother died 15 years ago, I inherited her home. It's smaller than my own house, so my husband and I decided we would rent it out.
    via rentfreeliving2
  • 03
    It's already paid off, so we were making a decent profit off of it. Other important players in this story.
    via rentfreeliving2
  • 04
    My husband and I have been friends with "Sam" and "George" since we were in college.
    via rentfreeliving2
  • 05
    We all have kids of similar ages and they are close friends. The relevant children here: our son "Henry" (24), Sam's son "Kyle" (23) and George's daughter "Anne Marie" (24).
    via rentfreeliving2
  • 06
    Henry and Kyle are in grad school, working part time. Anne Marie finished grad school in the spring and recently started her first "big girl" job, as she calls it.
    via rentfreeliving2
  • 07
    Originally, the 3 of them. were sharing an apartment in a bad part of town. We didn't love that the kids were doing this, but they wanted to be independent and be on their own, and this was all they could afford.
    via rentfreeliving2
  • 08
    However, after a couple of incidents in the building, I came to the kids with an offer: if they cover the bills on our rental, we won't charge them rent and they can live there.
    via rentfreeliving2
  • 09
    We won't profit off it anymore, but I'm okay with that, if it means the kids have a safe place to live.
    via rentfreeliving2
  • 10
    The kids were on board with this and thanked us. I didn't even think about asking our friends about this, because the "kids" are all adults.
    via rentfreeliving2
  • 11
    Sam and his wife were cool with this. George, however, is irritated with us. He says one of the reasons Anne Marie moved out is because he wanted to charge her rent to teach her responsibility and she said if she was going to pay rent, she might as well have her own space.
    via rentfreeliving2
  • 12
    I pointed out that she will still be responsible for bills (the 3 of them are splitting the bills evenly), just not rent.
    via rentfreeliving2
  • 13
    He feels like this is "spoiling" the kids and wants me to not let Anne Marie live there.
    via rentfreeliving2
  • 14
    I said I'm not going back on this, as that wouldn't be fair. My husband, Sam, and Sam's wife are on my side, though my husband feels like we should've asked George first before offering this to Anne Marie.
    via rentfreeliving2
  • 15
    I think that's absurd because she's an adult, this is our property, and we can do what we want.
    via rentfreeliving2
  • 16
    But am I being an asshole by offering this and not running it by George first?
    via rentfreeliving2
  • 17
    Edit: Yes, there's a lease being signed with stipulations about bills, what condition the house is to be lived in, and some other things such as they can't move someone in without not just clearing it with me, but each other.
    via rentfreeliving2
  • 18
    The lease will be re- evaluated yearly. It also states if one or more parties are not paying their portion of the bills or any other part of the lease is violated, they will be evicted.
    via rentfreeliving2
  • 19
    This includes my own son. I also have money set aside for any damages that may come and we also have insurance on the house.
    via rentfreeliving2
  • 20
    I'm confused why some are insisting I charge rent, saying they're not learning any budgeting...they'll still have bills by living here, and are obviously buying all their own food.
    via rentfreeliving2
  • 21
    So, budgeting is happening and they are still very much adults. They're just not paying arbitrary rent.
    via rentfreeliving2
  • 22
    A group of young twentysomething friends relaxing indoors in an apartment.
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 23
    OP rentfreeliving2 First, the building had a couple of break-ins, though the kids weren't impacted. They also told me they were pretty sure their neighbors were selling something, but had no proof. And then a "client" of their neighbor wandered into their apartment when Anne Marie was home alone, clearly strung out, and wouldn't leave until my son came home.
    via rentfreeliving2
  • 24
    NTA. thataverysmile What incidents is George willing to keep his daughter in, though? I mean, obviously he's in the wrong here, but I'm curious as to how bad of a situation he wants to keep his daughter in because that may move him up the scale...
    via rentfreeliving2
  • 25
    OP rentfreeliving2 This is a good point. The kids are all very close, basically like siblings at this point as they've been raised together. The boys absolutely would not move into my property if I didn't let Anne Marie. Not that I would ever reject her, but I like this point.
    via rentfreeliving2
  • 26
    Sweet Cinnabonn NTA. It would never occur to anyone reasonable that you need to ask the daddy of a responsible adult. About anything. She's 24 years old. She's not newly 18. And let's be honest. If you'd asked, he'd have said no. And then what? You make the offer to your son and his other roommate, but tell her that she can't come, her daddy said no? Would your son have even been willing to leave her behind? My son is 24 and he likes me, and he'd tell me to go f myself and he'd stay moved out wi
    via rentfreeliving2
  • 27
    OP rentfreeliving2 Yes, I have money set aside for that kind of thing. I've been renting the property for profit for 15 years and have been setting it aside. Not specifically for this situation as I didn't foresee it, but I don't mind applying it to these situations. The house is also insured so that will cover some of these issues (and has in the past).
    via rentfreeliving2
  • 28
    mschuster91 NTA at all. You did more than about 99% of parents would or could do, good to have gotten them out of that mess. Just one thing to note: yes, the property is paid off, but I do hope you set some money aside for repair bills. Not because the kids trash the place, but because stuff can break... heaters/AC, roofs, plumbing, electrical issues, that shit can get expensive really damn quick, and pretty annoying if you don't have incoming cash flow. And eventually you'll have to do renovati
    via rentfreeliving2
  • 29
    OP rentfreeliving2 Yes, they're all signing a lease that's going to be year to year. It covers who is responsible for what, what I will cover as the landlord, etc. I'm fine with them staying as long as they need and we'll reevaluate yearly. While yes, they don't pay rent, they are paying the taxes, house insurance, and other bills. So, I'm confused why some are acting like they're living there for free. They're just not paying arbitrary rent. It also says that if they trash the place, move someo
    via rentfreeliving2
  • 30
    Finest Mediocrity While NTA, have you taken any formalities with them regarding leases or have any idea how long you're willing to let them stay? While you know them all, damage can still be done, but also, who will pay for maintenance, such as a new water heater? A token amount of rent helps with their budgeting and also teaches them there's no free ride in life. If they decide to stay until they are in their 40s, would that be alright with you? Unlikely they all will, but having a legal lease
    via rentfreeliving2
  • 31
    inturnaround NTA. He doesn't get to decide what is right for his child when she's an adult. It would have been insulting to Anne Marie if you consulted her daddy to see if she could live where she wanted to live. You'd be taking away her agency and giving it over to her father. Kind of feels sexist honestly. It was kind of you to make that offer. I understand why you did it and I agree with you that it was the best move given the circumstances and your very real concern about their safety.
    via rentfreeliving2
  • 32
    Jerseygirl2468 NTA she's 24 years old, many years into adulthood. It's your property to do with as you wish, George has no say in any of it.
    via rentfreeliving2
  • 33
    NTA Thelostgirl1967 As you said, Anne Marie is an adult. Also what is George thinking. He wants his daughter, a young woman, to struggle to pay rent and live in a bad neighborhood where she could be hurt. Rather than let her live somewhere safe because she's not paying rent? You said she's paying bills, isn't that responsibility?
    via rentfreeliving2
  • 34
    ReadMeDrMemory NTA. "she's an adult": check. "this is our property": check. "we can do what we want": check. Thank you for helping a 24-year-old woman gain independence. Her father creeps me out.
    via rentfreeliving2
  • 35
    AnagnorisisForMe Anne Marie is gainfully employed, 24, with a graduate degree. In other words an adult. IDK why you would need to ask and adult's parent if you wish make a generous offer like this. George wants to charge her rent for his own reasons. It's obviously not to teach her discipline. She went to college, grad school and is working. She has discipline already. ETA: George is the AH.
    via rentfreeliving2
  • 36
    ccam04 NTA. You're entering into an agreement with consenting adults. You don't require anyone else's permission and you honestly don't owe it to the parent to get their say so. You have really good intentions in keeping these young adults safe. Kudos to you. Forget everyone else who tries to make you feel like an AH about it.
    via rentfreeliving2

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family drama aita family feud family entitled people landlord friends apartment
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