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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Our lives being run on partners mother's life!

113 replies

Elephant788 · 31/12/2025 18:26

So my partners mother lived with us for 4 months after lockdown and she gave everyone so much hell, from refusing to wash and only agrees to wash every 4-6 weeks. That caused such a stench. I wad expected to guve her a shower myself whilst I was in early pregnancy, and that meant lifting her etc as she had a stroke few years back.
All that was not appreciated, she used to curse me like butter wouldnt melt, She would be verbally abusive and called me and my grown up daughters names. I spent most of my days in tears and suffered.so much stress at her hands. I lost that pregnancy. My Partner would say well shes old and shes angry because she had a stroke.
Fast forward..., she moved out and lives in a bungalow 20mins walk away - she has now been diagnosed with dementia. Here is the issue -My Partner is in seriously in denial about the dementia to be point where even if her mobility is poor, poor memory, can't make any decisions, always falling in that bungalow (ive now refused to go and manually lift her up), shes incontinent of urine and faeces but he refuses to entertain any talk of a home at least to give her quality of life. She has Carers 4.times a day but she refused washes and still smells badly.

For context when I met my Partner he moved in my house and am a sole owner. I feel that he doesn't want his mum to go in a home because he'll lose inheriting her house when she dies as the Council would expect it to be sold to cover the care.
We were with her at Xmas and id booked a meal out. I paid £480 for the meal and my Partner didnt even offered to go halves. His mother wanted to pay something and he kept saying to her mum its already been paid for - I asked him why he was saying that as it hadn't been. She was kicking off in the restaurant, wet herself and was parting so loud and laughing about it...

Now we were suppose to eat at our local pub tomorrow for New Year day lunch but my Partner has now cancelled this late this afternoon, because she is still kicking off and if we went alone ( I have a 20 year daughter from my first marriage and two girls with him 6 and 4), apparently she'd miss out! So we cant go. He was meant to be paying for that, so thats cancelled.

Instead he says he is bringing her here to the house and he will cook!

AIBU after all I've been through to feel like my life is now determined by this woman and now shes ruined Xmas and now ruining New Year too?

Can I refuse for her to come and ask him to go be with his mum for New Year lunch. Normally I wouldn't mind supporting him with her but she's not a nice person. Even her neighbours don't speak to her so shes very lonely.

Thanks for reading and allowing me to rant❤️.

Am on the verge of thinking about splitting with him and asking him to leave but I dont want to raise kids alone when he's out there but the situation with his mum is draining and he gets very anxious and gets all over the place which affects the dynamics here.

Basically she rules and dictates what happens to everyone. I equally blames him too! Do I ask him to move in with his mother so I can breathe? Ive suggested this snd he refuses claiming he loves me🙄

Don't ask about love please,it doesnt matter t

  • the issues are summarised above

Thanks again if youve read this far Xx

OP posts:
Muffinmam · 01/01/2026 04:37

This woman and her son are the reason you lost your baby.

Kick them both out.

Seriously. Get child support off him. He can live with his smelly mother.

onetrickrockingpony · 01/01/2026 03:50

OP I think you’ve been looking at the wrong information online. You don’t need a court order to remove someone from your house when they have no claim or ownership of the house. Just pack up a bin bag of his stuff, stick it outside, and change the locks. He has no rights here.

Fishingboatbobbingnight · 01/01/2026 03:27

By the way. He has no rights. You ask him to leave . If he doesn’t the you change the locks while he is out and if he kicks off then call the police and they will remove him.

Icecreamisthebest · 01/01/2026 03:19

The police will help you get him out if you say it is your home, you want him to leave and he is refusing. They can be there while his stuff is removed. I would make a plan which includes police involvement and where you immediately change the locks.

I would end it because of his low moral character. If he will behave like this towards his mother he will do the same to you if you ever have a severe illness. This is who he is, an entitled selfish human who only cares about himself.

The sooner you get rid, the sooner you can start rebuilding and have a happy life.

Fishingboatbobbingnight · 01/01/2026 02:56

The undue haste which so many MN posters advocate , splitting up a relationship especially with young children involved - is one of the MOST annoying things on MN
However . This is one of the few times I would say that for the sake of the kids and your happiness, he has to go.

You will find it a lot easier without this dead weight around your neck. Your home will be happier as well !

Your partner has his eye on his main chance . He thought fhat getting his name out on your dead’s was a sure fire way - only you were too smart to allow it , so now he is eagerly awaiting his mothers death and denying her the appropriate care because he wants his money . Or money he thinks is his.
someone needs to make a referral to adult safeguarding at her local council and fast x

Jeschara · 01/01/2026 01:37

This guy is a ponce. He has no rights, you are not married, he has somewhere to go, and he is not on the house deeds.
Call the Police, get him out, he does not get to refuse.

ReadingSoManyThreads · 01/01/2026 01:30

He threatens to call the police when you tell him to leave, so you relent.

Why? Let him call the police, it's not his house, you attempt to end the relationship, then don't follow through because of his threat of the police. It's YOUR home, you are NOT married, he has no legal right to stay when you are asking him to leave. Stop letting him scare you and call the police yourself to get him removed. You do NOT need a court order to get him out, no idea where you are reading that, but you are NOT married, and he does NOT own the house, he has no legal rights.

Now start the new year right and get him out tomorrow. No more relenting, follow through.

Firsttimecommentor · 01/01/2026 01:18

Elephant788 · 31/12/2025 18:26

So my partners mother lived with us for 4 months after lockdown and she gave everyone so much hell, from refusing to wash and only agrees to wash every 4-6 weeks. That caused such a stench. I wad expected to guve her a shower myself whilst I was in early pregnancy, and that meant lifting her etc as she had a stroke few years back.
All that was not appreciated, she used to curse me like butter wouldnt melt, She would be verbally abusive and called me and my grown up daughters names. I spent most of my days in tears and suffered.so much stress at her hands. I lost that pregnancy. My Partner would say well shes old and shes angry because she had a stroke.
Fast forward..., she moved out and lives in a bungalow 20mins walk away - she has now been diagnosed with dementia. Here is the issue -My Partner is in seriously in denial about the dementia to be point where even if her mobility is poor, poor memory, can't make any decisions, always falling in that bungalow (ive now refused to go and manually lift her up), shes incontinent of urine and faeces but he refuses to entertain any talk of a home at least to give her quality of life. She has Carers 4.times a day but she refused washes and still smells badly.

For context when I met my Partner he moved in my house and am a sole owner. I feel that he doesn't want his mum to go in a home because he'll lose inheriting her house when she dies as the Council would expect it to be sold to cover the care.
We were with her at Xmas and id booked a meal out. I paid £480 for the meal and my Partner didnt even offered to go halves. His mother wanted to pay something and he kept saying to her mum its already been paid for - I asked him why he was saying that as it hadn't been. She was kicking off in the restaurant, wet herself and was parting so loud and laughing about it...

Now we were suppose to eat at our local pub tomorrow for New Year day lunch but my Partner has now cancelled this late this afternoon, because she is still kicking off and if we went alone ( I have a 20 year daughter from my first marriage and two girls with him 6 and 4), apparently she'd miss out! So we cant go. He was meant to be paying for that, so thats cancelled.

Instead he says he is bringing her here to the house and he will cook!

AIBU after all I've been through to feel like my life is now determined by this woman and now shes ruined Xmas and now ruining New Year too?

Can I refuse for her to come and ask him to go be with his mum for New Year lunch. Normally I wouldn't mind supporting him with her but she's not a nice person. Even her neighbours don't speak to her so shes very lonely.

Thanks for reading and allowing me to rant❤️.

Am on the verge of thinking about splitting with him and asking him to leave but I dont want to raise kids alone when he's out there but the situation with his mum is draining and he gets very anxious and gets all over the place which affects the dynamics here.

Basically she rules and dictates what happens to everyone. I equally blames him too! Do I ask him to move in with his mother so I can breathe? Ive suggested this snd he refuses claiming he loves me🙄

Don't ask about love please,it doesnt matter t

  • the issues are summarised above

Thanks again if youve read this far Xx

I think you need to refrain from thinking your Mother In law is awful. She has dementia. She cannot control the things she does.
The issue is with your partner. You need to be very clear that you cannot and will not care for her. You need to have clear boundaries. Yes take your girls out and say that was your plan. X

TheSunRisesInTheEast · 01/01/2026 01:15

So it's less to do with your grievance towards his mother, and more to do with you wanting to get rid of your partner. I hope you're not being egged on by people on here who are so quick to tell you to get rid of him. How was your relationship before the strain of looking after his mum? Dementia is a cruel disease and needs professional help, he sounds like he can't accept that his mum needs more help now than home carers, a more permanent arrangement, ie care home would be more appropriate, although finances are an issue, and selling her house to pay for the care home is annoying but necessary. You have children with this man, were you happy together before having to deal with his mum and her dementia? Give your situation plenty of thought, you don't know how long his mum has left, it's probably very difficult for him to see his mum deteriorating with the dementia, it's very tough. Relationships have ups and downs, it would be good if you could support one another through the bad times, we are all strangers to you, don't throw everything away on the basis that some people on here want you to dump him and hang him out to dry, so to speak. Good luck in deciding what to do, but don't be hasty x

Homegrownberries · 01/01/2026 00:48

"he won't leave and last time I packed his stuff he threatened to call police and went proper mental"

Go to your local police station. Tell them this and ask them what to do. Forget about what your neighbours think.

suburberphobe · 01/01/2026 00:47

RUN for your life! And those of your kids.

Holesintheground · 01/01/2026 00:46

Elephant788 · 31/12/2025 23:55

Am in England. He went stir crazy maybe panic saying hed ring the police on me if I were to throw him out. I've researched and it says I can apply to the Court so I might do that I dont need his drama tainting me in this neighbourhood🤦🏾‍♀️
I feel stuck with him

Ask him what crime he'd be reporting to the police if he rang them? And what does he think they will do, order you to let him live there indefinitely?

OneLilacHare · 01/01/2026 00:24

You may need to give him written notice. Usually 14 or 28 days.

Elephant788 · 31/12/2025 23:56

Dollybantree · 31/12/2025 22:52

A quick google seems to say he only has rights if you’re married or he’s on the deeds.

So it’s a no brainer.

And he is neither.

OP posts:
Elephant788 · 31/12/2025 23:55

FeedingPidgeons · 31/12/2025 22:48

Are you in the UK? If so, which country - English and Scottish law is different.

If you're in England, the house is in your sole name and you are unmarried then he has zero right to remain. You can just change the locks. Are you sure you haven't been looking at websites for the wrong legal jurisdiction?

Am in England. He went stir crazy maybe panic saying hed ring the police on me if I were to throw him out. I've researched and it says I can apply to the Court so I might do that I dont need his drama tainting me in this neighbourhood🤦🏾‍♀️
I feel stuck with him

OP posts:
TheSunRisesInTheEast · 31/12/2025 23:45

Crikey, the OP started out saying how nasty and abusive her partner's mum was, and after a few more posts she now wants no more to do with her partner and is being advised to boot him out and change the locks

Tinsles · 31/12/2025 23:33

Get the locks changed the minute he leaves the house.
Gather his shit together and leave it outside.
Call 101 and ask for a marker to be put on your house as you are removing an abusive ex who has no rights whatsoever to your house.

He is scum.

AffableApple · 31/12/2025 23:28

What's the matter with you?

Your partner is a selfish, selfish twat. You most likely lost a pregnancy doing hard physical and mental graft for your MIL, because he didn't do it.

He leaves his mother to suffer so he doesn't lose her house to pay for care.

Take some responsibility for yourself and kick him out of your house, love.

EchoesOfOurDreams · 31/12/2025 23:27

I'm not sure what research you've been doing but if you're not married and he has no claim on the house at all then you can either call the police to get him removed from the house (if he kicks off) or just wait until he is out and get the locks changed.

You would only have to go to the court to get him removed/evicted if he was your tenant. He's not your tenant he's your partner who has no claim whatsoever to your house so get rid.

Cherrysoup · 31/12/2025 23:25

When he’s out, call an emergency locksmith to change the locks. The police are unlikely to remove him unless he turns up, kicks off and tries to force entry of the locks are changed. As it’s your property, they will remove if he’s outside (Section 5) and causes a major fuss trying to gain entry.

Holesintheground · 31/12/2025 23:11

WildLeader · 31/12/2025 21:44

If she’s been diagnosed with dementia, her care is paid for by the state I believe

but you’re flogging a dead horse with this bloke, cut and run.

I'm afraid the first bit here isn't accurate. If you have money or assets you have to pay, but if you own a house, the council will generally enter into a deferred payment agreement where they pay until the house is sold and you then pay them back from the proceeds. However, that's all his job to deal with. Tell him to go and get legal back up. A solicitor will help with the options and give you confidence in what you're doing. Or Citizens Advice Bureau if money is tight. Take your girls out tomorrow and tell him he's not coming as he should spend time with his mum.

Stillupatmidnight · 31/12/2025 23:08

He will need to face her house will need to go to pay for care. Take the girls out tomorrow, do what you want, he can have lunch with MIL at home, don’t worry about it enjoy your New Year’s Day doing what y want xx

MrsLizzieDarcy · 31/12/2025 23:07

Ring your local social services adult helpdesk and address your concerns re your partners mum. She can't help having dementia or having had a stroke, and she deserves to end her days in comfort and dignity. What he's doing is cruel.

Then wait for your partner to go back to work and get your locks changed while he's there. And tell him that you've just prized his barnacle arse off you and his joyride is over.

Millytante · 31/12/2025 23:00

FeedingPidgeons · 31/12/2025 22:16

What I took from your post was fog, like you're in this situation so deep you can't quite see it clearly.

Let us help with that.

  1. It's your house
  2. As an unmarried partner he has zero rights to remain. You can literally change the locks and he has no recourse legally.
  3. He has somewhere else to go
  4. He is utterly taking the piss out of you

He doesn't want to go and live at his mother's for obvious reasons. None of that shit is your problem.

You need to lay down the law.

  1. He is not cooking a meal for her in your house tomorrow
  2. He is packing his bags and fucking off, since he cannot be arsed to pay his way

Allowing him to stay does you zero favours, only increases the burden on you.

Seconded, in every detail.

OP, that man has his eye on material gain, and on your future service in relation to his mother’s deteriorating condition, and no doubt for his own care as the years catch up with him..
You seem to get no improvement or benefit to your life from his being in it, do you? All you get is trouble and strife, and at a financial cost too.

In your place, I’d definitely kick him out, and call it quits now, and this time, laugh in his face if he threatens to set the Law on you. (He is seriously deluded on that score)

His mother, God help her, needs better care, and a home with decent nursing sounds unavoidable.
Her present housing sounds really inadequate, so either she moves in with you (obviously this isn’t going to happen!) or he faces the responsibilities he has taken on as her son, and relinquishes his grasp on her house/savings.
(Maybe he could find and pay for a live-in nurse companion but I’d imagine the lady would jib at this and behave badly.
But this is not your worry, and you can let it bounce off you should he try to make it so, by playing the ‘girls’ grandmother’ card maybe. Resist!)

He sounds like very bad news for your future, and it’s not as though chucking him out of your house would make him homeless.
Have you anyone on the burly, or the sternly authoritative side who’d happen to be visiting you for tea, on some day you might decide to give him his cards?

NoisyViewer · 31/12/2025 22:57

She has dementia so hasn’t got any control over her behaviour. If you’re concerned her care isn’t adequate then you should report it to social services. They can decide then how to proceed

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