Buying a home is not only a huge commitment, it’s quite a process as well. You have to deal with things such as looking at homes, squaring away financials, negotiating prices, and handling closing costs.

So, what would you do if a friend who was supposed to help dropped out early in the process and then came back at the last minute, demanding to be part owner?

Would you let them in on the deal? Or would you put your foot down and refuse?

In the following story, one homeowner finds himself in this exact situation and wonders if he’s in the wrong.

Here’s how it all went down…

AITA for putting my foot down and telling my friend he can’t be a part homeowner?

I am currently in the process of buying my first house and am past the point of no return. The purpose is to move out for the first time with a long-time friend.

I had discussed that one of us buy a home and we split the monthly cost as it was cheaper than the apartments we were looking at. We’d also be able to do whatever we want as there wouldn’t be any fees or restrictions (i.e., $75/month pet fees).

Unfortunately, they dropped out of the home-buying process months ago. They left me to look for a house with no help or input from them, saying, “I’ll let you handle it,” so I did.

Now that all the work is done, he’s acting interested.

Months later, after multiple viewings, offers, and negotiations, here we are. I told them about the house and said we were moving forward on one a couple of weeks ago, telling them the price, and they said ok.

I reminded him again and asked if he’d be ready to go, and now he has started to get it and said he’ll start. I found out they didn’t look at the listing and didn’t research the area. They didn’t even have a bed or plans to get a bed until that moment.

So, the other day, we were talking. I had sent them the price showing the cost for everything by month, and they’re wondering now why they are being charged for things like the taxes on the house or insurance, even though they’re not co-owners.

Here’s where he doubles down.

I’ve tried to explain that it’s rent, and any other landlord would charge similarly to cover their mortgage if they didn’t pay cash, but they seem to be pulling back unless they’re co-owners.

I feel bad about it since they’re a longtime friend, but I have to put my foot down on this.

They gave up and handed everything to me.

I’ve done all the work, looked at houses, gotten financials settled, negotiated prices, and sunk nearly $10k into the process, with closing costs and other expenses, just to have them whine about not getting a part of this investment.

Where have you been bud?

AITA?

Wow! The friend has some nerve.

Let’s see what the folks over at Reddit had to say about the situation.

This person has some questions.

According to this person, those fees are always included in the rent.

Great thoughts!

This person feels he shouldn’t have offered a breakdown of the rent price.

If he wanted to be included as an owner, he should’ve helped.

You can’t expect someone else to do all of the work and have something just given to you.

If you thought that was an interesting story, check out what happened when a family gave their in-laws a free place to stay in exchange for babysitting, but things changed when they don’t hold up their end of the bargain.