Man moves in to cousin's storage unit, protests when told he has 1 month to leave: 'He left me responsible'

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Ally Perry • Writer and Editor
Jul 29, 2026 9:15 AM EDT

A place of our own rarely comes cheap these days.

It is not just that the prices can be extortionate, but also the hidden costs that landlords and agencies seem to slip under the radar. That is before you take into account that the most popular areas have prospective tenants or buyers competing with each other for the most average of homes. You need a strong constitution to take on the property market, even when you come to it from a place of privilege.

Naturally, this makes it much harder for those who want their own place but are starting from nothing. It takes a lot of work to get to a point where you are finally signing a lease. In these scenarios, most rely on the generosity of family or friends, but this is often a finite resource that comes with its own terms and conditions. If they cannot fulfil them, they are going to be put in a desperate situation. That requires a level of resourcefulness that not everyone is going to agree with, and may have even more significant downsides than simply living with a relative who they can't get along with. The options become increasingly limited. 

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  • An empty hallway in a storage unit with half the lights turned off
    via Raphael

    An empty hallway in a storage unit with half the lights turned off

  • A man didn't think too deeply about his decision to allow his cousin to store some of his belongings at his storage unit temporarily. He had just ended a relationship and needed somewhere to put them while he looked for his own place. Otherwise, the unit was mostly used for camping gear.

    However, he quickly regretted what he had agreed to when the storage company informed him that his cousin appeared actually to be living in the unit. He told him he had until the end of the month to figure things out and leave, but his family accused him of being too hard on him.

  • Am I wrong for canceling the storage unit my cousin secretly started using as an apartment?

    My cousin asked if he could keep a few boxes in my storage unit after his breakup. I said yes because there was plenty of room and I was already paying for it. I only go there every couple months, mostly to grab camping stuff or tools.
    via PM_ME_YOUR_LIKELY_HA
  • Last week the storage company called because someone had been entering my unit almost every night and staying for hours. I drove over and found a mattress behind my boxes, a mini fridge, clothes hanging from the ceiling and one of those portable camping toilets with a funky smell.
    via PM_ME_YOUR_LIKELY_HA
  • Apparently my cousin has been sleeping there for nearly two months. He still goes to work every day and showers at the gym, so nobody knew. He said he was saving money for an apartment deposit and thought it was harmless since I barely used the unit anyway.
    via PM_ME_YOUR_LIKELY_HA
  • I told him he had until the end of this month to remove everything because the lease is in my name and I could lose the unit or get fined. He started crying and said he had nowhere else to go.
    via PM_ME_YOUR_LIKELY_HA
  • My aunt called me later saying I should have given him options instead of humiliating him and putting him on the street. I asked why he couldn't stay with her, and she said he already did after the breakup but she kicked him out because he kept smoking inside and bringing people over late at night. Somehow she still thinks I should deal with it because the storage unit was his only other option.
    via PM_ME_YOUR_LIKELY_HA
  • A model representing the back of a man crouching down in a hallway of a storage unit
    via Harpreet Singh Grewal

    A model representing the back of a man crouching down in a hallway of a storage unit

  • krissycole87 Cmon now, you know youre not the AH. Its illegal for anyone to stay there. You didnt kick him out, the storage company did. Tell your aunt if she is so concerned that she can let him back into her house. End of story.
    via krissycole87
  • TheWorldTurnsAround He's had two months rent-free, he should have first and last now.
    via TheWorldTurnsAround
  • MonteCristo85 NTA. And its ridiculous for your aunt to insinuate that you somehow have a greater responsibility than she does for his housing.
    via MonteCristo85
  • LolaLaCavaspeaking My family has been in the storage business for over 50 years. Getting a fine or kicked out is the least of your worries. It's your unit, your responsibility. If he starts a fire he won't be the one they go after for damages, it will be you. It's very dangerous and very illegal. You
    via LolaLaCavaspeaking
  • are big time lucky that they called you and didn't go to investigate. Don't let him stay there another night. You don't want to deal with the mountain of trouble that could be headed your way.
    via LolaLaCavaspeaking
  • Legitimate_Soup_1948 NTA "well sorry auntie but you should've given your son more options instead of humiliating him and putting him on the street."
    via Legitimate_Soup_1948
  • cornelious2 Nta he could buy his own storage unit and be freaky without involving you.
    via cornelious2
  • 18k_gold so she kicked him out without giving him options? well you are just following her path.
    via 18k_gold
  • Potential_Kiwi_4472 Choices have consequences. He is making poor choices and expects you to take the fall. This is unacceptable and you let him know that. Maybe he will go back to his mom's house and follow the rules.
    via Potential_Kiwi_4472
  • Optimal-Spinach6974 NTA for kicking him out but YTA for allowing him to stay once you found out. Give him 24 hours to get out or tell him you will be throwing his stuff in the trash. Then change the combination or key.
    via Optimal-Spinach-6974
  • Hoagy72 He has a job. Tell him to rent his own storage unit.
    via Hoagy72
  • Aunt_Effigie You know YNTA, but I give you permission not to feel guilty about your cousin's misfortune. It sounds like he already had some chances and proved that he creates his problems.
    via Aunt_Effigie

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family drama storage breakup cousins
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