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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

For being really upset my dad bought my sister a home but not me

93 replies

Nostalgicdreamer · 30/09/2023 20:05

My dad retired and decided he wanted to buy my sister (32) and I (35F) our own houses, my property was originally to have a bigger budget as dad was going to put a smaller house/granny flat on the place he bought for me and it would essentially be for him and my family (partner and 3 young kids) eventually, he originally had no intention in moving with us for at least a few years. My place was to be on acreage, we looked and looked and as I had to keep in mind this was to be a forever property and needed to be a property both my family and my father could live happily it was very difficult to find something we could all be happy with let alone put a second dwelling on with council regulations etc. If it was just for us there are so many properties along the way we were looking that would have been perfect for us.

After a year we found a property, dad put down a deposit then someone offered more and they decided to go with them. Dad was pissed off and didn't want to increase his offer.

A couple months later Dad ended up finding a property in a county town 6 hours away from where we were looking to buy, right up to the auction I told my dad repeatedly we did not want to move there and to please not buy the property, he told me he didn't care if I liked it or not he was buying it. The place has nothing that I wanted in a place for my family except the acreage, the house is not big enough for us and theres not enough bedrooms and its hours away from our family/support system, my dad also isn't the type to help with our kids at all. I have chronic pain and can't work and we need our support system, my eldest son also has behavioural issues we are waiting to be diagnosed (suspected adhd) Dads opinion is that he got this place for us and its just too bad if we don't like it and don't want to move there thats our tough luck and we get nothing if we don't want to uproot our family and move all the way there. Dads moved there now.

Its not my money and I know if someone buys a house for you you should be grateful and I kind of felt like an ass right up until my sister tells me dad bought her her house in the suburb she wants to live in, somewhere my dad said there was no way he was buying a place near there, that it was overpriced and not somewhere he wanted her or any future grandchildren living. She never has to worry about him ever wanting to go live with her and he has spent the same amount on her house as he did on the property he bought himself.

Now he worked hard all his life he deserves to live where he wants but I can't help feeling now like its extremely unfair he went and bought my sister a nearly $2m house near the city exactly as she wanted it and where she wanted it and I was expected to move my family where he wants me to, it also massively hurts that he decided my opinion and what I wanted no longer mattered and he was going to just buy what he wanted and if I didnt like it thats just tough! when every property I looked at I tried to have everyones best interests in mind and looked at places with the thought when dad moves in with us will he be happy there. Don't get me wrong I'm happy for my sister however I still think its extremely unfair I ended up with nothing because I don't want to move my family where dad bought but my sister got exactly where and what she wanted and dad sees nothing wrong with any of this.

My sister also has no children or partner, makes more money than my partner does, has enough to go on at least a month or more long European trip each year, goes out regularly and isn't scrimping for money each week so its not like she was in need more for the house than we are.

So AIBU being extremely upset that my dad expects my family just to uproot our lives and leave all support we have to move where he wants us to? to a house we don't like, when he has bought my sister exactly where and what she wanted. Ive tried talking to my dad about it but he doesn't see my point of view he just tells me the kids can room together, its not terrible to have to live away from our other family and thinks Im being very unreasonable, he doesn't understand how what he's done could possibly be unfair.

OP posts:
sodthesodoff · 30/09/2023 20:09

Don't go?

I mean nice as it is (with strings) you're not obligated to live there

Besides which doesn't sound like he bought it for you. Are you even on the deeds?

Hairyfairy01 · 30/09/2023 20:10

I just wouldn't move OP. Sounds awful. Your dad can buy what he wants I guess, but it sounds like he hasn't considered you or your family at all. Why would you want to move there with him?

gamerchick · 30/09/2023 20:14

OP, you're looking at this all wrong. He's setting you up to look after him in his elderly years. He's showing you a taste of what life will be like living with him attached to the house.

Tell him that it's a shame he wants to move so far away away from you all but you're sure sister will sell up and move in with him to care for him in his elderly years

Lucky escape IMO.

TakingTheHorseToFrance · 30/09/2023 20:16

Yanbu. He sounds controlling and bullyish.

When you start treating your children differently it causes ill feeling and resentment.

DaisyWaldron · 30/09/2023 20:17

Sucks for your dad that's he's rejected your offer to care for him in his old age, and he'll have to sort things out without your help in the future.

aModernClassic · 30/09/2023 20:17

As above. Don't move. Stay where you are or but your own place. If he's like this now, it will get worse. He will expect you bro look after him - after all, he brought you a house. Lucky escape I think.

Spaghettihulahoops · 30/09/2023 20:19

Has he actually put the house in your sisters name? If he has discuss with her what will happen when he dies so you are able to inherit a similar amount. In the mean time live your life as everybody else does paying for yourself.

ErinAndTonic · 30/09/2023 20:21

You do sound a little spoilt.

I'd just forget that he ever offered and buy or save up for my own home. And stop being jealous of your sister as you can't change that unfortunately.

bluebird3 · 30/09/2023 20:22

That's completely unfair and I'd be really upset too. Unfortunately you can't do anything about it and will have to forge ahead with your own plans for the future. It sounds like your dad is punishing you for not doing what he wanted by buying your sister her ideal house at a bigger budget.

SillySausagez · 30/09/2023 20:24

Just don't move.

Brefugee · 30/09/2023 20:24

Don't move. Just decline to do it, and if he requires care your unencumbered sister can provide it?

Nostalgicdreamer · 30/09/2023 20:28

@sodthesodoff
Were not going to be moving there, he however seems to think I should be happy he bought it for us and move there and that Im the unreasonable one being upset he bought my sister what she wanted but not me.
No Im not on the deed neither is my sister for her house, he would leave them to us when he dies but that could be in 20-30+ years.
I definitely think he bought it for him and not me but Im made to feel like Im crazy how could I possibly think he wanted it for himself 🤦‍♀️

OP posts:
PlanningTowns · 30/09/2023 20:33

If I have this right, you don’t live together at the minute and he doesn’t help with the kids at all.

however he expects you to uproot the family to an unfamiliar place with no support network so that eventually you, his daughter with chronic conditions can look after him in old age…. And the prize is a house you don’t want in an area you don’t want to live.

ignore your sisters situation and what she earns etc (that jealousy will just lead to resentment and is not helpful here). But why wasn’t she going to move in with him and care for him?

how your dad thinks he can control you, your partner (I assume) and kids to move is beyond me. Simply say no, this won’t work for us but we wish you well with your new home. We will visit occasionally but leave it at that.

jlpth · 30/09/2023 20:34

Tell him your family of 5 is rooted in your current location and there is no possibly of you ever moving. Tell him that if he needs care in his old age, then your sister can rent her house out and come live with him.

It's concerning your sister isn't on the deeds to her house though. He could get a wife and leave everything to her, including your sister's house! My dad hasn't left anything to me and my siblings, it's all going to his wife.

Doyoumind · 30/09/2023 20:34

As PP's said, he was buying you a house so you could look after him. He chose you to be his carer as you've shown you have those skills by having a family. He let your sister go where she likes as he didn’t consider her for the carer role. Leave him to it.

catsnore · 30/09/2023 20:36

You've dodged a bullet here. Imagine living with him and then never being able to do what you want to the property because he doesn't agree. Imagine having to care for him (and all your kids) as he gets older while your sister does nothing because she's far away. You are better off sticking with what's best for you and making your own decisions. Whilst it's inevitable that you will feel jealous of your sister, there's not a lot you can do about it except suck it up and get on with your life. Your dad is unlikely to stay in a massive place with land if he has to do all the work himself. Bide your time. Things may yet work out for you.

Rainbowqueeen · 30/09/2023 20:36

Both houses might need to be sold for care home fees.

Focus on living your life the way you want to. Don’t move. Save for your own home. There are way too many strings attached to your dads offer to make it worthwhile.

Nostalgicdreamer · 30/09/2023 20:37

@ErinAndTonic
I love my sister I'm not jelious of her, Im happy she got what she wanted, I just added what I did for context of the situation, because if she was in the same situation I am it wouldn't be fair to be upset if she were given the same terms and we had just not accepted.
Unfortunately we will never be in a position to buy our own home so we will continue to rent.
I can't imagine in the same situation you would just be able to forget about it and continue on without it bothering you even just a little

OP posts:
Okki · 30/09/2023 20:41

If he needs care later on, both houses could have to be sold couldn't they? Leaving you with nothing to inherit and potentially having to buy/ rent at a period when you may not be able to. This sounds like a favour with an awful lot of strings attached.

5128gap · 30/09/2023 20:43

You dad's paying the piper and fully intends to call the tune. Your only choice is whether or not to dance to it I'm afraid.

LimeCheesecake · 30/09/2023 20:47

what does your sister feel about what your dad has done? Have you explained that while he’s bought her a large house exactly where she wants it, he offered you the same but then has changed his mind so while she has been gifted a house, you haven’t.

make sure she understands plainly.

Nostalgicdreamer · 30/09/2023 20:49

@PlanningTowns
Sorry didnt mean that to come off as jealously, I only added her situation vs ours for context, Im glad my sister got what she wanted I love her I'm just upset with my dad for thinking it was fair to attach all the strings he did for me to get a place vs my sister.

I really don't think my sister would ever live with him or agree to look after him full time when he needs it, he knows that hence why I was originally offered the bigger budget to find a property with the string that I look after him when he needs it which I was happy to do, Ive always known I would most likely end up in that situation which is why my partner and I didn't initially ask why we could not just get our own place for less like my sister was told she would

OP posts:
StaunchMomma · 30/09/2023 20:58

You'd be absolutely mad to go there, OP.

He is not your priority, your children and DH are. Your Dad views you differently because it's you he expects to look after him in his old age.

If he has enough money to buy several expensive houses, he can afford to pay for hired help.

He's using his money to control you and yes, it's hugely unfair that your sister got what she wanted but you're not forced to play this game with him.

Spaghettihulahoops · 30/09/2023 21:05

Okki · 30/09/2023 20:41

If he needs care later on, both houses could have to be sold couldn't they? Leaving you with nothing to inherit and potentially having to buy/ rent at a period when you may not be able to. This sounds like a favour with an awful lot of strings attached.

Since the sisters house cost several millions and sounds like the cheaper property that is unlikely.

Nostalgicdreamer · 30/09/2023 21:06

@LimeCheesecake yes we have discussed this, she thinks its unfair and ridiculous that he expected us to just do exactly what he wanted, move our family away from everyone we know when he knows he won't help us if we need it with the kids, have my partner leave his job and try to find another and move me away from my doctors just because he was buying us a house and property to live on, but she has also asked me if I really won't even just go and look at it and consider it. She doesn't have the responsibilities I do so Im not sure if she fully grasps that while she knows our financial situation what it would be like having to uproot my family not have the support there and have to take care of dad when he does need it eventually. She says she has told dad she didn't think it was reasonable to expect us to just do what he wanted, I do wonder how hard she went at that conversation as shes not one for confrontation and at the end of the day still wanted her house. I love my sister and Im glad she got her house I was a little worried when he told me tough luck that he would decide to reneg on buying something for my sister so Im glad for her that he didn't but the whole situation still hurts

OP posts: