How My Mother-in-Law Lost Her Flat

I am absolutely certain that there is no obligation for us to support my brother-in-law and his family, let alone provide them with a flat. Let me start by making it clear: the three-bedroom flat we live in is entirely mineI bought it before I even met my husband, and let me just say, it was in a shocking state back then. Honestly, the front door was barely hanging on its hinges. The most important thing for me was the price; I did the rest in my own time, fixing up what I could. But that’s not the point I want to make.

By the time I met my husband, Id already renovated two of the rooms and managed to put in some proper furniture. All in all, it was already a rather cosy home.

My husbandtall, honest, and good-lookingwas renting a place at the time. Not long after we met, he moved in with me. After we married, one of the rooms became the childrens room, and before long, I had a son, and then a daughter.

Everything was going swimmingly until, one cold autumn evening, our family bliss was shattered by my mother-in-laws arrival, suitcase in hand and cheeks wet with tears.

May I stay with you for a bit? she wept. My younger son has brought a lady friend into my own flat. I do hope it works between themthey might settle down together for good… I wont be a burden, truly. Ill help you with the children, pick them up from nursery and school, cook for them. Ive nobody else but you!

Seeing her so distraught, I let her in and offered her the biggest bedroom. Shed been retired for years by then and, to be fair, she helped out with the children just as shed promised. However, she stopped visiting her own flat since her younger son was starting a new life there. He was living with his new wife and their two childrenone they had together, and the other a child from her previous relationshipall in my mother-in-laws tiny one-bedroom flat.

Years ago, my brother-in-law had rushed into marriage straight out of school. My husband’s parents actually sold their own flat and used the money to buy themselves a studio and a two-bedroom flat for their son. Not long after, my father-in-law fell ill and passed away.

My brother-in-law and his first wife, over time, had two children together, but eventually they divorced and he left his flat to his family. Now, his first wife lives there with her new husband and all three children. After the divorce, the prodigal son returned to his mother.

Mum, Im moving in with you. Im single again and dreaming big! Ill sort myself out eventually and find a place of my own, he declared. But, needless to say, things didnt quite pan out as hed hoped. A few months later, he brought his new girlfriend home to his mums flat.

Every weekend, my mother-in-law would appear at our flat with grandchildren from both marriagesa proper circus, if you ask me.

After about a year, I finally told my mother-in-law that she needed to sort out her living arrangements. She burst into tears again, absolutely hysterical.

I ended up having an awkward conversation with my brother-in-law about moving out of his mums flat. He flat out refused, saying he couldnt afford to rent anywhere with his salary, especially with kids to look after. So what was I supposed to do?

Lately, things between me and my mother-in-law have turned rather sour. I dread coming home from work these days. I told my husband that something had to be done about his mums housingif not, I was prepared to file for divorce.

My words stunned himhe genuinely had no idea where on earth his mum would go, and of course, wouldnt dream of putting her out on the streets.

I suggested she could simply rent a place, after all we could afford to help her. But my mother-in-law absolutely refused; she insisted we needed to rent a two-bedroom flat for my brother-in-law and his family so that she could move back into her own home.

To me, this was beyond cheeky. I told her plainly that, if she didnt sort herself out and move out within a week, Id pack her things and put them outside the door. What else can I even do?

I honestly dont believe we should be responsible for housing and supporting my brother-in-laws familyits simply not our duty!