Internet Cheers How Sibling Deals With 'Spoiled Brat' Brother Living in Inherited Home

The internet is rallying behind a Redditor who stood their ground against a "spoilt brat" sibling refusing to pay their fair share of an inherited home. A Reddit user, u/Bulky-Nectarine-851, shared their predicament on the popular subreddit r/AmITheA******, explaining how their 51-year-old brother has been living rent-free in their family home for years, despite earning a good income. Following the recent passing of their parents, the siblings inherited the property together. However, the original poster (OP) is unwilling to foot the bill for property taxes and other expenses while the brother continues to live there without contributing. "I have a mortgage and other things of my own. I told him he has to buy my half of the house and he threw a fit and said that I'm selfish, why should he give me money for something I got for free. AITA for putting my foot down?" OP wrote. The post quickly gained traction, amassing 12,000 upvotes. The OP went on to describe their brother as a "big spoiled brat," highlighting how he had lived with their parents for most of his life—except for the duration of his seven-year marriage—and relied on their mother to manage his finances.

Expert Weighs In

Emily Zeller, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and founder of Zeller & Co. Therapy, weighed in on the situation with Newsweek. "It does not seem like you're the a****** in the scenario for a few reasons," she said. "Fairness and responsibility are key here. Your brother has been living in the house rent-free and without contributing to bills or property taxes for years. Now that you both own the house equally, it's only fair that he either buys you out or contributes equally to the expenses. It's unreasonable for him to expect you to subsidize his living situation, especially when you have your own financial obligation."

Zeller explained that the OP is setting important financial boundaries and that the brother's reaction suggests a sense of entitlement that has likely been enabled over the years. "If he refuses to buy you out, you may need to consider legal options, such as forcing a sale of the property so that you can both receive your fair share of the proceeds," she said. "If you want to avoid legal action, consider involving a mediator to help negotiate a fair solution. Most importantly, stand your ground. You're being reasonable, and it's important to protect your own financial well-being."

Reddit Reacts

The post sparked an outpouring of support from fellow Redditors, who overwhelmingly agreed that the OP was in the right. "NTA. Legally he has to get out to sell or buy you out. And for him to call you selfish is laughable. He got it for free too. And unless he's cool with you renting out your half of the house to whoever you want (and I would pick someone horrible) then he doesn't get to have the whole house and you get nothing," one user commented. "He's used to throwing a tantrum and getting his way. DON'T FALL FOR IT," warned another. Others suggested legal action, with one user advising, "NTA, but there is another way: agree to put the house on the market and split the proceeds. If he will not agree, then you go to court and get a partition order. This will force the sale of the house. You will need a lawyer for this." Newsweek reached out to u/u/Bulky-Nectarine-851 for comment via Reddit. We could not verify the details of the case. Newsweek's "What Should I Do?" offers expert advice to readers. If you have a personal dilemma, let us know via life@newsweek.com. We can ask experts for advice on relationships, family, friends, money and work and your story could be featured on WSID at Newsweek.