My Partner Wants Half the Rent from My Dad’s Gifted House!

When my boyfriend moved in, everything felt great, until he found out I owned the house. I didn’t think it would be a big deal, but his reaction led to a fight we didn’t expect.

I was eighteen when my dad gave me the keys to my own house. It was an old two-story building that had been in our family for years. This gift meant a lot to me. We weren’t wealthy, not at all.

Dad bought the house for a great price from his grandmother’s cousin, and I knew how lucky I was. Every time I walked through the front door, I felt thankful.

The house had its quirks. Each floor was like its own apartment, with separate entrances, kitchens, and bathrooms. I lived upstairs and rented the downstairs to a nice woman named Maggie.

She paid $500 a month—less than most places, but I wasn’t in it for the money. The rent just covered basic costs. I handled everything myself, which gave me a little independence.

Three months ago, my boyfriend, Jason, moved in with me. We’d been together for six months, and it made sense. His lease was ending, and my place had the space. Plus, it felt good to be building a life together.

He was easygoing about most things, and we split groceries evenly, which worked for both of us. We never really talked about finances beyond daily expenses.

He didn’t ask about rent, and I didn’t mention that I owned the house. It wasn’t that I was hiding it; it just didn’t seem important.

One night, while we were watching TV, a news story came on about rising rent prices. Jason groaned and said, “Man, landlords are the worst. They only care about money. It’s like they don’t think about people who can’t afford a place to live.”

I stayed quiet, sipping my tea, unsure of what to say. I didn’t know how to explain that I was technically a landlord. But I wasn’t like the ones he was talking about. I charged fair rent and didn’t try to take advantage of my tenant.

Jason continued, shaking his head. “It’s just wrong, you know? People shouldn’t profit from something as basic as housing.”

I nodded, trying to change the subject as soon as I could. We spent the rest of the night like usual, but his words stuck with me. What would he think if he knew I was renting out part of the house? I didn’t want to make it awkward, so I kept it to myself.

A few days later, I was cleaning the kitchen when there was a knock at the door. I wiped my hands on a towel and opened it to see Maggie looking worried.

“Hey, Maggie, everything okay?” I asked.

She frowned. “My freezer stopped working. I tried everything, but it’s just dead.”

“Oh no,” I said, stepping outside. “Let me take a look.”

I followed her downstairs to her apartment. Sure enough, the freezer was warm, and nothing seemed to be working. I sighed, knowing it was probably time to replace it.

“I’ll pay for a new one,” I said. “Just send me the receipt, and I’ll reimburse you.”

Maggie smiled, relieved. “Thanks, I really appreciate it. I’ll go shopping for one tomorrow.”

“No problem,” I replied. “I’ll make sure you get the money back quickly.”

As I headed back upstairs, I realized Jason had probably heard the whole conversation. He was sitting on the couch when I walked in, looking a bit confused.

“Everything okay with Maggie?” he asked.

“Yeah,” I said casually, “her freezer broke, but I told her I’d cover it.”

Jason raised an eyebrow. “You’re paying for her freezer? Why would you do that?”

I paused, unsure of how to answer. “Well, the freezer was here when she moved in, so it’s kind of my responsibility.”