AITA for evicting my daughter and selling her home?

In the unpredictable world of family and finances, the line between love and business can quickly blur—often with painful consequences. This is a story of a mother who, in an attempt to help her daughter recover from a messy divorce, bought her townhome at a bargain price. What started as a gesture of support soon spiraled into a tangled web of deception, unpaid rent, and broken promises.

With the weight of mounting losses and legal complications, the mother finds herself forced to take drastic measures. Under the California sun, where property values soar and family ties can be as fragile as glass, the situation escalated from financial mismanagement to personal betrayal.

The mother’s decision to evict her daughter and put the property on the market is not just about money—it’s a declaration that trust, once broken, cannot be easily rebuilt. This narrative invites us to examine the complexities of familial obligations, the perils of informal financial arrangements, and the tough love sometimes required to protect one’s future.

‘AITA for evicting my daughter and selling her home?’

In 2020 I bought my daughter’s Alexis town home (that she was renting from someone else) that she has been living in since 2016. My daughter was having a tough time since her divorce and the prices was under market in August of 2020. I was stupid and naive about Alxis. She said she got screwed over in the divorce even though she received alamony.

Her ex moved out in March 2020 and she had a previous roommate that she said she hated from March - January (I bought the house during this time butI couldn’t legally evict that roommate due to Covid laws) I was happy when she moved out on her own. Next was Alexis boyfriend and she refused to rent out the spare room with bathroom and moving him in. He was a grifter and held these odd jobs like instana cart.

He moved out in late 2023 and I operated the townhouse at a loss because they never matched me on rent to cover my mortgage. Next there was this new girl Amanda who sub leased from my daughters. This is for a room in a popular spot in California and Alexis said she was changing her $2000 and Alexis was paying her part.

I thought Amanda defaulted because that’s what my daughter told me. I moved in with eviction paperwork as soon as I could legally do so. It was sent and Amanda had a lawyer and showed me the receipts where she paid Alexis every month on time or earlier. I asked my daughter wtf is going on and my daughter lied to me it has been her not paying.

I’m stupid and at moment that I realize Alexis was the problem. Amanda still moved out and I have a pending lawsuit from her. I told Alexis that I’m sick of owning this town house at a loss and I’m selling it before the housing bubble bust. My daughter thinks I should give her the profit and I told her she is the reason I’m selling it she has never paid rent.

I told her I could legally evict her or she can move out on her own. My family is thinking that I am the worst mom and I have told everyone that Alexis has not only scammed me but other people. Alexis checked herself in rehab trying to make it harder on me to evict her but now I’m determined and my family is upset and her father(divorced) cannot figure how I can do this to her?

Navigating family property disputes is one of the most challenging legal and emotional terrains a person can face. In this case, the mother’s decision to evict her daughter and sell the townhome arises from a complex blend of financial hardship and personal betrayal. The situation underscores the risks inherent in informal family financial arrangements—especially when verbal agreements replace legally binding contracts.

A closer look reveals that the mother’s intentions, however well-meaning at the start, became clouded by miscommunication and unmet expectations. Over time, promises of timely rent payments and transparency gave way to allegations of fraud, leaving her with mounting losses and an increasingly untenable situation. When personal relationships overlap with financial transactions, clear documentation and legal safeguards become indispensable.

According to an article on Nolo, “Without a written agreement, personal transactions can quickly devolve into legal battles that strain family relationships.” This insight serves as a crucial reminder that even in acts of love, proper legal channels must be maintained to protect all parties involved. In this case, the failure to establish clear rental agreements has not only led to a bitter dispute but has also exposed the emotional cost of mixing family with finances.

Ultimately, while the decision to evict one’s own daughter may seem harsh, it reflects a necessary step to prevent further financial and emotional harm—a step that is often as legally complex as it is personally painful.

Here’s what Redditors had to say:

Here are some hot takes from the Reddit community—raw, unfiltered, and candid. The comments paint a picture of a divided family: some users applaud the mother’s tough stance, viewing it as a necessary measure against deceit and financial irresponsibility, while others decry the harshness of evicting a child, even when fraud is alleged. The consensus among many, however, is that clear boundaries and accountability are crucial, especially when trust has been repeatedly broken.

Apart-Scene-9059 − Info: Does your daughter have d**g/substance abuse problems?

[Reddit User] − NTA.  I do think Alexis is using rehab to dodge you.  But this is a case where you have to do something that seems like AH behavior.  Alexis lied to you, maybe in a way that amounts to fraud, and you are being sued because of it.  My suggestion is that you talk to your attorney and line up a potential lawsuit against her for fraud and anything else you can think of.  Then you give her two choices.  

Choice 1.  She leaves the house quietly on such and such a date and, in exchange, you agree not to sue her and give a neutral reference to future landlords.   Choice 2.  She stays in the house, and you sue the bejesus out of her. This means that any landlord or employer who does a background check will find multiple suits for fraud and failure to pay rent against her, rendering her unemployable and virtually unable to find a place to live. 

And this will end with her getting tossed out on her ear anyway.   And if any of your family members offer up comments from the peanut gallery, tell them you will be happy to facilitate her move to one of their properties.  

subsailor1968 − NTA. Evict her. The family that thinks it is too harsh can house her. She’s a leech and a liar.

LawyerDad1981 − ***"I realize Alexis was the problem."***. And she still is.. ***"My daughter thinks I should give her the profit"***. Because.....why?. ***"My family is thinking that I am the worst mom"***. Then they are welcome to take her in. They can think what they like.. ***"Alexis has not only scammed me but other people."***. And she's going to keep on doing it.. ***"her father(divorced) cannot figure how I can do this to her"***. Again, he is welcome to take in her freeloading ass.. NTA.

MiscreantMarsupial − Info: did you buy the town house as a gift to your daughter? Were you charging her rent? You refer to it as your daughter's town house in the first sentence but sounds like title is in your name?

ConnectionRound3141 − NTA You are being sued because of your daughter’s lies. Do you realize how expensive a wrongful eviction is? You are screwed here. I really hope you aren’t in California where damages are tripled in cases of wrongful eviction or withholding deposits. Next time your family complains, point out that due to your daughter’s lies you are being sued. Offer them the house and let them get a mortgage and then rely on your deadbeat daughter to make them whole.

iconjurer − NTA. You stuck your neck out and not only did she not hold up her end of the deal, she scammed you every chance she had. You can't trust a thing she says, and that's on her. If she wants that back, she'll have to work f**king hard for it.

As for rehab, she could be sincere. Or she could be using it as a way to reframe herself as the victim to avoid responsibility for her appalling behavior. Either way, she is an adult and you've done plenty. She needs to take care of herself, and you need to do what's best for you.. Sell the townhome. Stop enabling your daughter.

StupidDr1ver79 − NTA. You can't keep throwing good money after bad. Alexis is a deadbeat and has been defrauding you. It's time to put your foot down and get rid of her.

tawstwfg − NTA. I would be in heaven if my parents bought me a home! I’d rent out the second room, if needed, and make sure they have every dime every month. She sounds like an entitled brat…sorry 😬 Her dad can take over housing the leech if he doesn’t think you’re being reasonable.

der_innkeeper − NTA. I am curious as to why/how Amanda is able to sue you, though.. Did you never talk to her about the late rent, or just jump to eviction?

In conclusion, this turbulent tale of evicting a daughter and selling her home is a stark reminder of how family, finances, and trust can collide with devastating effects. The mother’s decision—driven by the need to stop further losses and assert accountability—raises important questions about where we draw the line between support and enabling destructive behavior.

Was this a case of tough love or a betrayal of familial duty? How should one balance compassion with self-preservation in the face of repeated deceit? We invite you to share your thoughts and experiences: What would you do if you were caught in a similar predicament?

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