AITA for telling my brother he has to by my half of our inherited home?
Family inheritance can bring out the worst in people, and OP (age unknown) is facing the ultimate freeloading sibling problem. Their 51-year-old brother has been living rent-free for years—and now that their parents have passed and the childhood home is legally split between them, OP wants their fair share.
But when OP told their brother he needs to buy out their half, he threw a fit. His reasoning? “Why should I give you money for something you got for free?” Never mind that he got it for free too and has never contributed a dime to property taxes or upkeep.
Now OP is wondering: Are they wrong for putting their foot down? Or is it time for their brother to face reality?
‘AITA for telling my brother he has to by my half of our inherited home?’
Expert Analysis:
The Legal Reality: OP Has Rights to Their Half
When a house is inherited by multiple heirs, each owner has legal rights to their portion. That means OP’s brother can’t just claim the house as his own—he either needs to compensate OP for their half or agree to sell the house.
According to estate law, when two or more people inherit a property, there are three primary options:
- One heir buys out the other’s share – OP’s brother would pay OP for their half, and the house would be solely his.
- The house is sold, and proceeds are split – The home is put on the market, and both heirs walk away with equal shares of the profit.
- A partition action is filed – If one heir refuses to cooperate, the other can petition the court to force the sale of the house.
If OP’s brother won’t buy OP out or pay rent for their half of the property, OP can legally force a sale.
The Entitlement Complex: Why Some Siblings Think They Deserve More
OP’s brother is the classic “freeloader sibling”—the one who was coddled, financially dependent on their parents, and never forced to grow up.
According to Dr. Ramani Durvasula, a clinical psychologist specializing in entitlement issues, siblings who are financially dependent on parents for long periods often develop a “default ownership” mentality. They assume:
- “I lived here, so it’s mine.”
- “You have a house already, so I deserve this one.”
- “Our parents took care of me, so now you should too.”
But OP isn’t obligated to enable their brother’s freeloading. They have their own mortgage and financial responsibilities—why should they pay for a house they don’t even live in?
Lessons Learned & Moving Forward
- OP’s Brother Doesn’t Get a Free House – He either buys OP out, pays rent, or agrees to sell. There’s no “I deserve this for free” option.
- Legal Action Might Be Necessary – If OP’s brother refuses to negotiate, a partition action may be the only way to force the sale.
- Stop Paying Property Taxes for Someone Else – OP shouldn’t be responsible for subsidizing their brother’s living situation. If he wants the house, he can pay the bills.
- Freeloaders Never Change Without Consequences – OP’s brother has never paid rent or taken financial responsibility—so why would he start now without being forced to?
Here’s the comments of Reddit Users:
Most users agreed OP’s brother is trying to gaslight them. He got the house for free too, so why should he get OP’s share for nothing? Many suggested OP take legal action—either forcing a sale or charging rent for OP’s half.
Some pointed out that OP should stop paying property taxes entirely—because if the house gets a tax lien, it affects both of them. Others encouraged OP to get a lawyer involved immediately—since their brother clearly won’t cooperate.
What do you think—should OP force a sale immediately, or give their brother one last chance to buy them out? Let’s discuss.