Kick My In-Laws Out Of The House They've Been Renting From Us?

Summary

The Ramsey Show Highlights – Episode Summary

Episode: "Kick My In-Laws Out Of The House They've Been Renting From Us?"
Date: December 5, 2025
Host(s): Dave Ramsey & George Kamel
Caller: Anonymous

---

Overview of the Episode’s Main Theme

This episode centers on a listener struggling with a family and financial dilemma—her aging in-laws have been renting her house for 12 years at a low rate. Now that her own living situation has changed, she’d like to sell the property but feels trapped because her in-laws are elderly, have health issues, and lack the means to relocate. Dave and George dissect the emotional, ethical, and practical facets of “kicking out” family, especially when they're financially dependent and physically frail.

---

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Background of the Caller’s Situation

• Caller’s Home Ownership & In-Laws Renting
  • The caller owns a house in Iowa, rented to her in-laws for over a decade at a minimal price—just enough to cover her old mortgage, now fully paid off.
• Desire to Sell
  • She wants to sell the house but can't “get [her] in-laws out.” The in-laws are not physically or medically capable of moving on their own.
• Family Dynamics and Responsibility
  • The caller’s husband has told his parents multiple times they need to move, but has not taken decisive action.

2. Assessing the In-Laws’ Situation

• Physical Health Problems
  • The mother-in-law cannot walk, and the father-in-law had a heart attack. They cannot manage the 11-acre property.
• Financial Reality
  • The in-laws’ income is approx. $2,000/month, making it unlikely they can rent a suitable new place in their area.
• Efforts to Facilitate a Move
  • The caller offered to buy them a trailer, but a solution hasn’t materialized.

3. Evaluating the Options

• Frank Discussion of Choices
  • Dave and George note that until the in-laws’ health decompensates further (requiring assisted living, hospitalization, etc.), the caller is “kind of stuck.”
  • Quote [04:50] - George Kamel:

    "It sounds to me like until that becomes the situation where their health requires them to move out, you're kind of stuck in the situation."

• Ethical Considerations
  • The hosts recognize that simply putting the in-laws out isn’t morally or practically feasible, as it would effectively render them homeless.
• Long-Term Stalemate
  • The hosts suggest that, without direct involvement from the caller’s husband to physically help his parents relocate, nothing will change.
  • Quote [06:43] - George Kamel:

    "If you guys really want them out, your husband needs to grow a spine and fly back to Iowa and solve this problem."

4. Emotional Toll and Caller’s Struggle

• House Tied to Personal Loss
  • The house has sentimental value—built with the caller’s (now deceased) father, which adds emotional complexity.
  • Quote [03:53] - Caller:

    "My dad and I built this house, and my dad passed away in 2007. And I just can't go back there no more. I'm done."

• Resignation to the Situation
  • The caller and her husband feel powerless; her husband’s conversations with his parents have led nowhere.

5. Practical Advice

• No Debt for Upgrades
  • The hosts sternly warn against taking on debt to fix or upgrade the house for the in-laws.
  • Quote [07:19] - Dave Ramsey:

    "Whatever you do, do not go into debt over the situation."

• Minimal Investment Until Change Is Needed
  • Only maintain the house for basic inhabitability, don’t invest further.

6. Hard Truths and Final Takeaways

• Costs are Inevitable
  • “Either you let them stay and you can't sell, or you try to get them to an assisted living senior living or a rental that makes sense for them financially. But either way, this is going to cost you.”
    — Dave Ramsey [07:25]
• The “Wait It Out” Strategy
  • Without immediate alternatives, the hosts advise waiting until a crisis or shift in the in-laws’ health makes a move necessary.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Being Taken Advantage Of:
  • George Kamel [02:36]:

    “You guys are being taken advantage of. The more detail we get.”

• On Family Responsibility:
  • Dave Ramsey [06:05]:

    “Unless [your husband] wants to go back to Iowa and handhold them... unless he, as their son, goes back and cleans this mess up, then you're holding until it takes care of itself.”

• Commentary on Health and Longevity:
  • Dave Ramsey [04:22]:

    “People can live into their 90s, even if they're, you know, they physically can't get around. So I'm wondering, is there a condition... that says, hey, this might be ending in the next five years?”

• Practical Wisdom:
  • George Kamel [07:03]:

    "As long as it's inhabitable by them, don't spend a nickel on it."

---

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:06: Caller explains situation with in-laws renting property
• 01:27: Confirmation husband is on board but not proactive
• 01:48: In-laws’ serious health decline revealed
• 02:36: Hosts call out that caller is being taken advantage of
• 03:22: In-laws’ low monthly income discussed
• 04:22: Dave questions about realistic future lifespan and capacity
• 04:50: George sets the reality of being “stuck”
• 06:05: Direct advice for husband’s role
• 07:19: Warning not to take debt for repairs

---

Conclusion

This episode delivers a candid, practical, and sometimes hard-nosed discussion about family obligations, boundaries, and the personal cost of “helping” when there seems to be no way out. The hosts sympathize, but their advice leans toward drawing boundaries, holding realistic expectations, and avoiding further financial entanglement. Ultimately, they outline that there are no easy answers—just better and worse outcomes, all of which require action, honesty, and sometimes, the courage to say no.

---

For listeners facing similar dilemmas, George and Dave’s message is clear:
Take care of your own finances, avoid sinking more resources into unsustainable situations, and, if necessary, have the tough conversations—preferably led by those with the most direct relationship and responsibility.

Transcript

[Dave Ramsey]

Brought to you by the EveryDollar app.

[George Kamel]

Start budgeting for free today.

[Caller]

I own a home in Iowa and my in laws have been renting it from me for 12 years.

Now. My landlord is retiring and has offered us the house that we've been renting the Same House for 12 years.

But I can't seem to get my in laws out of my house. So I want to sell it. But.

They'Re not medically or physically able to move on their own right now. So I don't really know what to do. Should I keep renting it to them or should I sell it?

[George Kamel]

Well, I feel like the way you set that question up, there's not that secondary option you gave us. Should I sell it when you can't even get them out of it? And it doesn't sound like your husband's much help. And then you said, then you said they can't get out of it.

[Caller]

He's told them that they, you know, we want to sell it by this time. By this time. By this time the last two years.

[Dave Ramsey]

Where would they be if they weren't renting from you guys for the last 12 years?

[Caller]

They were renting before that, another house.

[Dave Ramsey]

Okay.

[Caller]

We got an opportunity to come down here and we kind of wanted to keep the house as a backup plan in case this didn't work out. And yep, here we are 12 years later.

[George Kamel]

Well, so the great news is, is that your husband's on board with selling the house. I thought maybe that was going to be an issue. But the bad news is he won't actually be a man.

[Caller]

Right.

[George Kamel]

And tell his parents that it's time for them to move on. Now the issue of they can't physically leave, is that true?

[Caller]

Yeah. My mother in law has gotten really bad where she can't even walk now my father in law's had a heart attack. It's 11 acres and he just, he can't do it all himself.

[George Kamel]

Right. But I guess what I'm trying to understand is we want them out, but they actually can't leave.

[Caller]

Right.

[George Kamel]

Well, is that true? I mean, you guys could go help them move.

[Dave Ramsey]

Like can we put them in like a wheelchair into a van and take him to a different house they rent and you guys do the actual moving process.

[Caller]

Well, I have even offered to buy a trailer for them to move into until they found something else.

[Dave Ramsey]

Well, what are you charging them for rent right now?

[Caller]

Honestly, it's been ridiculously cheap. They've only been paying my mortgage, which is now paid off as of five days ago.

[Dave Ramsey]

Okay.

[George Kamel]

You guys are being taken advantage of. The more detail we get.

[Dave Ramsey]

Do they have enough money to rent elsewhere? That's the question. The holidays are supposed to be joyful, but they can also be expensive. And that's why I love this. Boost Mobile helps you treat yourself and your wallet. Right now you'll pay just 10 bucks a month for your first two months, then only 25 bucks a month for unlimited talk, text and data forever. So stop stressing over your budget and start saving. Instead, go to boostmobile.com Ramsey and unwrap the savings today. That's boostmobile.com Ramsey restrictions apply. See boostmobile.com Ramsey for details.

[Caller]

I don't really think so. I mean, what is their income? 500.

I honestly don't know, but it's probably roughly 2,000amonth.

[Dave Ramsey]

Okay. And they're not going to find rent for $500, I assume anywhere in the area.

[Caller]

No, no, you guys can.

[Dave Ramsey]

You're going to have to subsidize their rent elsewhere if that's. If that's what you guys choose to do. Because otherwise they're on the street. What are the options here?

[Caller]

Right. I don't want them on the street.

[Dave Ramsey]

Put them in a home.

[George Kamel]

Sounds to me like you're holding on to this house and they're gonna live in it until they aren't alive.

[Caller]

My husband says the same thing. My dad and I built this house, and my dad passed away in 2007. And I just can't go back there no more. I'm done.

[Dave Ramsey]

How old are they?

[George Kamel]

No, I get that part. I guess what I'm saying is. Yeah, go ahead.

[Caller]

They're like 72 and 73. Okay.

[Dave Ramsey]

And there's a chance they could live another 20 plus years, right?

[Caller]

Probably not.

[George Kamel]

I was gonna say that's generous.

[Caller]

They're physically. But physically in bad shape.

[Dave Ramsey]

People can live into their 90s, even if they're, you know, they physically can't get around. So I'm wondering, is there a condition, Is there a cancer or something that says, hey, this is. This might be ending in the next five years?

[Caller]

Right.

[George Kamel]

Well, I guess my question is as their health gets worse, they're not going to be able to stay in that house anyway, and they'd have to go to an option that's not even on the table right now, but all of a sudden becomes the option? Am I right?

[Caller]

Yes.

[George Kamel]

Well, I guess my point is that based on what George and I have heard, even though I hate this for you and I think it's manipulative, it sounds to me like until that becomes the situation and where their health requires them to move out, you're kind of stuck in the situation.

[Caller]

Yeah.

[George Kamel]

And your husband hasn't taken any initiative, right?

[Caller]

Well, he's told him several times, you know, we need you guys to find a place to rent.

[George Kamel]

Well, I appreciate that.

[Dave Ramsey]

He's still not going to get on Google and go search and they're not moving.

[George Kamel]

He's told them and they literally aren't even listening to him. Correct.

[Caller]

Right. They've tried. And she got scammed.

[Dave Ramsey]

Scammed in a rental situation where they gave them a deposit that was fake or what?

[Caller]

No, they wanted them to go buy some Apple cards and stuff to go see the house and for the down payment.

[George Kamel]

Okay.

[Dave Ramsey]

And she was able to go buy these Apple cards?

[Caller]

No.

[Dave Ramsey]

Okay, so how did she get scammed?

[Caller]

She didn't. She tried to send her husband, my father in law, and.

They were going to go meet her somewhere to give him the cards. He has to carry her to the truck.

[George Kamel]

Well, here's. Unless your husband, I understand, you don't want to go back because there's some kind of pain there with you. That's not why we're talking today. But unless he wants to go back to Iowa and handhold them, that means he finds the place, make sure they don't get scammed to buy Apple cards or what in the world is going on in Iowa. But unless he, as their son, goes back and cleans this mess up, then you're holding until it takes care of itself. So it sounds like to me. So if you guys really want them out, your husband needs to grow a spine and fly back to Iowa and solve this problem.

[Caller]

Right.

[George Kamel]

And if it's not solvable, as you're painting this picture to us, then they're staying there till they can't stay there.

[Caller]

Right.

[George Kamel]

And at this point it's not a financial burden to you? Not much of one other than upkeep. Right?

[Caller]

Well, yeah, yeah, it needs. It needs some stuff.

[George Kamel]

Well, we'll do that later. Well, yeah, as long as they're. It's inhabitable by them, don't spend a nickel on it.

[Caller]

Right, right, right.

[George Kamel]

It's a tough one.

[Caller]

Yeah, because that was my fear too because like I could take out a personal loan and fix it.

[Dave Ramsey]

No, whatever you do, do not go into debt over the situation.

[George Kamel]

Let this house.

[Caller]

No, I don't want to do that because I won't get it back.

[Dave Ramsey]

Either you let them stay and you can't sell, or you try to get them to an assisted living senior living or a rental that makes sense for them financially. But either way, this is going to cost you.

[George Kamel]

Create your free Every dollar budget today. The simplest way to budget for your life.