Susan is my grandma’s step-daughter from a previous marriage. Susan and her partner, Mark, moved into my grandma’s house in October 2024 when Susan had just been diagnosed with breast cancer and fell behind on rent. Out of sympathy, my grandma allowed them to stay rent-free, believing it would only be temporary. Susan is now cancer-free, but neither Susan nor Mark has obtained a job, and both rely on Social Security. I have also seen that Mark has active VPOs listed on the state website.
In October of this year, my grandma was diagnosed with lung cancer. As her health declined, she asked me and my partner to step in as power of attorney and purchase the house so she wouldn’t have to worry about what would happen to it after she passed. During her final days, Susan became my grandma’s primary caregiver, which I do acknowledge and appreciate.
Now that my grandma has passed, the situation has become time-sensitive. My partner and I are in our early twenties and cannot afford to cover their mortgage on top of our own rent. I am also unwilling to move into the house while Susan and Mark are still living there. When asked about their plans, Susan says they will be out “by spring,” but that timeline feels too vague given our financial reality.
Because of this, I feel a formal eviction may be my only option to ensure they leave by a specific date. The house was purchased to honor my grandma’s wishes, but the current situation is no longer sustainable or fair for us to carry.
Would I be the asshole for sending a formal eviction notice needing them out by April 1st?
NTA
It’s time. They’ve lived rent free long enough and they are grown ass adults who should be able to take care for themselves.
Look up your local eviction laws and follow them to the letter. Hire a real estate lawyer if you need to. Don’t fuck around with this. Do it right.
First, go in the house when you can and take a ton of pictures inside and outside.
Then, get a lawyer asap, and start the eviction process. Document everything. Sorry you have to go through this.
Also be sure to put the homestead act clause on the house so that no liens can be attached to it
NTA…They aren’t family and this is business. Follow the law and make everything formal. They had a good thing, but now it’s over.
Please do it and make sure yiu have all the legal background too. Ensure that if there are damages they also are responsible else they may trash the place as payback. NTA.
NTA. It’s now your house, with a mortgage and two tenants who are paying no rent.
Talk to an attorney about your best options because, while it seems cold (figuratively and literally) to give people a firm deadline by when to move out while you’re in the middle of winter, it may be the least painful way to go. There may be other options — such as telling them to pay rent that covers the mortgage and then some — but such options might not be the wisest course of action since they might create expectations that you do not want to create.
NTA, they knew their time was coming up and should have made arrangements and they didn’t. I would consult with a lawyer to make sure you’re doing everything legally and go from there.
NTA
“I have also seen that Mark has active VPOs listed on the state website.”
Victim Protective Orders? So he’s a stalker/abuser? I wouldn’t want to live with them either. The house is yours and Mark could have gotten a job in the past 3 months. You should count on him lashing out regardless of how tactfully you evict them though. But giving them an April 1’st deadline via eviction when they said they’d be out by spring (March 21) is very generous.
Hope they don’t wreck the house on the way out. Good luck.
I would get a lawyer and follow their advice. They will know the laws specific to your state and they can advise you on the best course of action to get them out.
I think you’re making a mistake by not moving in. I think you should move in, take over the entire living space, start renovations, impose a zillion house-rules, and general be as painful as possible to them.
Just give them their official 30 (or 60) day notice now depending on what’s required in your state. Then follow the steps for eviction via the courts. If not and they don’t vacate by April, you’ll be stuck starting the process all over again.
NTAH It’s a business arrangement. They aren’t your friends. I know this may sound cold, but you’ve gotta protect your finances. It’s not personal, though they may take it that way. There are plenty of programs there to help them find a place. Do what you gotta do!
If you start the eviction process *now*, they might be out by spring.
NTA to enforce your owner’s rights in taking control of the property for sale, for rent or for moving in. It’s your choice, you’re the owner and they don’t have a lease.
No, do the formal eviction now so there is no question.