The Guardian - Life & Style • Feb. 8, 2026, 6:30 a.m.

You need to check where you stand legally, but I fear you’re being taken advantage of and will have to ask her to leave In spring 2022, my husband and I were lucky enough to sell our house for a profit and, with help from my parents, bought a much bigger home. At the time, my friend was going through a tough time, so I asked if she would like to move in with us and our two children.

There was no written agreement, but the plan was that she would either quit her job and retrain, or save for her own place and move out in six months to a year. She pays us £350 a month, which goes towards energy bills, bar a three-month period when she wasn’t working.

I also gave her money towards taking a course. She hasn’t retrained, got a new job or saved for a new place.

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