When my boyfriend moved in, everything was going well, until he found out I owned the house. I didn’t think it would be a big deal, but his reaction caused an argument we didn’t see coming.
I was 18 when my dad gave me the keys to a house. It was an old, two-story building that had been in our family for years. This gift was really special to me. We weren’t rich by any means.
Dad got the house at a great price from his grandmother’s cousin, and I knew how fortunate I was. Every time I walked through the front door, I felt grateful.
The house was a bit unique. Each floor was like a separate apartment, with its own entrance, kitchen, and bathroom. I lived upstairs, and I rented the downstairs to a kind woman named Maggie.
Maggie paid $500 a month—less than most places, but I wasn’t doing it to make money. The rent just helped cover basic expenses. I took care of everything myself, which gave me some independence.
Three months ago, my boyfriend Jason moved in with me. We’d been together for six months, and it seemed like the right time. His lease was ending, and my house had plenty of space. It also felt nice to start building a life together.
Jason was pretty laid-back, and we split the grocery costs evenly, which worked for us. We didn’t really discuss money beyond our everyday expenses.
He never asked about rent, and I didn’t bring up that I owned the house. I wasn’t keeping it a secret; it just didn’t seem like a big deal.
One night, while we were watching TV, a news story came on about rent prices going up. Jason sighed and said, “Landlords are the worst. They only care about money and don’t think about people who can’t afford to live.”
I stayed quiet and sipped my tea, not sure how to respond. I didn’t know how to tell him that I was technically a landlord too. But I wasn’t like the ones he was talking about—I charged a fair rent and didn’t take advantage of my tenant.
Jason kept going, shaking his head. “It’s just not right. People shouldn’t make money off something as basic as housing.”
I nodded and quickly tried to change the subject. We went on with our evening like normal, but his words stayed in my mind. What would he think if he found out I was renting part of the house? I didn’t want things to get awkward, so I didn’t say anything.
A few days later, I was cleaning the kitchen when I heard a knock at the door. I wiped my hands on a towel and opened it to find Maggie looking concerned.
“Hey, Maggie, is everything alright?” I asked.
She looked upset and said, “My freezer stopped working. I tried everything, but it’s not working.”
“Oh no,” I replied, stepping outside. “Let me check it out.”
I went with her downstairs to her apartment. The freezer was warm, and it wasn’t working at all. I sighed, realizing it probably needed to be replaced.
“I’ll cover the cost of a new one,” I said. “Just send me the receipt, and I’ll pay you back.”
Maggie smiled, looking relieved. “Thanks, I really appreciate it. I’ll go look for one tomorrow.”
“No worries,” I said. “I’ll make sure to get the money to you quickly.”
As I went back upstairs, I realized Jason had probably overheard the whole conversation. When I walked in, he was on the couch, looking a little confused.
“Is everything okay with Maggie?” he asked.
“Yeah,” I replied casually, “her freezer broke, but I told her I’d pay for a new one.”
Jason looked surprised. “You’re paying for her freezer? Why would you do that?”
I hesitated, then said, “Well, the freezer was already here when she moved in, so it’s kind of my responsibility.”
He frowned and said, “I don’t get it. Why is that your responsibility?”
I felt the tension growing. “Because… it’s my house. I rent it to her.”
Jason stared at me, his expression shifting as he took in what I just said.
“You own this place?” His voice was sharper and more surprised than I thought it would be.
“Yeah,” I replied slowly. “I thought you knew.”
“No, I didn’t know,” he said, his tone getting colder. “You never told me.”
“Well, it never came up,” I explained. “I wasn’t trying to keep it a secret.”
Jason shook his head and stood up. “I just… I can’t believe this.”
He walked to the window, looking out as if trying to understand everything.
I stayed quiet, unsure of what to say.
The days after Jason found out I owned the house were tense. It wasn’t like before when we’d laugh while cooking or enjoy lazy evenings watching TV. He seemed distant and quiet, and something felt off. I didn’t want to pressure him, so I gave him space, hoping things would go back to normal. But that didn’t happen.
One evening, while I was cleaning the kitchen, Jason walked in. He leaned against the counter with his arms crossed, watching me.
“I still can’t believe you never told me,” he muttered, almost to himself.
I sighed and put down the dish towel. “Jason, I wasn’t hiding it. It just didn’t seem like a big deal. You never asked.”
“Important?” He laughed, but it wasn’t a happy laugh. “You’re a landlord. That’s pretty important. Don’t you think I should have known?”
I opened my mouth to respond, but he interrupted me.
“I thought we were on the same page. I thought we saw things the same way, but now… now I don’t know. Landlords just… they take advantage of people.” His voice was tense, and he wouldn’t look at me.
“I’m not like that!” I said, stepping closer. “Maggie’s rent is fair, and I fix anything that breaks. I’m not some greedy landlord you see on TV.”
He shook his head. “But you’re still making money off someone else’s need for a home.”
I felt anger rising in my chest. “I don’t think you understand what I do. I’m not hurting anyone. I charge Maggie a lot less than what most places do. I take care of the house. I’m not some big landlord trying to take advantage of people.”
“But you still own it. And you still make money off her.”
“Yeah, to keep the house from falling apart! I’m not getting rich from this, Jason. You know that.”
He shook his head and stood up from the couch. “It’s all the same. It’s about power. You have something she needs, and you make her pay for it.”
The next morning, things reached a breaking point. I was on the phone with Maggie, confirming that she had bought the new freezer and that I would reimburse her. Jason walked in just as I was finishing the call.
“So, you’re paying for that?” he asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
“Yes,” I replied, keeping my voice steady. “The freezer was part of the apartment when she moved in. It’s my responsibility.”
He stared at me, frustration boiling over. “Unbelievable.”
“Jason, I don’t know what you want from me,” I said, trying to stay calm. “What do you expect me to do?”
He crossed his arms, his face stern. “I want you to stop being part of the problem. Either stop charging rent or give me half of what you make. If you’re going to be a landlord, at least share the profits.”
I looked at him, shocked. “Share the profits? Jason, I’m not running a business. The rent barely covers my costs.”
“I don’t care,” he snapped. “You’re either with me or you’re not. If you’re going to keep profiting off people, then I deserve my share, too.”
At that moment, something inside me broke. “I’m not giving you half of anything. I’ve worked hard to keep this house running. If you think I’m going to hand over money just because you don’t like how I manage it, then you’re crazy.”
Before I could say anything else, he grabbed the keys from the coffee table and threw them across the room. They hit the wall with a loud noise, and then he swung his fist, hitting the wall. It didn’t break through, but the sound shook me.
“Fine!” he shouted, stepping back. His face was red, and he was breathing hard. “I’m done. I’m not staying here, not with you.”
My hand trembled as I reached for my phone. “Jason, stop,” I said, my voice shaking. “Just calm down.”
But he was already moving toward the door. I quickly typed a text to my dad: Please come now.
Jason didn’t look back as he stormed out, slamming the door behind him. The house felt silent, suddenly too big and empty. I stood there, still shaking, listening to his footsteps fade down the driveway.
A few minutes later, I heard my dad’s car pull up. He didn’t ask any questions when he saw me on the porch, arms wrapped around myself. He just pulled me into a hug, holding me tightly as I tried to catch my breath.
“He’s gone,” I whispered, still shocked by how quickly everything had fallen apart.
The next morning, I woke up to quiet knocking on my door. I still felt numb from the night before, with Jason’s angry words echoing in my head. I dragged myself to the door and opened it to find Maggie standing there with a small basket of freshly baked muffins.
“Hey, I heard what happened,” she said gently. “I’m really sorry.”
I managed a weak smile, surprised she knew so quickly. “Thanks, Maggie. I’m okay.”
She handed me the basket. “I just wanted to bring these up. It’s nothing special, but I thought you could use something sweet.”
I took the basket, feeling a warmth I hadn’t felt since Jason left. “You didn’t have to do that.”