A woman has been left reeling after discovering her boyfriend had been secretly keeping her rent payments for over a year – a betrayal she says has shaken the very foundation of their five-year relationship.
Posting on Reddit, the woman explained that she and her boyfriend live on a property rented by his parents, with the couple occupying one house and his mum and dad in the other.
When they moved in last year, he told her rent for their house was $1,600 a month – meaning they would each pay $800.
She described the arrangement as ‘a steal,’ especially given their location.
But in a devastating twist, she recently learned the truth: his father had been covering their entire rent since they moved in, allowing her boyfriend to quietly pocket her $800 monthly payments without ever telling her.
‘He told us the rent was $1,600 for the house, so $800 each for my boyfriend and I,’ she wrote.
‘However, I just found out that my boyfriend and his dad came to an agreement at the start of the lease… that his dad would pay our rent in full and that the money I pay for rent… my boyfriend could keep.’
Understandably, she felt blindsided.
A woman has been left reeling after discovering her boyfriend had been secretly keeping her rent payments for over a year
‘I immediately felt betrayed for not knowing about this, but I also felt like it was a bit unethical because I wasn’t aware of where my rent money was going,’ she said.
When she confronted her boyfriend, his response left her stunned.
‘His first reaction was to be mad at me for being upset about it. His point of view is that they didn’t tell me because it’s not my business since I’m paying rent regardless,’ she revealed.
‘He just keeps the $800 I’m sending for rent. He said, in essence, it isn’t my money… so I shouldn’t care where it ends up.’
Although her boyfriend claimed his parents asked him to keep the deal private, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right.
‘It’s just the dishonesty… and the fact that he just transferred my rent money into his bank account without telling me for a year that feels so wrong.’
The woman added that she works a full-time job and a side hustle, while her boyfriend is self-employed but earns very little.
‘I don’t typically mind, but I would like us to be more open with each other about finances,’ she said.
The woman added that she works a full-time job and a side hustle, while her boyfriend is self-employed but earns very little
‘I don’t know how to move forward from this even though I want to be understanding and kind to him because he says it’s a nuanced situation and that I should know he isn’t the type of person to steal from me.
‘He’s apologised for the dishonesty but still doesn’t see the issue.’
Reddit users were quick to offer support – and scathing commentary.
‘You’re a roommate in a Ponzi scheme,’ one person quipped.
Another warned: ‘He’s given you insight to what your future looks like. He’s been living a lie while taking advantage of you financially. Move on.’
Others pointed out the deeper issue wasn’t just the money, but the secrecy.
‘I understand the logic, but it’s the lack of transparency and communication that’s the biggest red flag. If they can’t be open with you about something like this, especially when it directly impacts your life, then what else could they be hiding?’ one user wrote.
Many commenters expressed concern that after five years, the couple still hadn’t aligned on basic financial communication.
‘A boyfriend that was true husband material would have come to you immediately, been transparent, and offered to split the $800 rent,’ one said.
