AITA for putting a single mom at risk of eviction after she complained about a room in my house?

A garage draped in plastic tarps, buzzing with woodworking tools, shouldn’t spark a neighborhood saga, but for one creative couple, it has. Living in half of their duplex, they face wild accusations from their single-mom tenant, who calls the husband’s workspace a “Dexter” lair and spreads rumors he’s a threat

Police visits yield nothing, yet her gossip escalates, painting the couple as villains. Exhausted, they warn her of eviction for stirring trouble. Now, she claims they’re heartless, swaying some neighbors. In a quiet duplex where craftsmanship meets chaos, this tale of boundaries and backlash unfolds. Can the couple clear their name, or will tenant drama saw through their peace?

‘AITA for putting a single mom at risk of eviction after she complained about a room in my house?’

My wife and I live in one side of a duplex. We're both 'creatives', with trades learned from our families. My wife is a seamstress, and I do woodwork. In our duplex, space is tight and permits are indefinitely delayed, so I have to work out of the garage. I keep the walls covered in plastic tarp to keep things clean and contained.

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The walls are good enough, and I've reinforced them in that room in particular as best I can without actually building out. There is another door into the house also. I work fairly standard hours usually, but sometimes to finish a project, I'll work well into the night. I've never had complaints about noise before.

The person on the other side is a single mom with multiple kids. She started to complain about walking by the garage because it 'looks like something out of Dexter' (I've never seen it). It's now grown into her telling everyone that I'm a real life Dexter,

that my wife is probably terrified of me and I'm holding her hostage because she 'doesn't even have a car' (she can't drive for medical reasons), and that she's 'scared' of me and thinking about buying a gun to 'protect her kids'. She's even called the police multiple times, who have come out.

Nothing came of it because they know us and some of them have been customers before, but it's still scary in today's world and unnecessary. We've offered to talk to her and explain but she thinks its a 'trap'. I don't usually advertise this fact, but we technically own the entire duplex.

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My wife's aunt gave it to us with the caveat that profits from renting out the other half would go into a trust that we can't access until we're 30. The actual property management is done by a third party, but we have some level of control over who lives there.

We're really tired of her/this, so we had a warning sent that she will be evicted if she keeps this up as its creating a noise disturbance. She's now sobbing that we're trying to 'put a single mom on the streets'. Now people that were on our side are saying that we went too far and shouldn't have done that. AITA?

This couple’s clash with their tenant over her “Dexter” rumors and slander is a thorny landlord-tenant issue. The tenant’s complaints about the husband’s garage escalated into false accusations of danger and hostage-taking, prompting police visits and community gossip. The couple’s eviction warning, citing her disturbances, is a response to her unchecked behavior. Reddit’s support highlights her overreach, but her single-mom status stirs sympathy.

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Landlord-tenant disputes often hinge on communication breakdowns. A 2023 Zillow report notes 30% of renters face conflicts over property use or behavior. The tenant’s rumors, especially involving police, cross ethical lines, risking the couple’s reputation. Their warning is legally grounded, as slander can justify lease enforcement, but public perception complicates things.

Dr. Susan Forward, author of Toxic Parents, says, “False accusations thrive when boundaries aren’t enforced.” The couple’s attempts to talk were rebuffed, leaving eviction as a last resort. They should document all incidents, including police reports, and work with their property manager to ensure legal compliance. Offering a mediated meeting could defuse tensions, clarifying the garage’s purpose and setting behavior expectations.

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If the tenant persists, eviction may be inevitable to protect their peace. The couple should stay calm, avoiding personal attacks, to maintain community support. This saga shows clear rules keep duplexes drama-free.

Heres what people had to say to OP:

Reddit swung hard with takes on this duplex drama. Here’s what they said:

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fidgetsmom18 - NTA she's creating an issue with the police. She's also accusing you of being a serial k**ler....

SaveTheSquirtles - NTA. At first I just thought she was joking with you a bit (calling you Dexter) but then saying your wife is afraid of you, talking about buying a gun and calling the police?!?!?! She’s gone way overboard over some tarps hanging in the garage. She sounds unstable and she should definitely find another place to live it she’s uncomfortable.

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METH-OD_MAN - We're really tired of her/this, so we had a warning sent that she will be evicted if she keeps this up as its creating a noise disturbance. She's now sobbing that we're trying to 'put a single mom on the streets'. Now people that were on our side are saying that we went too far and shouldn't have done that. AITA?. NTA.

You should just evict her entirely and be done with this crazy woman for good, nothing good will come out of letting her continue to live here. She's already proven she's unreasonable and illogical and is more than willing to spread slander and rumours about you.. You could sue her for all this Dexter s**t she's saying.

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[Reddit User] - so we had a warning sent that she will be evicted if she keeps this up as its creating a noise disturbance. NTA, make sure the police knows about her making up s**t. You're one spider in wifes face away from having a swat team bust into your home.

Besides you haven't kicked her out (yet), you gave her a simple, morally good and easy rule to follow to not get evicted. Also, why the hell is she antagonizing a person she thinks is a serial k**ler and psychopath? You would think you'd want to have a little as possible contact with such person, and not p**s them off.

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Blobbyf1sh - NTA. You gave her a warning. Now its up to her, continue this b**lshit and get evicted or stop. Entirely up to her.

Crashie62 - NTA. You’d think if she’s that ‘terrified’ of you she’d be happy to leave. You can’t make everyone happy.

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banned42069times - NTA. She's crying because you're threatening to evict her for her disruptive behavior that she is in complete control over? F**k her, type of person to start a problem and then cry when they have to deal with the consequences of it. Tell her she has one more chance

ulvok_coven - She's even called the police multiple times, who have come out. Calling the police accusing you of being an armed k**ler is a *threat against your life.* Even if your local PD isn't going to fly off the handle, I'm sure she doesn't know that, and it doesn't really matter. Evict her immediately. NTA.. Even odds on needing a restraining order six months from now, I think.

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[Reddit User] - NTA. And not because you own the place, either, but because she is creating fantasies out of thin air that could easily create a lot of trouble for you if you lived elsewhere. It doesn't even sound like she has an issue with the noise,

but rather that she's created this whole idea in her head that you're a serial k**ler and your wife is being held captive. That is quite unhinged behavior on her part, especially to spread it the way she has and even involving the cops.

tank5 - INFO: were the cop calls for noise complaints during what normal people would consider quiet hours?

These fiery comments back the couple, but do they overlook the tenant’s side?

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This duplex tale shows how rumors can splinter neighborly peace. The couple’s eviction warning counters their tenant’s slander, but her single-mom plea tugs at heartstrings. Legal steps and clear communication could restore calm. What would you do if a tenant spun wild tales about your home? Share your thoughts below!

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