Parents Tried To Charge Rent For The Oldest Child—He Moved Out, Leaving His Family To Handle It

At 23, one man decided it was time to take control of his life after his parents demanded rent, despite him already running the household. After years of handling chores, shopping, and meals for his family, he was told that in addition to all that, he now needed to contribute financially.

The kicker? His parents didn’t give him any heads-up about this rent expectation; it was a “fairness” move to balance out his siblings’ jealousy.

So, what did he do? He packed up and moved out. But was it an overreaction, or was he finally standing up for himself? Keep reading to find out if his decision was as justified as he believes!

A 23-year-old moves out after their parents ask for rent, feeling their contributions were unappreciated

Parents Tried To Charge Rent For The Oldest Child—He Moved Out, Leaving His Family To Handle It — not the actual photo

The OP moved out after his parents asked him to pay rent, even though he was already doing a heavy share of household work. On top of attending school and working part‑time, he was doing groceries, cooking, laundry, walking the dogs, and organizing chores among his siblings.

When asked to contribute money as well, he ran the numbers: giving rent plus doing all those chores would leave him with little left over, and with his busy schedule, it hardly seemed fair. So he packed up, moved out, all in his car, and found an apartment.

This decision may seem abrupt to his family, but from a psychological and practical perspective, it makes sense. He effectively set a clear boundary: he would no longer accept working full‑time to maintain a family home in return for little recognition or control over his own life.

Experts on healthy boundaries describe this kind of self-respect as essential: “We all need clear emotional and physical limits with people so that we can stay mentally well.” (Verywell Health)

By stepping away, OP regained autonomy over his time, space, and finances. He gained privacy, personal schedule control, and things he couldn’t have under his parents’ roof. Making that choice can prevent burnout.

Studies on workload and stress show that when people feel under‑appreciated and overworked, whether in jobs or home responsibilities, they are more likely to feel exhaustion, resentment, and decreased well‑being.

At the same time, this move carries emotional and social fallout. His siblings now carry more responsibility, and his parents feel abandoned. In some families, moving out can trigger feelings akin to what psychologists call “control deprivation,” when family members who once held significant roles lose them and feel a sense of loss or rejection.

That emotional reaction from family is predictable, especially if they never acknowledged how much the OP was contributing.

Ultimately, the situation shows a tension many young adults face: when family needs overlap with one’s own aspirations, responsibility, and self‑care. If the expectations become unbalanced, where one person gives a lot but receives little in recognition, autonomy, or satisfaction, removing oneself from that imbalance can be a valid, even necessary, step.

Here’s the feedback from the Reddit community:

This group supports the idea that the OP was right to move out since they were contributing far more than just paying rent

These users appreciate the OP’s choice to leave and acknowledge the parents’ failure to appreciate the OP’s contributions before introducing the rent idea