Teen Not Paying Parents Rent After Their 'Free Loader' Lover Arrived Backed

A teenager refusing to pay his parents rent after a man who was part of their "open relationship" began staying the night has been applauded online.

The 18-year-old explained in a Reddit post that he had paid his mom and dad rent since he was 16, claiming they'd be high and dry if he didn't chip in financially.

The teen shared the situation to the site's Am I The A**hole forum, under username u/ThrowRASelfishParent, where he asked for opinions on the situation.

He told Newsweek his name is Jim, he's based in Australia, and paid his parents $225 AUD ($146) a week rent, out of a weekly total of $425 AUD ($276), "along with half the other bills and all the groceries."

As Jim noted, Australians pay rent weekly, with the amount closely matching the average rent for the first quarter of 2019, at $436 AUD ($283), according to website Internations.org.

"The minimum house rent you will need to live in Australia's most affordable capital city (Perth) is 385 AUD (269 USD) per week," the website said.

Living with parents is common for teenagers Down Under, as the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) noted: "In 2016, 43% of 20–24 year olds were still living with their parents; compared to 1981, when 36% of 20–24 year olds were living with their parents."

The statistics, published in 2019, stated that the older someone is, the less likely they are to live in the parental home, although young people are choosing to leave home later than ever.

"In 2016, 17% of 25–29 year olds and 7% of 30–35 year olds still lived at home. Whereas in 1981, the figures were 10% of 25–29 year olds and 4% of 30–35 year olds," the website added.

The chart below, provided by Statista, shows where it's hardest to afford a home.

You will find more infographics at Statista

Jim explained that his parents announced they were in an open relationship, and they are seeing someone. He was fine with the arrangement until the man started staying the night.

"He treat[s] this place like it's his, tries to tell me what to do and eats all our (MY) food. I tried talking to my parents about it but they just said it's their house so they can have who they want here," he said.

Jim claimed he tried his best to ignore it until the man crossed a line. "I really tried to put up with it until this guy tried to discipline my dog," he said.

The teen admitted he "yelled the house down" and called the man a string of profanities, including "piece of s**t free loader."

He continued: "My parents rushed to see what's going on and tell me off but instead I told them off calling them terrible parents, that they can shove their house up their a** and that I'm not going to pay rent to live in a house I have no say in."

Jim told his parents that their lover can cover his portion of the rent, and he moved out to stay with his boyfriend.

Incredibly, the older generation still wanted payment, as he continued: "My parents recently texted me asking for my rent. I told them to f**k off and reminded them of what I said. I feel like I'm not wrong to not pay rent anymore but I went so overboard with my words."

The post, which can be read here, has amassed more than 8,000 upvotes since being posted Sunday, as people overwhelmingly backed the teen's stance.

The top comment on the post, by TemptingPenguin369, amassed more than 12,000 upvotes alone, and said: "NTA [not the a**hole]; they turned you into a paying tenant at 16 and I'm glad you're out. Do you have your dog with you? That would've been the final straw for me as well."

In response Jim confirmed his pet was with him, claiming they're "attached at the hip."

Jloio001 replied to the post, suggesting: "If you can, try to get all your important documents (passport, birth certificate, etc.) and possessions in case they purge your stuff or withhold them in exchange for 'rent.' (Also NTA, and glad you and your dog got out.)"

SuccumbedToReddit pointed out: "Don't forget, even after all that going down, the first you hear from them is asking for money? SMH [shaking my head] and also NTA."

Speaking to Newsweek, the teen said: "The support from the AITA Reddit has been amazing. At the moment there's not really an update since it's all pretty new but no I won't be going back to my parents and never plan to go back.

"I will likely go no contact with them and stay living with my boyfriend."

Update 9/27/22, 10:09 a.m. ET: This article was updated to add the Redditor's name.