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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Asked to move from relatives house

563 replies

OrangeBlankets · 14/01/2023 09:32

I've been living in a relatives house for more than 2 years. When I moved in the relative was in a care home but the person who had POA for them agreed for me to move in and said it was ok for a short time and that I didn't have to pay rent.

Now the house owner died and so did the POA. The executors want me to move out.

I don't have anywhere to go, can they evict me?

OP posts:
DoorstoManual · 14/01/2023 10:30

Peoples expectations are unbelievable.

strawberryandcreams · 14/01/2023 10:30

2 years no rent. I really hope you were able to put aside some money a month to have some savings for when this scenario happened.

It's not fair to expect to stay in the house when the owner has now passed. I would say 2 months to find a new place is fair. Are you able to find somewhere new?

FrenchFancie · 14/01/2023 10:31

Short answer - yes you have to move out.

long answer - of course you have to move out, you are squatting in a home that is not owned by you, you’ve had two years to get yourself sorted, times now up and the fact you don’t have any money saved after this time is tough luck. You have no right to remain living in that property.

butterfliedtwo · 14/01/2023 10:31

Someone whose house you've lived in rent-free for years is "not a nice person"?

That's a pretty entitled attitude.

keepcalm11 · 14/01/2023 10:32

Are the beneficiaries of the will family members? will they allow you some additional time to find a place to live or have they asked you to leave immediately. I hope you and your dog can get fixed up with a place soon, there will be options out there.

strawberryandcreams · 14/01/2023 10:33

I wouldn't expect to be left anything in my GM will. You have essentially been given over £20k from her, in money you've saved in rent for 2 years

Bayleaf25 · 14/01/2023 10:33

I’m afraid the right thing to do is to move out without a fuss and without causing hassle for the executors.

ifonly4 · 14/01/2023 10:34

The Executors can terminate the contract in line with the terms of the tenancy agreement. If you hadn't signed one, you might have been able to claim you were a dependent on deceased and had a right to live in property owned by the estate.

To be honest if I were a beneficiary I'd want you out, partly because I'd want my money, but also I wouldn't want the estate kept open the the regular reminded of dealing with the deceased's property.

I'd contact Citizens Advice and Council now.

FlibbertyGibbitt · 14/01/2023 10:35

You must have known that this time would come though ? What plans did you make ?

BliainNua · 14/01/2023 10:35

I'm sorry that your mental health isn't good right now, but you've been living rent free for 2 years when the POA said it was ok for a short time (2 years is not a short time). Now the owner has died it's right that the house is sold. You should have saved during the last 2 years towards your future rent, you really can't have expected to live rent free forever.

GirlsNightOut33 · 14/01/2023 10:36

Op they will get you out, you have no legal ownership. It's not your house.

The question is how stressful, expensive and problematic you want to be to relatives who let you live rent free for 2 years.

You should say thanks and be on your way, and grateful too. Not seek ways to out stay the favour 😒

DrMarciaFieldstone · 14/01/2023 10:37

What did you think was going to happen? That you’d just live there rent-free forever?

Yes they can evict you. MH is not relevant here either.

ChungusBoi · 14/01/2023 10:38

I think that the original executor and possibly others have been sympathetic to you not being named in the will because they have provided you with around £12K worth of housing for free.

But the current executors probably realise that their position is not tenable. They are obliged to protect the interests of the legal beneficiaries so you have to go and they have to either sell or rent the house at full market value.

Definitely Ring CAB for an appointment first thing on Monday.

kingtamponthefurred · 14/01/2023 10:38

I'm afraid it was not a very bright idea to get a dog while living in what was only ever going to be temporary accommodation.

BadNomad · 14/01/2023 10:40

It's a bit dodgy that someone who didn't even own the house let you live in it. The POA was supposed to act on behalf of your grandmother. Letting you live there rent-free was not for the benefit of your grandmother.

As for now, the executers have to act according to the will. If your grandmother said the house was to be sold after her death, then they must sell the house. If someone else inherited the house, then it is their house to do with what they will. Either way, you will have to move out. These things take a while, but you need to figure something out fast.

SpaceshiptoMars · 14/01/2023 10:40

@OrangeBlankets Even if all the beneficiaries of the will didn't need the money from the sale immediately, the house still needs serious money spending on it to maintain it structurally (£000s annually). Market rent for a house could be anywhere from £800 a month in the cheapest areas of the UK up to many thousands for some southern areas.

Can you pay market rent? If not, you are expecting the beneficiaries of the will to effectively both relinquish their willed money AND to maintain the roof over your head at THEIR expense. Do other people have any rights in your world?

Stomacharmeleon · 14/01/2023 10:41

I am getting the impression the op is not getting the answer she wants....
you need to save
You need to speak to the council
Maybe speak to shelter.
But people are correct in that you could make this difficult and take it up to the wire legally but what do you hope to achieve from that?
Who has the estate been left to?

PupInAPram · 14/01/2023 10:41

OP, I'm sorry folk on this thread are being so harsh. If you have mental health issues and are alone, finding somewhere to feel safe and 'at home' can be daunting, especially with a dog. Do you have anyone who can help or support you? What area are you in and do you have a rental 'budget'? I'd be inclined to stop paying the bills for the house and save that money towards a deposit. When you do have to go, the outstanding bills can be paid from your Grandma's estate.

Lessonsinchemistry · 14/01/2023 10:41

Yes of course they can evict you, it’s not your house. It was very irresponsible to get a dog without a stable place to live and you might need to rehome it. Drives me mad when people in insecure housing get pets!!

The best you can do is stop the attitude thinking the still owe you something, act grateful for what you have been given and ask nicely for an extra couple of months to sort yourself out with a house share or rental.

BackT · 14/01/2023 10:42

Two years rent free and you think you are hard done by!

In the nicest possible sense - what did you expect would happen?

EyesOnThePies · 14/01/2023 10:42

OP, sorry you have had a difficult time with your MH etc, and have had a family loss as well as tricky family dynamics. Not easy.

Try not to take it personally that the executors are wanting to evict you. They have a legal duty to divide the estate between the beneficiaries.

You have done well getting a job , and finding your own place could be an independent new start.

Call Shelter for advice. Explain The tenancy agreement you had and find out what your status will be for getting in a social housing list if you are evicted.

Also do a benefit checker and see if you could be eligible for any top
up to help with private rentals if you are on low income.

Do you know if they have probate yet? They can’t actually sell the house until they do.

Whatmarbles · 14/01/2023 10:43

The decent thing would be to leave of your own volition.
You have had a cushy deal for 2 years, don't sour relationships out of a sense of entitlement.

LIZS · 14/01/2023 10:43

Unless it is an assistance dog you may need to consider rehoming it to take whatever accommodation fits your budget. You can insist on staying. Perhaps view the rent saving as your inheritance.

zingally · 14/01/2023 10:44

Of course they can evict you. It's their house, not yours.
I'm sure they're appreciative that you've looked after the house in these 2 years. But you can't honestly have expected a free-living situation to go on forever? How do you imagine that other people keep a roof over their heads? They pay a mortgage or rent.

BabyFour2023 · 14/01/2023 10:44

Of course they can.

you’ve been living rent free so surely you now have enough saved to move out?