Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Remove verbally abusive boyfriend out the granny flat

288 replies

Mumofadultkid · 25/08/2025 03:09

My DD lives in a type of granny flat on our land. She has done some pretty awful things and I have posted before and got some good advice and some different perspectives (which were all the same funnily enough), and now she is ramping up and her boyfriend has just sent us a message saying that if it were up to him, he wouldn't let her have her have a relationship with us. And his last paragraph was "go f* yourselves". This was in response to a request for more money towards electricity, as it has more than doubled, and we just can't afford it.

So, to quickly explain, my husband and I went into debt (released equity from our home) to enable them to buy this little house/granny flat. We have let them put it on our land, we are not charging them for that, and all we have asked is that they pay the loan back with regular payments. They promised they would do it within 2 years. Soon after they moved in, they defaulted on the first payment. It was one month after they moved in.

Then she stopped working, and then he cut his hours down. So they are roughly all up now on 1/3 of what they were on before. Through their decisions.

We are constantly told we are narcissistic, mentally and emotionally abusive, and we don't respect their boundaries and have been told in no uncertain terms that we are now formally estranged from them.

It really does feel like we have been played; it is our fault, we have never said no, and it seems like when we do, we get heaps of vitriol from her. In the past in panic, we have just given in ( I know! I know what you are going to say).

But now, after this email, we want to get him away - I feel like a prisoner in my own home. I just don't understand how you can speak to someone like this when we have done everything we can to help them. I get that she is feeding him with her narrative (he had a really troubled upbringing) and she connected with him as she told him "she had the same". And when I say no way, I mean no way. He had a really, really hard life. I am not sure DD knows what a hard life is, she has wanted for nothing.

This appears to be a pattern with her - and she has lost all her friends, she has one that she is close to at the moment, but she is using her ( I know that sounds awful) but she needs something from her and from next year - once she has got what she wants from her she will find a way to cancel her too, like she has all her other friends.

We are seeing a lawyer next week to trespass him off our home. We can't bring ourselves to do it to DD yet, but if we don't make a stand, I just don't know where this will end. He is very beligerant, we have made really reasonable requests in the past and he has just point-blank refused. And it is getting more aggressive. The emails and the messages are coming with us to the lawyers.

I suppose I am just looking for support. I know people will say blame the parents, and I get it. But believe me when I tell you - we have been so supportive, financially, emotionally, and physically and I just feel like this gentle parenting and not saying no to kids has really backfired on us. It feels like every time we say no we can't, we get verbally attacked. And I see how social media influencers are telling people to 'cut their toxic parents' out of their lives, without actually explaining what true toxicity is. There are people who have had a horrendous upbringing, and I don't discount that. This is not what my DD upbringing has been like.

It's making me ill, I have chest pains, and I am so stressed, and we are trying to plan for retirement and when we mention that, we just get "it's all about the money with you". We've tried to help them get ahead, at our expense - emotionally and financially.

If we let them stay, they will continue to at least make payments to the loan, but at what cost? If we ask him to leave, she is there on her own with no money, so no payments! I don't think she will move with him, and he will have to move back home to his lovely mum. We could sell it, but it won't cover the outstanding debt. We could ask them to get their own loan, but based on their income, I don't think they will get a loan.

I just feel so stuck and so sick.

It has been the worst decision we have ever made.

Please be kind

OP posts:
Needtosoundoffandbreathe · 04/09/2025 14:24

It's a step in the right direction, but painful though it undoubtedly is, it is her you need to stop bankrolling. She already treats you with utter contempt and disregard.

hattie43 · 04/09/2025 14:36

Your daughter has brought this all on herself . A blood tie isn’t licence to treat others appallingly . Good luck OP I’m glad you’re acting decisively.

Dearg · 04/09/2025 14:47

Good luck Op, hope he goes quietly.

Silvers11 · 04/09/2025 15:42

@Mumofadultkid Well glad you have seen a lawyer, but I hope that you are not leaving your daughter and her boyfriend to sell the mobile home. You still own that and if it needs to be resold to help pay back the loan, YOU need to be in charge of any negotiations and receipt of the payment for it. Otherwise, your daughter will make off with any payment for it. Yes, it's horrible to think that, but you MUST know in your heart of hearts that's what will happen if you let her/him sell it? You really must know?

I hate to say this, but you really need to accept, hard although it is, that you have already lost your daughter. You don't have a relationship with her. From everything you have said, she just doesn't give two hoots about you, but will continue to use you and take everything she can get, if you let her. I think you are making a huge mistake in only evicting him, because you still feel that you are somehow not a caring parent if you don't help her. As long as you still have that mindset, she will continue to get round you and use you. Plenty of people on here advised you to evict them both for very very good reasons. I suspect this half hearted attempt will not improve your situation, I am so, so sorry

dutchyoriginal · 04/09/2025 20:29

I'm so sorry for you that it has to come to this

Treesandsheepeverywhere · 04/09/2025 21:19

Tough love is the only thing some understand.

Well done OP, not easy but necessary.

deckchairmayhem · 04/09/2025 21:26

Seeing a lawyer is the only thing you can do. He's making you feel unsafe, and you don't know how far this could escalate.
Do you risk losing your DD over this, I'm sure they ll dig their heels in together!

Mumofadultkid · 04/09/2025 22:00

deckchairmayhem · 04/09/2025 21:26

Seeing a lawyer is the only thing you can do. He's making you feel unsafe, and you don't know how far this could escalate.
Do you risk losing your DD over this, I'm sure they ll dig their heels in together!

@deckchairmayhem yes we will lose her, but feel she is already lost and she’s using our love for her to get what she wants - I feel so used

OP posts:
whowhatwerewhy · 05/09/2025 06:13

This must be so difficult for you , but you’re doing the best thing for your DD in the long term. She’s obviously manipulative and abusing your love for her .
They will probably kick off when they receive the letter but you must stay strong. Boyfriend out by Monday, then daughter out by October. Sell the annex and pay off as much of the loan as you can.

MissHollysDolly · 05/09/2025 06:42

OP, I’m glad you’ve taken advice and getting it sorted. Sounds as if there will be some tough days ahead, you’re doing the right thing x

GingerBeverage · 05/09/2025 07:12

Do you have a pattern of trying to buy her affection? Is she aware of this and uses it to hurt and manipulate you?

I wouldn’t expect the BF will allow her to stay while he goes. That gives up his control.

ClawsandEffect · 05/09/2025 09:52

Hope today is bearable for you @Mumofadultkid when the letter is received. Thinking of you. I've been where you are. This IS rock bottom. Things will get better after this, one way or another.

NavyNorris · 05/09/2025 10:21

Well done OP. That must have been incredibly hard but it is the right decision.

Could you go out somewhere today so you're not home when they get the letter?

Have you thought about renting the property to a professional individual? Or someone older looking for a place of their own? The rent could cover the loan repayment? (I know nothing about letting out property so sorry if that's a silly idea).

I hope today and this weekend goes OK and you don't need to escalate to the police.

You seem to really beat yourself up in your posts about how you've raised her, don't do that. We are all just doing our very best and when you're in a situation like this it's hard to know what to do. You sound very caring and I'm sorry that you're going through this.

ThejoyofNC · 05/09/2025 10:28

Hope all goes well for you this weekend OP.

MyMilchick · 05/09/2025 11:30

Mumofadultkid · 04/09/2025 22:00

@deckchairmayhem yes we will lose her, but feel she is already lost and she’s using our love for her to get what she wants - I feel so used

It's very sad but right now you have a daughter who has zero respect or consideration for you and no appreciation for what you have given to her. A harsh dose of reality is what she needs now. I would rather no relationship with my child than one like the one you have now.

DogsandFlowers · 05/09/2025 11:42

Mumofadultkid · 04/09/2025 14:04

Update

After seeking legal advice we’re evicting him first, then daughter stays until they clear the loan or sell it and it’s removed (by no later than October) I don’t think if it’s sold it will cover the loan …. But that’s what we have to live with. They get the letter from solicitor Friday.

If he doesn’t go we call the police who have been informed. I just hope he goes quietly- we’re giving him the weekend to move out.

I just saw that she sold her jewelry we bought her for her 18th, it was expensive but I’m devastated she’s sold it - I suppose it shows just how little she regards it.

I feel sick - I know it’s the right thing to do after all that she has done but it feels horrible to be doing this to my own daughter

thank you for you advice, I really appreciate it - I showed my husband and he’s taken comfort and support too - thank you all so much

NOOOOOO
please don’t feel a shred of guilt
this is the only solution
call the police at the slightest hint of any aggravation

TwelvePercent · 05/09/2025 11:51

I predict she will completely ignores any 'eviction' of her boyfriend and you will waste a load of money on solicitors in the process.

If you keep doing what you always did, you'll get what you always got.

Im more of a FAFO parent than a gentle parent.

19lottie82 · 05/09/2025 12:26

I hope it goes as smoothly as it can. It must be very hard, but you are definitely doing the right thing. Stay strong!

GingerBeverage · 05/09/2025 13:45

She sold her jewellery - to buy what? Are they using drugs?

Needtosoundoffandbreathe · 05/09/2025 14:34

GingerBeverage · 05/09/2025 13:45

She sold her jewellery - to buy what? Are they using drugs?

I asked this earlier in thread, whether drugs were involved. Awful behaviour, lying and manipulation are a feature of addict behaviour because all they truly care about is their next fix.

steppemum · 05/09/2025 14:45

Can I just say again what a PP said.
DO NOT LET THEM SELL THE HOUSE/CARAVAN

The house/caravan is in your name and must be sold by you.
if they sell it, they will walk off with the money. You will still be left with the debt.
If they do not pay back the loan, then the caravan is YOURS not THEIRS.
It has never been theirs. It would only have been theirs once they paid for it, and they haven't paid. You must hold on to the caravan and sell it yourself, unless they pay off the whole loan for it.

LytesCarey · 05/09/2025 18:58

You are not doing your DD any favours by letting them sell the home - that's crazy, its not theirs to sell, its yours because they did not pay for it. Hope it goes well for you this weekend.

ComfortFoodCafe · 05/09/2025 19:00

She sold her jewellery? Sorry if this is a bit blunt but are you sure shes not using drugs?

Teajenny7 · 05/09/2025 20:47

I hope all is ok.
Have you heard from them?
Keep safe

Bathingforest · 05/09/2025 20:52

Get rid of both of them. Let your daughter go and work and pay real bills in the real world ....I am usually all pro daughters but not if they are like that

Swipe left for the next trending thread