Ashley Darby Explains Why Michael Darby Has a Key to Her New House

On the Season 7 finale of The Real Housewives of Potomac, Ashley Darby revealed that she purchased her new home using funds from a joint LLC with her ex-husband, Michael Darby. On Part 1 of the show's reunion on February 19, Ashley shared more about their arrangement, including details on Michael's access to her new abode.

After explaining that it felt "amazing" to be out of the former couple's penthouse (see the apartment in the video above), Ashley shared that her new house is just "seven minutes" away.

"Does Michael have a key to the house?" host Andy Cohen asked, and much to his surprise, Ashley responded that "he does."

"For my kids," Ashley explained. "Just in case, like, something happens with my nanny or something like that, he has a key. I have a key to his house too."

See Inside Ashley Darby’s New $13,000-a-Month Home

Looking a bit perplexed, Andy shared, "If my ex had a key to my house and I had a visitor, I'd be freaked out." However, Ashley explained she and Michael "have some stipulations in place that he cannot just pop up."

"Surprise visits are a no-go," she said. "We have to give each other at least an hour's notice if we want to come see the kids."

Gizelle Bryant didn't hold back her thoughts on the arrangement.  "The man got a key. He can roll up in there," she declared. "I mean an hour? An hour's notice is not really a lot of time to put your clothes on and to have the guy slip out the back door."

"Guys, he asks permission," Ashley said. "It's not a guarantee."

Still, there was a frustrating moment for Ashley when Michael unexpectedly brought their kids back to her house while Luke Gulbranson, who she was dating at the time, was visiting. "There was one incident. It was a long weekend, and Michael was supposed to have my children until Monday," she said. "He dropped my children off at the house on Sunday night, and Luke was there." Because Ashley had only been dating Luke for a short time, she wasn't ready to introduce him to her kids. "So Luke had to leave immediately," she explained, "and get on a train to go back to New York."

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