Navigating Partner’s Demand for a Share in Dad’s Gifted Property Income

An 18-year-old woman graciously allowed her boyfriend to move into her apartment without disclosing that she owned the entire two-story building and had the lower floor rented out. When he eventually discovered her landlord status, he expressed anger and insisted on receiving half of the rent money.

Fortunate enough to inherit a two-story home from her father, designed like an apartment, the woman recognized the privilege and transformed her property into a passive income source by renting out the lower floor for $500, while she resided on the second floor.

Explaining her rationale, the woman clarified that her rental charge was reasonable given the apartment’s location—an hour’s drive from the city and 15 minutes from the nearest store. Comparatively, a similar modern dwelling in the area would typically command $600 to $700, making her $500 fee a fair assessment.

At the age of 18, she invited her boyfriend, with whom she had been in a relationship for three months, to move in with her. Aware of his challenges with his living arrangements and his reluctance to return to his parents’ home, she extended an open-ended invitation for him to stay with her as long as necessary.

For three months, they shared a living space without him realizing that she owned the apartment. Despite not requesting him to contribute to rent or utilities, they evenly divided the grocery expenses between them.

The woman chose not to disclose her ownership of the building to her partner, deeming it inconsequential. She had kept this information private, sharing it only when the subject naturally arose in conversation.

One day, while discussing a malfunctioning freezer with her tenant who had knocked on the door, the woman’s boyfriend overheard their conversation but remained silent on the matter.

The woman accompanied the tenant downstairs to assess the freezer issue and advised them to buy a replacement. She assured the tenant of reimbursement based on the provided receipt.

Upon returning upstairs, her boyfriend inquired about the freezer’s status. In response, the woman conveyed that it couldn’t be repaired and explained, “I told him no, but [the tenant] was going to buy a new one, and I would pay for it.” Her boyfriend appeared incredulous and questioned why she would cover the cost, to which she responded matter-of-factly, “Because I am her landlord.”

At that moment, the boyfriend erupted in anger, shouting at his girlfriend and demanding an explanation for why she had concealed the information from him. Accusing her of being deceitful, he even went so far as to call her evil. Despite her apologies, he persisted in criticizing her, asserting that landlords were solely concerned with money. In disbelief, he expressed his astonishment at finding himself in a relationship with someone who owned property and operated as a landlord.

“He insisted that I hand over 50% of the rental income, claiming that otherwise, I was just as bad as he had imagined,” she recounted. Despite her apologies for not initially disclosing her property ownership, the woman’s boyfriend responded with the silent treatment.

Eventually, she made the decision to end the relationship, even though it felt impulsive at first. Seeking support, she asked her dad to be present during their conversation and stay by the driveway. On that day, her boyfriend demanded an apology and questioned her reluctance to share a portion of her rental income with him.

“If you’re not renting out to exploit people for money, you shouldn’t have an issue sharing that money,” he asserted. In response, the woman questioned the inconsistency of his stance, asking why he would want a share of the money if he believed landlords were inherently negative, only interested in profiting from rented spaces. She even proposed the idea of donating the 50% to charity for housing.

Despite a hazy memory afterward, the woman recollected her boyfriend labeling her as selfish and expressing regret for ever meeting her. He escalated the situation by threatening to expose her to her friends and unsuccessfully attempting to punch a hole in the wall.

At that juncture, feeling the escalating tension, the woman reached out to her dad, who promptly joined her upstairs. In response, her boyfriend derisively laughed and declared that he never wanted to see either of them again, emphatically stating that he was done.

Upon sharing her story on Reddit, numerous users sympathized with the woman and offered their support. Some recommended taking precautionary measures, such as changing the locks, irrespective of whether the boyfriend returned the keys, to ensure her safety and peace of mind.