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Parents bought sister a house

258 replies

MikeL1993 · 14/11/2025 11:51

I am the middle child between two sisters and there is 5 years between me and my older and younger sisters.

Me and my younger sister both own a three bed semi detached house, she lives with her husband and I live with my girlfriend and son who is 18 months old. The week after my son was born it was announced that my sister and her husband had bought a house. And we were all happy for them but then it turned out what had actually happened was they had approached my parents and asked them to lend them money so they could buy an old bungalow, raise it to the ground and build a new house and we were told that they would sell their current house after they have moved into this rebuilt house and then somehow pay my parents back the money they borrowed but everyone seemed vague about how that would happen.

Fast forward to now and they are almost ready to move in but the buyers of their current house have pulled out but it is not affecting any chain. Anyway we have now discovered that my parents have told them not to pay them back so with everything included have basically gifted my youngest sister half a million pounds or in that region.

Obviously this is now creating resentment for me and my older sister. It has been mentioned in passing that me and my gf are struggling for space in our house but we are having to make do until we can afford something bigger but that wont be for a number of years yet.

I think I am feeling most resentful because not only has my sister and her husband been gifted a house but when they had a big extravagant wedding back in Summer my parents paid for 90% of it whereas I am working all the hours I can and after bills and nursery fees etc I am having very little to show for it whilst my parents have given all this to my little sister and don't seem to understand why I am annoyed.

This is also not including that the money they have given my sister and her husband over the years with other stuff whereas I have basically been left to fend for myself.

Am I being unreasonable or am I justified in feeling annoyed?

OP posts:
AtomHeartMotherOfGod · 15/11/2025 18:14

MikeL1993 · 14/11/2025 12:14

Yes they are wealthy and they could help me and my sister if they wanted to. But my older sister is like me and wouldn't have the nerve to in the first place ask for a loan for that sort of me like originally happened. But additionally I had a new kitchen and bathroom in Summer and took out extra money against my mortgage to fund it and they never offered any help.

Then I would ask. That seems to be the difference between you and your sister, and your parents obviously don't have the wherewithal to realise how unfair this is.

Often, the first time my husband and I will hear about his sister buying a new car, or whatever, is when his parents gift us the same quantity of money they've given her to help out. They are clinical about it, and thankfully, so are my parents.

HandmadeNanna · 15/11/2025 18:13

MikeL1993 · 14/11/2025 11:51

I am the middle child between two sisters and there is 5 years between me and my older and younger sisters.

Me and my younger sister both own a three bed semi detached house, she lives with her husband and I live with my girlfriend and son who is 18 months old. The week after my son was born it was announced that my sister and her husband had bought a house. And we were all happy for them but then it turned out what had actually happened was they had approached my parents and asked them to lend them money so they could buy an old bungalow, raise it to the ground and build a new house and we were told that they would sell their current house after they have moved into this rebuilt house and then somehow pay my parents back the money they borrowed but everyone seemed vague about how that would happen.

Fast forward to now and they are almost ready to move in but the buyers of their current house have pulled out but it is not affecting any chain. Anyway we have now discovered that my parents have told them not to pay them back so with everything included have basically gifted my youngest sister half a million pounds or in that region.

Obviously this is now creating resentment for me and my older sister. It has been mentioned in passing that me and my gf are struggling for space in our house but we are having to make do until we can afford something bigger but that wont be for a number of years yet.

I think I am feeling most resentful because not only has my sister and her husband been gifted a house but when they had a big extravagant wedding back in Summer my parents paid for 90% of it whereas I am working all the hours I can and after bills and nursery fees etc I am having very little to show for it whilst my parents have given all this to my little sister and don't seem to understand why I am annoyed.

This is also not including that the money they have given my sister and her husband over the years with other stuff whereas I have basically been left to fend for myself.

Am I being unreasonable or am I justified in feeling annoyed?

Be proud of the fact that you are providing for yourselves and not asking for hand-outs. It is very sad when one sibling seems to be handed everything on a plate.
I am proud of dh and me providing for ourselves. We have a lovely little home, happy life and great friends.
My brothers have benefited from my parents generosity to them over the years with new cars, loans, help with new kitchens etc. Karma is now happening, since my parents died, and they are both reaping their just desserts unable to budget and facing financial problems.
Smile and enjoy your lovely little family. Continue to stand on your own two feet. Please don't let this whittle away st your happiness.

user593 · 15/11/2025 18:12

Something similar happened in my family. A close relative helped me financially over the years and would have also helped my sibling but they refused to ask (despite encouragement from me and other family members to do so). They then felt resentful later (and even though they were left enough money in the relative’s will to even things out the resentment continued).

It would be nice if your parents offered to even things up but if you want help, ask. If they say no then you have a legitimate reason to be upset.

YowieeF · 15/11/2025 18:12

Janus · 15/11/2025 18:04

And you wouldn’t feel upset by this af all?

It’s not my place to tell my parents what to do with their money, I’m not that entitled to think I’m owed anything tbh.

Passifity · 15/11/2025 18:06

It’s their money. And how they see fit to spend it is their prerogative.

Moii · 15/11/2025 18:06

This pretty much happened with me and my younger brother, he was transfered a house free they used to rent while I was struggling with a large mortgage. The reprocutions are still happening now 20 years later. I find I deal with it best by cutting myself off, at least you have another sibling in the same boat.

Nonamelass · 15/11/2025 18:06

I’d be really hurt too. I am almost obsessive about makin g sure my kids are given the same amounts of help or even the value of xmas presents etc. Its hurtful if not and causes fall outs between siblings. I’d have to talk to my parents about how I felt I think. Maybe you and your other sister together

Loui80 · 15/11/2025 18:04

Unfortunately this happens and I can see why you’re resentful .
your younger sister I’m afraid is the favourite.
Are her and her husband grateful?
do your parents know you’re struggling? Maybe she’s had the brass neck to ask and you haven’t?? Not a criticism of you but some people are just entitled and have the balls to ask.

Janus · 15/11/2025 18:04

YowieeF · 15/11/2025 17:58

Jealousy is an awful look.

And you wouldn’t feel upset by this af all?

Magero · 15/11/2025 18:03

MikeL1993 · 14/11/2025 11:51

I am the middle child between two sisters and there is 5 years between me and my older and younger sisters.

Me and my younger sister both own a three bed semi detached house, she lives with her husband and I live with my girlfriend and son who is 18 months old. The week after my son was born it was announced that my sister and her husband had bought a house. And we were all happy for them but then it turned out what had actually happened was they had approached my parents and asked them to lend them money so they could buy an old bungalow, raise it to the ground and build a new house and we were told that they would sell their current house after they have moved into this rebuilt house and then somehow pay my parents back the money they borrowed but everyone seemed vague about how that would happen.

Fast forward to now and they are almost ready to move in but the buyers of their current house have pulled out but it is not affecting any chain. Anyway we have now discovered that my parents have told them not to pay them back so with everything included have basically gifted my youngest sister half a million pounds or in that region.

Obviously this is now creating resentment for me and my older sister. It has been mentioned in passing that me and my gf are struggling for space in our house but we are having to make do until we can afford something bigger but that wont be for a number of years yet.

I think I am feeling most resentful because not only has my sister and her husband been gifted a house but when they had a big extravagant wedding back in Summer my parents paid for 90% of it whereas I am working all the hours I can and after bills and nursery fees etc I am having very little to show for it whilst my parents have given all this to my little sister and don't seem to understand why I am annoyed.

This is also not including that the money they have given my sister and her husband over the years with other stuff whereas I have basically been left to fend for myself.

Am I being unreasonable or am I justified in feeling annoyed?

Control your emotions. Each child to and parent is special in their own ways. Your time will come and they will do something for you according to your own needs... Your parents love your sister and it doesn't matter how much the two of you complain, they are not going to change their minds to upset your little sister just to make the two of you happy, instead wait for time, they will do something for you too. Otherwise you may make them bitter and when your time of need comes, they will be home blind to it because you are now questioning their love for you.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 15/11/2025 18:00

Blatant favouritism isn't a great look either.

YowieeF · 15/11/2025 17:58

Jealousy is an awful look.

Steeleydan · 15/11/2025 17:56

MikeL1993 · 14/11/2025 11:51

I am the middle child between two sisters and there is 5 years between me and my older and younger sisters.

Me and my younger sister both own a three bed semi detached house, she lives with her husband and I live with my girlfriend and son who is 18 months old. The week after my son was born it was announced that my sister and her husband had bought a house. And we were all happy for them but then it turned out what had actually happened was they had approached my parents and asked them to lend them money so they could buy an old bungalow, raise it to the ground and build a new house and we were told that they would sell their current house after they have moved into this rebuilt house and then somehow pay my parents back the money they borrowed but everyone seemed vague about how that would happen.

Fast forward to now and they are almost ready to move in but the buyers of their current house have pulled out but it is not affecting any chain. Anyway we have now discovered that my parents have told them not to pay them back so with everything included have basically gifted my youngest sister half a million pounds or in that region.

Obviously this is now creating resentment for me and my older sister. It has been mentioned in passing that me and my gf are struggling for space in our house but we are having to make do until we can afford something bigger but that wont be for a number of years yet.

I think I am feeling most resentful because not only has my sister and her husband been gifted a house but when they had a big extravagant wedding back in Summer my parents paid for 90% of it whereas I am working all the hours I can and after bills and nursery fees etc I am having very little to show for it whilst my parents have given all this to my little sister and don't seem to understand why I am annoyed.

This is also not including that the money they have given my sister and her husband over the years with other stuff whereas I have basically been left to fend for myself.

Am I being unreasonable or am I justified in feeling annoyed?

Hope your parents live 7 more years as if not she'll be liable for inheritance tax

Iloveacurry · 15/11/2025 17:55

Ask your parents when you and your older sister are going to get 500k then. I think I would if I was you.

bottledboot · 15/11/2025 14:27

The £500k might well be investigated as deprivation of assets if parents do require care in the near future.

you missed the other caveat. If you dispose of assets before there is a hint of care needs in the future then very hard to prove deprivation of assets.

thecatdidit · 15/11/2025 13:59

All this talk of inheritance makes me laugh.
Our DM has been in nursing care for several years and the hundreds of thousands left to her by DF have gone on care costs.
The £500k might well be investigated as deprivation of assets if parents do require care in the near future.
Caveat, depends on whether they have to pay as in some instances ie CHF applies.

TY78910 · 15/11/2025 10:25

I wonder if this is coming out of her share of the inheritance? As PPs have said upthread, she wasn’t just gifted this, she asked for help. And they may have said ok keep it but we will keep you out of the will later on as you got this now. Probably better from a tax perspective too.

ThatCyanCat · 15/11/2025 10:19

weusedtobeapropercountry · 15/11/2025 09:36

Tbh, unless parents are MASSIVE deeks, this is almost like a blank cheque.

OP might be a nobler person and choose not to cash it, but I absolutely would.

Me too.

It's not really nobler if it bothers you, because then you're not actually doing the noble thing of taking pride in not borrowing or whatever, you're just doing the pass agg thing of not asking, not voicing your wishes, and seething because it's not happening. I do think the parents are being dickish by not noticing and pre-empting this, but people with money can be a bit blithe to what it's like for those with less (like all of us regarding an experience we've not had, I guess), and OP and his sister are adults with voices. If they're not happy, and I don't blame them, they should talk to their parents.

Don't deflect it on the sister. People often blame their parents' favouritism on the sibling but it's the parents who are responsible.

weusedtobeapropercountry · 15/11/2025 09:36

BillieWiper · 14/11/2025 12:54

If you say they can afford to do it for you also, ask them. That's what your sister did. Tbf they'd have to have a strong argument not to.

'Please can you help me with a deposit and moving costs of £30k?'
'No.'
'Why not? When you gifted my sister a £500k house?'
'erm...'

Tbh, unless parents are MASSIVE deeks, this is almost like a blank cheque.

OP might be a nobler person and choose not to cash it, but I absolutely would.

Timeforbubu · 15/11/2025 09:25

Just ask. I asked mine when I was informed I had been cut out of DF's will and after my sibling had been financially supported as an adult by him for years.
He responded with he 'gets on with sibling better and [I] am fine as [I'm] independent.'
Now neither of them are in my life. And I'm better off for it.

bottledboot · 15/11/2025 09:11

Have you asked your parents?

weusedtobeapropercountry · 15/11/2025 09:07

It sounds like it was never a loan, tbh. They had no intention of asking for it back. Or she had no intention of replying it. Or both.

Robustbutt · 15/11/2025 07:51

Justanothermum42 · 14/11/2025 20:54

‘Hi parents, since you very kindly gifted our sister about half a million pounds, we (you and older sister) were wondering when we will get the same gift?’ It’s as simple as that. I would be pissed too! Good luck x

Oh how i would the parents to respond with

“when you and your older sister aren’t twats”

SezFrankly · 15/11/2025 07:49

MikeL1993 · 14/11/2025 12:14

Yes they are wealthy and they could help me and my sister if they wanted to. But my older sister is like me and wouldn't have the nerve to in the first place ask for a loan for that sort of me like originally happened. But additionally I had a new kitchen and bathroom in Summer and took out extra money against my mortgage to fund it and they never offered any help.

I was in the ”unfair” camp until this.

Younger sister asked for help and received it.
You and older sister have not asked for help, yet somehow resent the help given.

Just ask for the help?

Worried198423 · 14/11/2025 20:56

I'd just be glad not to be beholden to your parents.
You can stand on your own 2 feet.

That's something your sister will never have.plus wr all know who's looking after the parents in their old age.