What would you do?

We are renting a house from a family member we no longer talk to. We still pay our rent on time, sort out issues, upkeep of the place, etc. We literally just don't talk anymore, this family member is a real piece of work.

When we moved in we found this family member had left a lot of furniture here. To be exact, two bookshelves, an old armchair, three cabinets and a whole TV cabinet set (cabinet, coffee table and side table (and even an old box TV)). We've just kept them here because they haven't really been in the way, we've managed to work with them.

But we now want to start replacing/ upgrading some of our furniture and the TV cabinet set just absolutely clashes with everything and is frankly too big for the house (I want to rearrange but it won't fit where I want to move it).

***

So now we're stuck in a situation and I'm just wondering what you'd do:

Put all the cabinets and such in a storage unit and take the payment for the unit off the rent.

Sell the set and keep the money aside and pay it over to them either as a lump sum now, or keep it in an interest bearing account until they ask.

***

The odds of this family member EVER utilising the set again is highly unlikely given their age and the fact that the next place they move into, will be a retirement unit and there most definitely will NOT be space for this huge set there. We know for a fact they'd have better use of the money.

But we also understand that it's not really ours to sell, even though it's been in the home we've been renting from them now for seven years (the previous tenants were also using it, it's probably been about 10 years since this family member even lived here and used the set).

We also can't talk to this family member about it. As mentioned they are a real piece of work and no words have been exchanged for about two years now. They are a narcissist, I surely don't need to elaborate.

So what would you do?

#######

#######

I just want to make one thing clear. I am not wanting to sell the stuff because I'm a bitch or a brat or whatever else some of the more judgement comments think I am. Given the family members age and financial situation, selling is the more feasible option. I don't want this family member to end up paying thousands a year for something they're ultimately going to sell in any case because they have no need or space for it.

We cannot talk to this family member because they have alienated themselves so badly NO ONE in the family talks to them anymore. If that was an option, we'd have done that. We're not difficult or unreasonable people. We still have the family members best interests at heart.

########

########

*Sarah, thank you for you comment. Talking to them is NOT an option. Last time we spoke it ended in an argument because they expect us to pay for rent AND for maintenance on the house (not talking replacing lightbulbs and such. We're talking replacing gutters that are falling apart and replacing plumbing throughout the entire house and that kind of thing- full on renovations type things). As mentioned, this person is a narcissist. We are living here because there's a lot of sentimental value.

We are paying a very fair price for the house, we asked them years ago to remove their stuff as we are paying for exclusive use of the place and we were told back then they have no space for it. We are NOT paying for the house FURNISHED. We've kept it because they've not made any plans with it for seven years.

I'm not sure why you are telling us to "man up and pay for storage" when that is the exact one option we have spoken about.

@Lydia thank you for your opinion on a situation you have only a bit of info on. But yes, to answer your snarky comment we are paying a very fair price. We paying far more the previous tenants were (literally double, because THEY took advantage). On top of that we are doing minor repairs at our expense (that should still be the responsibility of the owner, but we're paying. Things like plumbing issues or cupboards literally falling apart). ADDED to that, we are paying for services separately whereas the previous tenants weren't and it was coming out the rental amount (this was at OUR request). AND we have taken it upon ourselves to increase the rental amount by 8% yearly instead of the standard 5%. So I'm not sure why you think we're entitled just because we want a TV set we requested the owner remove, out.

@Sharon thank you. Next of kin is not talking to this relative either. We've tried.

#####

We were asked to move in and want to buy the place one day. We don't want to deal with tenants when we do. Family member is looking to sell within the next year or so.

I know it's a strange situation, but it is what it is. It's a schlep to move again, plus most homes here only allow two pets.