My Sister-in-Law Chose Luxury Holidays While We Renovated Our Inherited Country Home, and Now She Wants to Move In Because Her Half Has No Modern Comforts

My sister-in-law was off enjoying her summer holiday at a holiday park while we were knee-deep in home renovations, and now she wants all the comforts.

We suggested pooling money with her to fix up the house together, but she firmly declined, saying she didnt need any of it. Now, she’s asking to move in with us because her half of the house lacks even the simplest conveniences. She brought this entirely upon herself.

The house originally belonged to my husbands grandmother. When she passed, my husband and his sister jointly inherited the property. Though old and a bit run-down, we decided to remodel it and make it our family home. Its a semi-detached house, so both families could live independentlyeach with a private entrance but sharing the garden and utility area. Both halves had the same number of rooms.

We settled the inheritance shortly after our wedding, and everything was calm and straightforward. My mother-in-law refused her share from the start, saying she was too used to city life. She told her son and daughter they could do as they pleased.

My husband and his brother-in-law chipped in and patched up the roof and strengthened the foundations. We planned to carry on with improvements, but my sister-in-law hit the roof. She had no interest in sinking her money intoher wordsthis crooked old cottage. Her husband just hung his head and lefthe never bothers standing up to her.

We wanted to make this house our home. The village sits just outside the city, and with a car, the commute to work was easy. Plus, we were sick of squeezing into a one-bed flat. Wed always dreamt of a place of our own, but building from scratch would have cost a fortune.

To my sister-in-law, the house was nothing more than a summer retreat, somewhere for a barbecue or a bit of leisure during the holidays. She made it cleardont count on her for help.

Over four years, we completely renovated our half. Yes, we took out a loan, but that didnt matterwe had a bathroom installed, proper heating put in, rewired the electrics, replaced all the windows, glazed the porch. We worked tirelessly, sometimes day and night, determined to turn it into our dream home.

Meanwhile, my sister-in-law carried on with her travels. She didnt care about the house or what we were doing. She lived for her own pleasure, ignoring her share of responsibility. But things changed after she had a baby and started maternity leave.

The holidays suddenly stopped, money got tightand suddenly, she remembered the house. Being cooped up in a tiny city flat with a baby was hard, and at the house, she could let him run about and play outdoors all day long.

By then, wed moved in and were renting out our old flat. We never touched her half, but years of neglect meant it had fallen to bits. Ive no idea how she ever thought shed managetheres no heating, and the place smells dampyet she turned up with a suitcase, asking to stay for a week. I felt obliged to let her in.

Her little boy is as noisy as she is. She behaved exactly as she pleased, taking no notice of anyone else. I work from home, so the constant commotion drove me mad. Eventually, I moved in with a friend who was going away anyway, happy enough to have someone mind the house.

Circumstances meant I was away almost a month: a week with my friend and then I had to care for my mum, who took ill. I forgot all about my sister-in-law, certain shed have gone home long before.

Imagine my surprise when I got back and found her still there, totally at ease. I asked when she was leaving.

And where would I go? Ive a little one, and its perfectly fine here, she answered.

Well run you back to town tomorrow, I said.

I dont want to go back to town.

If you cant be bothered to tidy up your own half, then off you gothis isnt a hotel.

What right have you to throw me out? This is my house too!

Your parts over the walltake yourself there.

She tried to turn my husband against me, but even he told her she was out of order. Insulted, she packed up and left. A few hours later, my mother-in-law started ringing:

You had no right to make her leaveshe owns it just as much as you!

She could have stayed in her halfshes the lady of that house, my husband replied.

And hows she supposed to live there with a child? No heating, outside looyou should have looked out for your sister.

My husband had had enough and told her everythinghow we offered to split the costs, which would have made it cheaper for everyone. She refused. So why is everyone blaming us now?

We offered my sister-in-law a solution: sell her share to us. She agreed, but asked so much that we could have bought a beautiful house elsewhere for the price. We werent keen on the offer.

So here we arearguing all the time. My mother-in-law sulks, and Sophie (my sister-in-law) is a nuisance. They rarely visit, but when they do, they throw loud parties, play petty tricks, and damage things in the garden.

Weve decided to put up a fence and finally split the grounds for good. No more compromisesthats just what my sister-in-law wanted.