Mumsnet user outraged over dad’s plan to leave house to all four children

A woman who put her life on hold to save enough for her parents to buy their house has been left feeling ‘tricked and angry’ after her father announced his intention to leave a share to her older half-siblings in his will. 

Taking to the British parenting website Mumsnet, the unnamed woman explained that she saved £42,000 for her parents to buy the house under the Right To Buy scheme, on the understanding she’d inherit it and be able to use the proceeds to care for her disabled brother. 

However, her father has now reneged on their agreement and wants to split the house equally between the woman, her brother, and his two older children from a previous marriage. 

 Commenters were left outraged and advised the woman to seek legal advice, however some accused her of being ‘grabby and entitled’, claiming that she was annoyed because she was hoping to profit from a property worth hundreds of thousands after only contributing to the deposit. 

A woman has revealed she feels ‘tricked and angry’ after making an agreement with her parents that she’d inherit the family home because she spent years saving for the deposit that enabled her parents to buy it (stock image) 

The unnamed woman took to Mumsnet to explain that her father had backed out on their agreement, saying that her mother is upset by the situation but doesn't want to cause a drama over it

The unnamed woman took to Mumsnet to explain that her father had backed out on their agreement, saying that her mother is upset by the situation but doesn’t want to cause a drama over it 

Explaining the situation, the woman said that her parents started thinking about using the Right To Buy scheme when she was in her late teens, but had ‘nowhere near enough’ money.

‘The property is in a desirable area and I saw it as a steal to get it with the Right To Buy Discount, so I agreed to save up and then give the money,’ she explained. 

But to do so, she ‘sacrificed a hell of a lot’, and ‘delayed her dream career at uni’ and moving out to be with a partner so that she could work and save £1,000 a month for the £42,000 deposit, which took years. 

‘I stayed with my parents rent free to be able to save that money,’ she explained. ‘It took a good few years and meant I spent bugger all on fun’.

In a string of posts, the woman explained she'd delayed getting her dream job, socialising, moving in with her partner and having any fun while she worked hard to save for the deposit

In a string of posts, the woman explained she’d delayed getting her dream job, socialising, moving in with her partner and having any fun while she worked hard to save for the deposit 

She claimed that the ‘deal’ with her parents was that once they have passed away, the house would be left to her and that she’d use 25 per cent to support her brother, who can’t live independently. 

However, a few years down the line her father has announced that he feels ‘guilty’ about the original plan because it excludes his two older children, and wants to split it equally in his will. 

‘He says that my financial support in making it possible for them to buy the house is negated by the fact that they let me live there rent free,’ she explained. 

‘My mum was also the bigger contributor for their portion of the deposit out of the two of them. She’s upset but doesn’t want to rock the boat.’

Commenters were outraged by her father's actions, with some suggesting that they would cut him off and not speak to him again

Commenters were outraged by her father’s actions, with some suggesting that they would cut him off and not speak to him again 

She added that he ‘won’t even consider’ the idea of giving her back the £42,000 she contributed and then splitting it four ways because it’s ‘not fair’ on her half siblings. 

‘I’m just so angry at my dad, he is not being fair,’ she said. ‘I’m going to be supporting my brother for the rest of our lives. Part of the reason we agreed to buy the house was to ensure his future. 

‘He gets DLA but we want to make sure he’ll have the best of everything, best supported accommodation etc.

Even 60/40% between me and DB and half siblings I could probably just about accept but 25% each has really hurt me.

‘It’s not just about the financial aspect as I’d still do well on 25%. It’s the fact I feel deceived.’

Others said that even if she has no legal rights, her father is being extremely 'unfair' and that she should not let him get away with it

Others said that even if she has no legal rights, her father is being extremely ‘unfair’ and that she should not let him get away with it 

One user claimed that they would cut ties witht their father completely in the same situation, saying: ‘I don’t do well with people going back on their world. I’d tell him that if that’s his plan, he will have to pay you the 75 per cent back’.

Another suggested that leaving his older children ‘a couple of thousand for a holiday would be more appropriate’.

He’s pulling the rug from under you and it’s going to impact you and your brother whilst doing little to materially alter the situation for your half siblings,’ they wrote.  

Multiple commenters pointed out that ‘living rent free’ is not a fair compensation after she worked so hard to ensure her parents could buy the property, 

However, not everyone was sympathetic to her predicament, with some claiming she was annoyed by missing out on a massive payday. 

‘I guess this is the result of not having a legal agreement because you tried to manipulate the system to your financial advantage,’ one said. ‘No one is really in the right.’

A fellow commenter said that ‘assuming’ she would get 75 per cent of the property for 75 per cent of the deposit was ‘a stretch’, and asked if she also contributed to the mortgage. 

The same sentiments were echoed by another user, who wrote: ‘So you took advantage of your parents right to buy, but why do you think the entire asset appreciation should go to you?’ 

Another questioned why her half siblings should be excluded, just because they received deposits to buy property from their mother. 

‘That doesn’t mean they shouldn’t get from their dad too,’ one wrote. ‘Would you be happy just getting your mum’s half?’ 

‘It’s not for you to decide that they are unworthy because they are older and have well established lives, or because they will also inherit from their mother,’ another agreed. 

‘You cannot know their financial situation and it is irrelevant anyway. Your dad wants to leave something for all of his children.’ 

Others were less sympathetic and accused her of being greedy for wanting to inherit the majority of the property for 75 per cent of the deposit

Others were less sympathetic and accused her of being greedy for wanting to inherit the majority of the property for 75 per cent of the deposit