Dear Queenie,
My daughter and her family have been living with us for several years, since her husband lost his job, but even after he found a new job they didn’t look for their own place to live. They don’t pay rent or help us with the utility bills and they don’t do anything to help around the house.
Queenie, how do I get them to move out?—Fed-up father
Dear Father,
To begin with, as long as your son-in-law has a job and an income from it he should be paying rent and/or contributing to the cost of utilities as long as they are living in your house.
Give them an ultimatum: A reasonable time to find their own place to live and a reasonable amount of rent to pay you until they do. If necessary, help them find a place and help them pack up their things.
You referred to the “family” so I assume there are children involved. Offer to look after the children as needed while they are house-hunting and moving, and even after they move.
And if they have not moved out by the deadline you give them, raise their rent enough to encourage them to find a place of their own.
