If you’ve been on Reddit, you’ve likely come across the infamous “Am I The Asshole” (AITA) subreddit, where people seek judgment for their actions in tricky situations. Recently, one post went viral, sparking a heated debate. A young woman asked if she was wrong for not disclosing to her roommates that she owns the house they live in—and that she’s their landlord.
The post starts with user OldOutlandishness252 explaining her situation. She’s an 18-year-old college student who’s been gifted a house near her school by her financially savvy parents. The catch? Her roommates, Sasha (18) and Bea (19), have no idea she’s the owner. Why? Because she thought it might make things awkward. Now, a few months into their living arrangement, things have taken a turn.
A Generous Gift…With a Catch
“So I (18, female) am very lucky in that I have two very hardworking parents who are successful and love me,” she wrote. “We aren’t mega-wealthy, but we are very comfortable.” As part of their real estate portfolio, her parents own multiple houses, which they rent out for extra income.
After she got into her dream school, her parents gifted her a house near campus. However, to avoid certain taxes, they decided to keep the property in their name for now, even though it was already hers in practice. The house, she explains, is quite large, and rather than live there alone, she decided to rent out rooms to earn some extra money.
The problem? She never told Sasha and Bea that she owns the place. Instead, they split rent and bills as if they were just regular roommates. In fact, she doesn’t even pay rent—her father simply sends the money her roommates pay back to her. It worked out well until Sasha discovered her secret.
The Secret’s Out
It all started when Sasha found a couple of checks that had been mailed to OldOutlandishness252. These checks were refunds of the rent Sasha and Bea had paid—money her father was sending back to her. Naturally, Sasha and Bea were furious when they realized what had been going on. They confronted her, and let’s just say it didn’t go well.
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She defended her actions, pointing out that Sasha had no business snooping through her mail in the first place. “I responded by saying that they shouldn’t have gone through my mail in the first place and that it was illegal,” she admits, acknowledging that it may have been a low blow.
Her defense? They weren’t friends when they moved in. She needed roommates, and they needed a place to stay. So why shouldn’t they pay rent like everyone else? After all, she’s not running a charity.
The Debate: Who’s in the Wrong?
The story sparked a flurry of comments, and the responses were mixed.
Many were on OldOutlandishness252’s side. User RumSoakedChap put it bluntly: “Not the asshole. Their reactions justified your decision not to tell them about owning the house.” They went on to explain that if the roommates knew, they might start asking for favors, like rent extensions or discounts, just because they were friends.
Another commenter, kol_al, echoed that sentiment: “These girls are renters, period. It doesn’t matter who collects the rent or where it goes.” They suggested that if Sasha and Bea didn’t like the arrangement, they could find somewhere else to live.
But others weren’t as sympathetic. User inscrutablejane pointed out that owning multiple properties isn’t exactly middle-class behavior. “You need to be aware of how that will affect your interpersonal relationships for your entire life,” they wrote, cautioning that the original poster might be out of touch with how much privilege she has.
Should She Have Told Them?
The real crux of the issue seems to be whether or not she should have disclosed her ownership of the house from the beginning. Some people think it was shady to keep that information from her roommates, arguing that it created an imbalance of power in the household.
User QualityOfMercy didn’t mince words: “You’re the asshole for lying to them. Living with a landlord is different than living with an equal roommate, and they deserve the chance to decide if they want to do that.” They felt that withholding that information was manipulative and undermined the trust between the roommates.
Others agreed, like ImpossibleResolve597, who said: “You’ve been mindgaming them, and there’s a big legal and power difference between a group of roommates and a live-in owner.” They argued that, while she wasn’t wrong to charge them rent, she was wrong to do it without being upfront about the situation.
A Question of Privilege
Then there’s the whole privilege aspect. Some commenters felt that OldOutlandishness252 was downplaying just how lucky she is. Owning multiple properties, and receiving rent money while still in college, isn’t a typical situation for most people, and some felt that she needed to acknowledge that.
One user, CarrottBacon, was especially blunt: “From the out-of-touch, ‘our real estate portfolio doesn’t mean I’m filthy rich’ to lying to your roommates so you could pretend to slum it like the other college poor.”
Was She in the Wrong?
Ultimately, this debate comes down to transparency. While it’s understandable that OldOutlandishness252 didn’t want her roommates to treat her differently because of her financial situation, withholding the fact that she owned the house changed the dynamic in their living arrangement. Whether that was intentional or not, it’s clear her roommates felt blindsided when they discovered the truth.
So, what do you think? Should she have told them from the start, or is it fine to keep that kind of thing private? Let us know in the comments below!
What’s Your AITA Verdict?
Have you ever been in a similar situation? Share your thoughts or vote in our poll—do you think she was wrong, or is it all just a misunderstanding? Leave a comment, and don’t forget to share this story with your friends!