October 17, 2025 at 9:20 pm

Her Mother-in-Law Assumed She Could Move Into Their Renovated Basement, And She Threw A Fit When She Found Out She Couldn’t

by Heide Lazaro

Renovated empty basement

Pexels/Reddit

Living with a mother-in-law can be exhausting.

If you renovated your basement and made it into a guest room, would you let your mother-in-law move in, or would you refuse?

This woman and her husband had renovated their basement for her mother, but her mother-in-law assumed it was for her and wanted to move in.

Read the full story below for all the details.

AITAH For Letting My MIL Become Homeless?

I (35F) have been with my husband, Luke (35M), for 13 years.

We are married for 10 years.

About 8 years ago, we bought an old farmhouse and renovated it

We used my trust fund from my late father’s life insurance and our mutual savings account.

This woman had her basement renovated for her mom, Maddie.

My stepdad Ryan (67M) has a genetic condition and will likely need a nursing home soon. My mom, Maddie (63F), will then be alone.

So Luke and I renovated our basement into a mother-in-law suite for her.

Maddie and Ryan have seen the completed renovations, but they do not know that it was done for them.

But her husband’s mom, Debbie, moved back into town.

Last month, Luke’s mom, Debbie (60F), moved back to town.

She bounces between California and here, never with stable housing or income. She’s incredibly dependent upon her four children.

She has been staying at a local campground and a friend’s house.

Recently, a storm came through our area, ruining her tent, so Luke paid cash for her to stay for a week in a hotel.

Debbie assumed the basement was meant for her.

Last week, we were attending a family event.

My sister-in-law mentioned the mother-in-law suite in our basement, and Debbie assumed it was for her.

At the time, we did not know this conversation had even taken place. That was until Debbie showed up at our home on Saturday evening.

Luke explained that it was for his mother-in-law, not his mother.

So she blew up, called us ungrateful, and refused to leave until I called the sheriff’s department.

Maddie was grateful, but thought Debbie needed the place more.

Yesterday, Ryan and Maddie came to our home for our weekly lunch, and we told them about Debbie.

I explained why we had renovated the basement.

Maddie said that she was touched, but didn’t need to move in yet.

Instead, she suggested that we should allow Debbie to stay temporarily because she is in a more urgent need of a place to stay.

But the couple did not want Debbie to move in.

Luke and I discussed the situation, and I stated the honest truth: I’m selfish and do not want to live with her.

Luke agrees with me, but we are now torn.

Debbie’s friend kicked her out, and our basement is empty, but again, it was intended for my mom. AITAH for refusing to let Debbie stay?

Are they wrong to refuse to let Debbie move in, or are they making the right decision?

Let’s read the reactions of other Reddit users to this story.

This user shares their personal thoughts.

Screenshot 2025 08 25 at 10.31.58 PM Her Mother in Law Assumed She Could Move Into Their Renovated Basement, And She Threw A Fit When She Found Out She Couldnt

This person gives their honest opinion.

Screenshot 2025 08 25 at 10.33.03 PM Her Mother in Law Assumed She Could Move Into Their Renovated Basement, And She Threw A Fit When She Found Out She Couldnt

Here’s a valid point from this person.

Screenshot 2025 08 25 at 10.33.38 PM Her Mother in Law Assumed She Could Move Into Their Renovated Basement, And She Threw A Fit When She Found Out She Couldnt

Short and straightforward.

Screenshot 2025 08 25 at 10.34.09 PM Her Mother in Law Assumed She Could Move Into Their Renovated Basement, And She Threw A Fit When She Found Out She Couldnt

And lastly, you’re not responsible for her, says this person.

Screenshot 2025 08 25 at 10.35.02 PM Her Mother in Law Assumed She Could Move Into Their Renovated Basement, And She Threw A Fit When She Found Out She Couldnt

An entitled person is not someone you want in your home.

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.