My sister-in-law spent her holidays in a holiday park while we were busy renovating, and now she expects to live in comfort.
We suggested pooling our money with her to do up the house together, but she said she wasnt interested. Now shes asking to move in with us because her half of the place is lacking in amenities. Honestly, its her own fault!
The house belonged to my husbands gran. He and his sister inherited it after she passed away. It was quite rundown, but we decided to fix it up and live there. The house had two separate entrances, so two families could live in peace without getting under each others feet. There was a shared garden and outbuildings, and both sides had the same number of rooms.
The inheritance was divided after we were married, and everything went smoothly no arguments at all. My mother-in-law didnt want any part of the property; she was used to city life. She told her son and daughter they could do as they pleased.
My husband and his brother-in-law managed to save a bit and repaired the roof and reinforced the foundations. We wanted to carry on with more work, but my sister-in-law, Sarah, kicked up a fuss. She had no intention of investing in that dump on stilts. Her husband just looked at the floor and walked out he never argues with her.
My husband and I were planning to move in. The village is just outside town, and weve got our own car, so the commute isnt a problem. We were tired of being cramped in a tiny one-bed flat, and wed long dreamt of having a proper home, but building something new from scratch would have cost a fortune.
For Sarah, the house was just some sort of holiday cottage. She only visited in the summer, to have barbecues and unwind. She told us not to depend on her for anything.
Within four years, we completely renovated our side of the house. We took out a mortgage, but that wasnt the point. We put in a bathroom, central heating, replaced the electrics and windows, and put up a conservatory. The work was nonstop and exhausting, but we were determined to make our dream come true.
All the while, Sarah was jetting off on holiday, not caring what we were up to or what was happening to her half. She was just out to enjoy herself, giving no thought to the house. But then she had a baby and took maternity leave.
That put an end to her getaways now money was tight. Suddenly she remembered her half of the house. Being stuck in a small flat with a little one was tough, but in the countryside the child could run and play outdoors all day.
By this point, wed already moved into the house and were renting out our old flat in town. We hadnt touched Sarahs side at all, but after all these years her half was practically derelict. I dont know how she thought shed live there with no heating she turned up with her suitcase to stay for a month! She asked if she could stay with us for a week so I had to let her in.
Her son is wildly noisy. Just like his mother, who behaved like she owned the place never thinking about anyone else. As I work from home, it drove me up the wall, so I stayed with a friend for a while. She was off travelling, so she was pleased to have someone looking after the house.
As things turned out, I was away for nearly a month. I spent a week at my friends, then my mum fell ill, so I had to care for her. I genuinely forgot about Sarah, assuming shed long since gone home.
Imagine my surprise when I found her still at our place, acting completely at home. I asked her when she planned to leave.
And where else am I supposed to go? she said. Ive got a small child, and Im comfortable here.
Well take you back into town tomorrow, I said.
Im not going back to town.
You couldnt even be bothered to clean your own side, so youre not staying here any longer. This isnt a hotel.
How dare you chuck me out! This is my house too!
Your house is on the other side of that wall. Go there if you like.
She tried to turn my husband against me, but he backed me up, telling her shed taken advantage long enough. She huffed off, and a few hours later my mother-in-law started calling:
You had no right to throw her out. Thats her home too.
She can stay in her half if she likes. Its her home as much as its ours, my husband replied.
How can she manage there with a little one? Theres no heating, the toilets outside. You couldve looked after your sister.
My husband lost his temper and told his mum everything how wed offered to renovate the house together, which wouldve been cheaper than doing each half separately, and that Sarah refused. So why is it our problem now?
We suggested Sarah sell her half to my mum instead. She agreed but at a price so high you could buy a brand new house in perfect condition for it. We werent happy with that at all.
Now were constantly at odds. My mother-in-laws sulking, and Sarah is just a nuisance. They still visit from time to time but, when they do, its chaos loud parties, petty pranks, and damage done to the garden.
So weve started putting up a fence. Were separating the two plots completely theres no room for compromise now. This is exactly what Sarah wanted.
