Voting
Filed 14 hours ago
My Parents Gave My Childhood Bedroom to an AirBnB Without Telling Me
Parents converted their adult child's childhood bedroom into an AirBnB rental. Child still had belongings there and expected to stay when visiting.
⏱️ Voting closes:
👤 Chris
I'm 27. I moved out at 22 for a job across the country. For the past five years, whenever I come home for holidays or visits — usually 3-4 times a year — I stay in my old bedroom. My stuff is still there. Trophies on the shelf. Books. My old desk. Some clothes in the closet. It's been my room my entire life.
Two weeks ago I texted my mom to let her know I'm coming home for Memorial Day weekend. She replies 'Oh great! You'll have to sleep on the pull-out couch though, we have a booking that weekend.'
A BOOKING. Turns out my parents converted my bedroom into an AirBnB listing three months ago. They redecorated it, put my stuff in boxes in the garage (some of it got water damaged), and have been renting it out to strangers.
They didn't tell me. They didn't ask me. They didn't even warn me to come get my stuff. I found out because I was told I'd be sleeping on a couch in my own family home so a stranger could sleep in my bed.
My parents say it's 'their house' and they can do what they want with any room. They say I'm an adult who doesn't live there and have no claim to the space. They say the AirBnB brings in $800-1200 a month and they need the extra income.
I understand it's their house. I understand I don't pay rent there. But TELLING me? Asking if I want my stuff before boxing it up and leaving it in a leaky garage? Giving me a heads up before my childhood bedroom becomes a hotel room?
Every photo I've seen of the listing has zero trace of my existence. Minimalist decor, white linens, a succulent on the nightstand where my baseball glove used to be. It's like I was erased.
They say I'm being dramatic and that 'it's just a room.' It's not just a room to me.
Two weeks ago I texted my mom to let her know I'm coming home for Memorial Day weekend. She replies 'Oh great! You'll have to sleep on the pull-out couch though, we have a booking that weekend.'
A BOOKING. Turns out my parents converted my bedroom into an AirBnB listing three months ago. They redecorated it, put my stuff in boxes in the garage (some of it got water damaged), and have been renting it out to strangers.
They didn't tell me. They didn't ask me. They didn't even warn me to come get my stuff. I found out because I was told I'd be sleeping on a couch in my own family home so a stranger could sleep in my bed.
My parents say it's 'their house' and they can do what they want with any room. They say I'm an adult who doesn't live there and have no claim to the space. They say the AirBnB brings in $800-1200 a month and they need the extra income.
I understand it's their house. I understand I don't pay rent there. But TELLING me? Asking if I want my stuff before boxing it up and leaving it in a leaky garage? Giving me a heads up before my childhood bedroom becomes a hotel room?
Every photo I've seen of the listing has zero trace of my existence. Minimalist decor, white linens, a succulent on the nightstand where my baseball glove used to be. It's like I was erased.
They say I'm being dramatic and that 'it's just a room.' It's not just a room to me.
VS
👤 The Parents
We love Chris more than anything. We want to start there. This has nothing to do with how much we love our son and everything to do with practical reality.
We are both in our late 50s. We're staring down retirement with not enough saved. Our financial advisor told us point blank that we need to find additional income or we'll be working until we're 70. A friend suggested AirBnB and Chris's old room — which sits empty 350+ days a year — was the obvious choice.
We redecorated it and listed it. We've been averaging about $900/month which goes directly into our retirement fund. That's $10,800 a year that is quite literally securing our future.
Should we have told Chris? Yes. Absolutely. That's a fair criticism and we acknowledge it. We kept putting it off because we knew he'd be upset. That was wrong and we're sorry.
But the framing that we 'erased' him or that we owe him the room is not fair. Chris moved out five years ago. He visits 3-4 times a year for a few days. That room sat empty for roughly 340 days a year while our retirement savings stagnated.
His stuff — we boxed it carefully. Yes, one box got some moisture and a few books got damaged. We should have stored them better and we'll replace anything that was ruined. But acting like we maliciously threw his things away is inaccurate.
When he visits, we have a comfortable pull-out couch, or we can block the dates on AirBnB with advance notice. We WANT him to come home. We just can't afford to keep an entire room as a shrine to his childhood when we need the income.
We're not villains for trying to retire with dignity. We should have communicated better. But the decision itself was the right one.
We are both in our late 50s. We're staring down retirement with not enough saved. Our financial advisor told us point blank that we need to find additional income or we'll be working until we're 70. A friend suggested AirBnB and Chris's old room — which sits empty 350+ days a year — was the obvious choice.
We redecorated it and listed it. We've been averaging about $900/month which goes directly into our retirement fund. That's $10,800 a year that is quite literally securing our future.
Should we have told Chris? Yes. Absolutely. That's a fair criticism and we acknowledge it. We kept putting it off because we knew he'd be upset. That was wrong and we're sorry.
But the framing that we 'erased' him or that we owe him the room is not fair. Chris moved out five years ago. He visits 3-4 times a year for a few days. That room sat empty for roughly 340 days a year while our retirement savings stagnated.
His stuff — we boxed it carefully. Yes, one box got some moisture and a few books got damaged. We should have stored them better and we'll replace anything that was ruined. But acting like we maliciously threw his things away is inaccurate.
When he visits, we have a comfortable pull-out couch, or we can block the dates on AirBnB with advance notice. We WANT him to come home. We just can't afford to keep an entire room as a shrine to his childhood when we need the income.
We're not villains for trying to retire with dignity. We should have communicated better. But the decision itself was the right one.
⚖️ Cast Your Verdict
Both sides have spoken. Now it's your turn. Choose wisely — there are no appeals.
📊 Current Standings — 57 votes
🔵 Side A is right
42% (24)
🔴 Side B is right
32% (18)
💀 You're both wrong
9% (5)
🤷 You're both right
7% (4)
😤 A right, bad handling
2% (1)
😤 B right, bad handling
9% (5)
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