27-year-old daughter demands dad pay her rent or move out after his “two-week stay” at her basement hit the five-month mark: ‘I feel like a landlord to someone who never signed anything’

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Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Nov 8, 2025 5:00 PM EST

You can love your parents, appreciate everything they've done for you, want the best for them, and still say 'no' to some things they ask of you. Setting boundaries with anyone you love is a healthy part of any relationship, and no one should be scared to do it.

The daughter in the story below is facing this exact issue. She loves her dad and wants to help him, but their relationship has reached a point where a boundary must be set. Five months ago, her dad asked her to stay in her basement for two weeks during a difficult time for him, until he could get back on his feet. Since then, two weeks turned into a month, and a month into five, and before the daughter knew it, her dad became a permanent tenant in her basement.

Not only is he costing her a lot of money in bills and groceries, but he is also a terrible tenant who never cleans up after himself, always invites friends over, and takes in stray cats without asking. So eventually, the daughter was bound to break…

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  • After one too many difficult interactions with the dad, the daughter decided it's time for an ultimatum: Either Dad pitches in and pays her $500 rent a month, or he moves out.

    Safe to say, Dad wasn't happy about the deal.

  • 01
    old man resting in a chair
    via aerogondo

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

  • 02

    AITAH for telling my dad I will start charging rent after his "two week stay" hit month five

    I am 27F, live in a small city apartment with a finished basement that I used to use as an office and hobby space.
    via tobymerrigan6
  • 03
    In late June my dad, 55M, asked if he could crash with me for "two weeks" after a breakup.
    via tobymerrigan6
  • 04
    He is not unsafe or violent, just loud and messy and a bit charming when it suits him.
    via tobymerrigan6
  • 05
    I said yes because he is my dad and he looked wrecked. The first weekend I cleared out the basement, gave him the good air mattress and a dresser, wrote the wifi on a sticky note, all that.
    via tobymerrigan6
  • 06
    Two weeks turned into "just til I sign a new lease", then "my deposit is delayed", then "I might move in with a friend".
    via tobymerrigan6
  • 07
    Every time I asked for a date, I got a story. In the meantime my electric bill jumped, my grocery bill jumped, the office that let me take paid freelance gigs became a TV room with soccer on at 2 am.
    via tobymerrigan6
  • 08
    I tried soft boundaries. Please wash your dishes the same day. Please do not smoke on the back steps.
    via tobymerrigan6
  • 09
    Please give me a heads up if you plan to invite someone over. He apologized every time and then did it again.
    via tobymerrigan6
  • 10
    In August I sent a budget screenshot and asked for 300 a month to cover utilities and the space.
    via tobymerrigan6
  • 11
    He paid once, late, and said it felt weird to pay his kid. In September he brought home a stray cat for three days without asking.
    via tobymerrigan6
  • 12
    I ended up vacuuming litter out of my rug and replacing a chewed charger. Last week I came home to him hosting three coworkers watching a game in my living room, chips everywhere.
    via tobymerrigan6
  • 13
    Woman Cleaning a Living Room
    via Helena Lopes

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

  • 14
    I snapped a bit, said the new rule is rent on the first, 500, or he needs to give me a move out date for end of the month.
    via tobymerrigan6
  • 15
    He called me cold and said "family should be family, money talk is gross". My aunt texted that I am humiliating him and he just needs time to get back on his feet.
    via tobymerrigan6
  • 16
    I feel guilty because he helped me with a down payment on my first car years ago and I do love him.
    via tobymerrigan6
  • 17
    But I also feel like a landlord to someone who never signed anything. AITAH for putting a rent number and a deadline on my own parent, or am I just doing basic adult boundaries.
    via tobymerrigan6
  • 18
    If there is a better script, I am open to it, I just cant be the free hotel anymore.
    via tobymerrigan6
  • 19
    NTA. Technical_Lawbster If the aunt is so adamant about "family is family" she can take him. Check the laws, get everything in writing and start collecting eviction proofs.
    via Technical_Lawbster
  • 20
    HUNGWHITEBOI25 Op...come on you KNOW you're NTA here. Your father is becoming a burden and is slowly turning your home into his home. You did nothing wrong but you know your father has NO plan of ever leaving
    via HUNGWHITEBOI25
  • 21
    Nta Hour Prestigious 1055 You've given him five months, now he needs to start paying rent, he's had plenty of time to save money AND find a place.
    via HourPrestigious1055
  • 22
    Technical-Habit-5114 Nta sounds like Auntie just volunteered to host
    via Technical-Habit-5114
  • 23
    MEDICARE_FOR_ALL Tell him to gather his stuff and then go drop him off at the aunt's house. NTA
    via MEDICARE_FOR_ALL
  • 24
    p1z4rr0 Just remember, if he pays rent he is not going to think twice about doing all the things you dislike, and it will probably get worse.
    via p1z4rr0
  • 25
    Veyla_Orin NTA tbh. Family absolutely should be family, and that means respecting your space. Family or not, there's gotta be some sense of mutual respect, right now it seems like you're just taking bullets.
    via Veyla_Orin

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family drama aita kids mother reddit story parenting rent aunt family daughter Reddit women parents children entitled people Father
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