My sister-in-law spent her summer holidays at a seaside resort while we were knee-deep in renovations, and now she wants to live in comfort.
We suggested to her that we pool our money and renovate the house together, but she said she didnt need to. Now, shes asking to move in with us, claiming that her half is completely unlivable. Its her own fault!
The house originally belonged to my husbands grandmother. When she passed away, it was left to both my husband and his sister. It was rather old, but we decided to do it up and live there. The house is split in two, each with a separate entrance, so two families could easily live there without bumping shoulders. The garden and back area are shared, and both halves have the same number of rooms.
The inheritance was sorted after we got married, and it all went quite smoothly. My mother-in-law didnt want the housecity life suited her just fine. She told her son and daughter to do whatever they fancied.
My husband and my brother-in-law saved a bit of money and fixed the roof, as well as reinforced the foundations. We hoped to carry on with the refurbishment, but my sister-in-law exploded. She wasnt about to sink a penny into what she called that ramshackle cottage. Her husband just kept his head downhes never been one for arguing.
We dreamed of living in that house. The village isnt far from the town, we have our own car, so the commute is easy enough. Plus, we were fed up with the cramped one-bedroom flat we were renting. Wed wanted a house for years, but building from the ground up would have cost a fortune.
For my sister-in-law, the place was no more than a holiday home. She planned to visit in the summer, throw a barbecue, maybe relax for a bit. She made it clear we werent to rely on her for anything.
Over the next four years, we fully renovated our half of the house. Yes, we took out a loan, but that was a small price to pay for our dream. We added a bathroom, put in central heating, rewired the electrics, replaced all the windows, and enclosed the porch. It felt like non-stop work, 24/7, but we stayed determined.
Meanwhile, my sister-in-law was always off on some trip or another, paying no mind to us or her side of the house. She lived for herself and her hobbies. Then she had a baby and went on maternity leave.
Suddenly, no more holidays, and their money was much tighter. Now she remembered her half of the house. Its not easy being cooped up in a flat with a baby, when here the little one could run about in the fresh air all day.
By now, wed moved into the renovated half and were letting our old flat. We never touched her side, but over the years its become almost derelict. I honestly have no idea how she thought she could stay there with a young child and no heatingshe showed up with a suitcase planning to spend a month. She asked if she could stay with us just for a weekwhat could I do but let her in?
Her son is a lively handful, much like his mother, who acts as if the place is hers alone. She had no regard for anyone elses comfort. As I work from home, this was a nightmare, so for a while, I moved in with a friend who happened to be away and was happy for me to keep an eye on her house.
Circumstances meant I didnt return until nearly a month had passed. My friend was away for a week, then my mum took ill so I had to look after her. I assumed my sister-in-law must have gone back ages ago.
Imagine my surprise when I walked in to find her still there, making herself completely at home. I asked her when she was planning to leave.
Where would I go? she replied. Ive got a small child, and were quite comfortable here.
Well take you back to town tomorrow, I told her.
I dont want to go back to town.
You couldnt even be bothered to clean up your own place in all this time, so you need to go backthis isnt a hotel.
What gives you the right to throw me out? This is my house, too!
Your house is on the other side of the wall. Go and stay there.
She tried to turn my husband against me, but he backed me up and told her she had overstayed her welcome. She took offence and finally left. A few hours later, my mother-in-law was ringing me up:
You had no right to throw her out. Its her property.
Shes welcome to her side of the houseshe can be the lady of her own home, my husband replied.
How is she supposed to live there with a baby? Theres no heating and the loo is outside. You could help your sister.
That set my husband off, and he told his mum everythinghow wed suggested working together on the renovations, which wouldve been cheaper in the long run. She refused. Why is everyone blaming us now?
We offered her another option: sell her half to us. She agreed, but named a price high enough to buy a ready-made house anywhere. We didnt take her up on it.
Now, its all arguments. My mother-in-law is constantly upset, and Harrietmy sister-in-lawis a nuisance. They rarely visit, but when they do, its loud parties, mischief, and damage to things in the garden.
Weve started building a fence to completely separate our property. Therell be no more compromisejust as my sister-in-law has insisted.
