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Selling inherited house when sibling living in it

428 replies

Dutchhouse14 · 16/10/2026 11:50

Our DM passed away a few months ago and her will divides everything equally between me and my 2 siblings.
Im the sole executor.
Dsis ,mid 50s, has always lived at home, never moved out. Towards the end of mums life she became her carer.
She works limited hours although she has increased these with overtime since mum passed away but full time contracts are non existent in her sector.
Shes used to pay a small amount of housekeeping but this stopped when she was made redundant from full time work about 10 years ago.
DMs house is in a bad state of repair, none of us can afford to maintain it . Me and my other sibling want to sell.
But DSis is resisting ,not replying to texts, avoiding phones calls, went out when estates agents came round for valuations etc
She has limited income and savings but could get a small mortgage and with proceeds of sale she could get a 1 bed flat.
My other sibling agrees we need to sell but doesn't want to upset dsis and is generally very good at avoidance! They are happy to give Dsis a much bigger share ie 50% I would prefer 40% which i think is realistic for dsis to buy somewhere.
So ive become the wicked witch of the West in Dsis eyes and shes taking it all out on me, well basically stopped talking to me.
WIBU to put the house on the market?
Probate has been granted.
Anyone know what the legal situation is?
I dont want to fall out with Dsis, I love her, but she seems filled with resentment for me and frankly has said some very hurtful things.
Ive always been there for her but shes never ever reciprocated or supported me when ive needed it.
Although I live with DH and DC, the money would really help my future, my pension etc and I dont want to give my share to Dsis, which is what I think she really wants as shes used to being in charge of DMs money , always lived here so I think basically considers everything as hers.
Just dont know how to move things forward or if im being unreasonable selling the house and wanting my share

OP posts:
LavenderViolets · Yesterday 19:06

I know someone that forced a house sale - both siblings wee living with their mum at the time one had their family living there too - they never spoke again.

Legally you can sell the property, just be aware your sibling is unlikely to take it well.

sittingonabeach · Yesterday 18:55

Rockpunkdisco · Yesterday 18:35

It's far too soon and raw to do this. It would be more compassionate to explain these are your plans but give a longer time frame.

Surely the sister has had a few years to think this was coming

AlexandraCarrington · Yesterday 18:39

It would be more compassionate to explain these are your plans but give a longer time frame.

And meanwhile the house continues to deteriorate and the value reduces. What if the heating packs up or the roof needs repairs?

Rockpunkdisco · Yesterday 18:35

It's far too soon and raw to do this. It would be more compassionate to explain these are your plans but give a longer time frame.

sandyrose · Yesterday 18:32

Outline a plan for putting the house on the market in January.

Your sister has had the opportunity to work part time and save, she needs a 1 bed flat which will
be manageable for her. You don’t want a situation where she’s living there and urgent/expensive repairs are needed.

If she struggles to find full time work, she can explore claiming Universal Credit. As a single mum with 3 kids I can’t imagine that even with two incomes you’re much more comfortably off than her, as she doesn’t have any dependants.

DraigCymraeg · Yesterday 18:17

Gloriia · 16/10/2026 11:59

Your dm should've seen this was going to happen and left the whole thing to her dd living there as you and your other dsis have your own homes.

As she didn't all you can do is get legal advice and get it on the market if you dont want to let her carry on living there. Such a shame for everyone involved that it's come to this.

Sorry about your dm Flowers

Why should the one sister have the entire value!
The Mother's will should be honoured.

NovemberMorn · Yesterday 17:30

FKAT · Yesterday 16:41

BTW The people who think 'I provided care for my parent therefore their estate is mine regardless of what's in the will' are not the good people here.

Most people have said no such thing.

thepariscrimefiles · Yesterday 17:09

Greenseawitch · Yesterday 15:10

It is not their 'own money'. It was their mother's. They have done nothing to earn it.

Also I assume you think it was OK for one sister to have been a carer for their elderly parent 24/7 while I assume the others enjoyed their lives, careers and families?

As I have already say I do hope that sister takes this to court and gets a bigger chunk of the estate due to her having been her mother carer which undoubtedly also affected her ability to work.

It is 'their own money' now because their mother has died and left a very clear will splitting the money/assets equally between her three adult children.

FKAT · Yesterday 16:41

BTW The people who think 'I provided care for my parent therefore their estate is mine regardless of what's in the will' are not the good people here.

sittingonabeach · Yesterday 16:38

Spotsmum · Yesterday 15:29

I think you're awful. You want to make her homeless, and for what?

If sister doesn’t move then she is going to have to put her hands in her pockets for once to pay towards the house and maintain it. Can she afford it?

FKAT · Yesterday 16:38

Greenseawitch · Yesterday 15:10

It is not their 'own money'. It was their mother's. They have done nothing to earn it.

Also I assume you think it was OK for one sister to have been a carer for their elderly parent 24/7 while I assume the others enjoyed their lives, careers and families?

As I have already say I do hope that sister takes this to court and gets a bigger chunk of the estate due to her having been her mother carer which undoubtedly also affected her ability to work.

It's their money as the will stands. Their mother left the estate to them to be divided equally. I've no idea if a court of law would overturn the will - there are lots of examples of adults going to court over their parents' wills and failing to overturn the terms, as well as vice versa. Legal action would burn through one third of £200kish very quickly. I guess if you want to spend years making solicitors rich and yourself or your siblings homeless in the process, the daughter is free to do that.

As it stands though, the estate is legally 1/3 the OPs and her siblings.

sittingonabeach · Yesterday 16:36

Greenseawitch · Yesterday 15:10

It is not their 'own money'. It was their mother's. They have done nothing to earn it.

Also I assume you think it was OK for one sister to have been a carer for their elderly parent 24/7 while I assume the others enjoyed their lives, careers and families?

As I have already say I do hope that sister takes this to court and gets a bigger chunk of the estate due to her having been her mother carer which undoubtedly also affected her ability to work.

The other siblings helped with caring and there was also a carer. And the sister didn’t move in to care for mum she had been living there rent free beforehand. Also most people who need care don’t go from needing zero help to 24/7 help. Most people don’t get to the stage of needing care home type help and if they do it isn’t usually immediate

YourSpryAmberWriter · Yesterday 16:29

When my FIL died my husband's brother had been his carer and FIL's wish was for him to stay in the house. My husband and I had no objections as we own our house. The house will go to our children eventually if my BIL dies. He cannit share the house with anyone though

Limeandfigs · Yesterday 15:45

Spotsmum · Yesterday 15:29

I think you're awful. You want to make her homeless, and for what?

First of all, why would she be homeless? OP says she has some savings and income.

Secondly, the legal obligation she has as Executrix to all of the siblings means she can't just ignore the will and be nice to the detriment of herself and her other sibling.

JamesFrond · Yesterday 15:42

Spotsmum · Yesterday 15:29

I think you're awful. You want to make her homeless, and for what?

And also, why will she be homeless? The OP says her sister will have enough money to buy a flat.

SamphiretheTervosaur · Yesterday 15:40

Spotsmum · Yesterday 15:29

I think you're awful. You want to make her homeless, and for what?

  1. Their mum's wishes
  1. So.they don't get stuck paying bills, maintenance etc

Why are so many posters so determined to overlook the realities here?

Yes, sister will have to move, her life will drastically change. Why is that something to be avoided quite literally at all cost to OP and her other sister?

JamesFrond · Yesterday 15:38

Spotsmum · Yesterday 15:29

I think you're awful. You want to make her homeless, and for what?

For her share of the inheritance her mother left her.

I assume that you financially support your sister to the detriment of your own children and that is of course up to you but the OP doesn’t want to do that. Her mother didn’t leave the house to only one of her three children. Again, if you want to disinherit some of your own children then that’s your choice but the OP’s mother didn’t do that.

B33cka8 · Yesterday 15:34

Gloriia · 16/10/2026 11:59

Your dm should've seen this was going to happen and left the whole thing to her dd living there as you and your other dsis have your own homes.

As she didn't all you can do is get legal advice and get it on the market if you dont want to let her carry on living there. Such a shame for everyone involved that it's come to this.

Sorry about your dm Flowers

They have other homes they've paid for, DD living there has been living essentially rent free.

Spotsmum · Yesterday 15:29

I think you're awful. You want to make her homeless, and for what?

Greenseawitch · Yesterday 15:10

FKAT · Yesterday 10:25

Another weekend, another will thread where many posters think that it's perfectly reasonable to expect women to give up tens of thousands of pounds of their own money because it's 'kind'. After all its only for her pension and family.

It is not kind or compassionate for the sister to sit on money that doesn't belong to her, to prevent the legal distribution of an estate and to not properly plan and take responsibility for their life.

It is not their 'own money'. It was their mother's. They have done nothing to earn it.

Also I assume you think it was OK for one sister to have been a carer for their elderly parent 24/7 while I assume the others enjoyed their lives, careers and families?

As I have already say I do hope that sister takes this to court and gets a bigger chunk of the estate due to her having been her mother carer which undoubtedly also affected her ability to work.

SabrinaBricklayer · Yesterday 14:57

If your Dsis cared for her for five years rather than your Dm go into a home, every penny of that house (£280k) would have been used on care fees, and there would be no inheritance. I can’t understand why this wasn’t a conversation at least five year’s ago between all four of you. This is where the inability to have grown up conversations gets you all.

853ax · Yesterday 14:37

Must be so hard on your sister, living and minding your mother and then left like this. Presume she must be angry with your mother for leaving this mess while grieving

SamphiretheTervosaur · Yesterday 14:34

Their mother left a will knowing the situation of all 3 of them

If OP steps down as executor a solicitor would charge a fairly large sum to do exactly as rhe will suggests

You seem to easily ignore the avoidant, possibly entitled, behaviour by the one sister to the detriment of the other 2, especially given the poor state of repair the house is reported to be in

Not only will the other 2 have to pay for the upkeep it is likely they will also have to cover the 3rd sisters share.

The legal position OP is in is nothing like many posters here seem to imagine

sittingonabeach · Yesterday 14:27

It’s not like the sister isn’t getting a provision in the will. Also could she afford to run and maintain the house on her own and on her income? It’s not like she needs a family home

BruFord · Yesterday 14:13

I agree that you need legal advice. One point that jumps out to me is that the house is in a bad state of repair - if your Dsis wants to remain living there, how on earth is she going to maintain it? Plus all the household bills that she presumably wasn't paying when your Mum was alive.

As she views you as the Wicked Witch, perhaps your other sibling could sit down with her and go over the financial implications of her staying the house - take a look at the council tax bills, utilities, etc. and estimate what she'd need to live there. It sounds as if she's burying her head in the sand.