Heir Declines To Inherit Debt-Ridden House, Lets The Bank Evict All Relatives Living With Him

A family mansion inheritance turned money pit nightmare, complete with surprise squatters treating it like their personal crash pad. One Redditor wisely declined the “gift” – a mortgage bomb laced with emotional blackmail, after years of low-contact with relatives.

Guilt-trip calls flooded in, testing financial sanity against squandered privilege. Reddit’s debating this savvy sidestep: disaster dodged or cold shoulder to family ties in crisis?

Heir declines to inherit a house, contributes to evicting relatives to the streets.

Handing down a family home should feel like passing the baton in a relay race, not dodging a flaming wrecking ball.

Yet here we are, with our Redditor staring down a dilapidated house loaded with debt, uninvited long-term guests, and zero upside.

By politely passing on the inheritance, they’ve triggered a liquidation that means eviction for an aunt and two cousins who’ve called the place home for decades without chipping in a dime.

At the heart of it, the OP’s dad inherited the property over a decade ago from wealthy grandparents, let the relatives freeload while he racked up a massive mortgage to cover their lifestyle, and then left it all to his only child.

These folks, despite being fully functional adults, never worked, never saved, and banked on endless generosity despite ample warning time (dad’s illness wasn’t a secret).

OP’s low-contact status means they’re out of the loop on any “promises” of lifelong tenancy. But legally, heirs aren’t obligated to become landlords or debt collectors. The relatives have enjoyed rent-free living for years, yet now cry foul when the free ride ends.

Flip the script, though, and you see the relatives’ panic. They truly have nowhere else, having burned bridges with jobs and savings.

This highlights America’s sticky family dynamics around inheritance: a 2023 Federal Reserve study found 60% of U.S. households expect to receive an inheritance, but many grapple with “toxic” assets like burdened properties.

Experts warn against emotional overrides. Family therapist Terry Gaspard notes in Psychology Today, “Boundaries aren’t selfishness; they’re self-preservation. You can’t pour from an empty cup, especially when others have had decades to fill theirs”.

OP did the smart, solvent thing, letting the estate handle the mess via lawyers and bank foreclosure if needed.

For the relatives, local resources like subsidized housing waitlists or job training programs exist. Families could rally with a GoFundMe for moving costs, but expecting one person to saddle lifelong debt? Who would?

Here’s what people had to say to OP:

Some people mock the aunts/cousins’ hypocrisy in refusing to take financial responsibility.

The comment section asserts the inheritance is a financial trap, not a benefit, and OP rightfully declined.

Users defend OP’s decision as following the father’s actual wishes and avoiding burden.

A user recommends deflecting criticism by offering critics responsibility for the house.

Are these takes pure wisdom or just internet armchair lawyering?

In the end, our Redditor chose peace over a poisoned chalice, proving sometimes the best inheritance is walking away debt-free.

But with tears and tantrums flying, was declining the house a fair flex of self-protection, or did it leave kin in the lurch after years of complacency?

How would you handle being the accidental landlord in this generational game of hot potato? Drop your unfiltered thoughts, we’re all ears!