It is commonly said that "business is business," but what if adhering to this principle means depriving a family of valuable time with their terminally ill child? This ethical dilemma has sparked a heated debate online, with many individuals emphasizing the importance of prioritizing human emotions over financial gain, and others acknowledging it’s hard to blame someone for their choices based on financial considerations.
Inherited Property
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In a recent Reddit post, a 47-year-old man shares that he inherited a property from his father 11 years ago. He’s been renting it out to a nice family with a 5-year-old son for the past five years, and they’ve been great tenants without any problems.
Unexpected Temptation
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Just a month ago, a realtor approached him with an enticing offer to sell his property: A potential buyer, captivated by its prime location, was willing to offer a staggering $60,000 above market value.
“This was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up,” the OP notes.
No Lease Renewal
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The tenants currently have a lease that runs until mid-March. In previous years, he has consistently renewed their lease around this time.
However, this time he contacted the husband, Michael, to let him know that the lease will not be renewed this time.
Child with Terminal Illness
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“To say that he [Michael] was upset was an understatement.” The OP learned that both he and his wife are currently in hospice care, accompanying their son who is battling a terminal heart condition. The doctors say their son has only a month or two to live.
He admits that while he was aware of his son's illness, he had no idea of the gravity of the situation until now.
Impossible Relocation
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Michael explained to the OP that “there is no way” that they would be able to pack up their belongings and find a new rental within the given timeframe.
“Heartless Sociopath”
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Being situated in a hospice facility over three hours away, the father finds it “terribly unfair” to expect him to sacrifice any remaining time he has with their son for the sake of moving, calling him a “heartless sociopath.”
Limited Options
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The OP put forth the suggestion of seeking help from a family member to handle the packing and finding a new place, but unfortunately, they told him that the only available family member nearby is the wife's elderly father.
“I’m not sure that I believe this because they are too young to only have one parent between them and I’m sure there are siblings somewhere,” the OP writes.
Can’t Afford a Moving Company
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The OP then recommended that the family hire a moving company to take care of the packing and try to find a rental online, or perhaps use an Airbnb for a short time.
However, Michael told him that the cost of hiring a moving company is beyond his means due to the high medical expenses associated with his son's condition.
“I Feel Bad, But”
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Despite the explanation of their struggles and financial inability to relocate, the OP remained steadfast in their decision to not renew the lease and insisted on selling the house to the interested buyer.
“I feel bad about the situation and realize I’m making things harder for them,” he claims, “but it’s not my responsibility to take care of them.”
Giving the Notice
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Having provided the family with the legally required notice, the OP's wife believes that due to the financial gains expected from selling the house, he should offer to cover the expenses of hiring a moving company and arranging for an Airbnb once they have left the hospice.
Business Is Business
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The OP is reluctant to follow his wife's suggestion because it would require a significant portion of the profit from selling the house. Once again, he is concerned about the financial implications it would have for him.
“Their situation is not my responsibility,” he asserts. “This is the risk people take when they rent.”
Ethics vs Money
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“My wife is now giving me the cold shoulder. So, AITA for selling my house and not renewing the lease of a family with a sick child?” he asks for the community judgment.
“Greed Is A Thing”
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“It's a tough call. In terms of business, I get it. Greed is a thing. But you can't blame your wife for seeing you differently. You just showed her your true character,” one Reddit user wrote.
They voted, “Going with my heart, YTA.”
“Humanity Only Costs $60,000”
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When someone in the comment section remarked, “Your humanity only costs $60,000. Good to know,” one user wrote in response, “Even less than 60k, he won't even cough up a few grand of his free money for movers and an Airbnb. Truly heartless.”
Another chimed in, “What’s even worse is he inherited the house. So in reality the profit he is making is way more, and he still is unwilling to help the family out with the move. YTA big time.”
Inheriting Homes from “Rich Daddies”
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“YTA,” another commenter agreed. “You aren’t ‘making things harder for them’ you are potentially making them miss time with a child who won’t be here for long. You are well within your right to do so and probably won’t give it another thought once the money hits your bank account.”
“It sounds like your wife is a different kind of person, and good for her. Also, people aren’t taking a ‘risk’ by renting, they probably just haven’t inherited homes from their rich daddies.”
Rights Clash with Morality
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“It is possible to be well within your rights, and also an a..hole. Not easy, but possible. And you have achieved this. Congratulations, YTA!” commented one Redditor.
In response, someone else wrote, “Exactly this. Sometimes just because you can do something, doesn't mean you should.”
House Sold
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In a post update, the OP declares that the purchase agreement has been successfully signed. Instead of selling to a developer, the house will be sold to a family who needs to relocate to the area for their son's schooling.
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