VANDERPUMP Rules’ Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix’s bitter house battle was made more dramatic for the show, a legal expert has claimed.

Ariana, 38, sued ex Tom, 40, in the beginning of January to force the sale of their $2million Los Angeles home.

Bravo fans are watching the former couple attempt to still live with each other, with guidance from Tom’s assistant, after it was revealed last year that the singer had a monthslong affair with Rachel Leviss.

Now, a Los Angeles-based attorney, who is not involved in the exes’ lawsuit, has weighed in on what he calls a “stupid lawsuit.”

“I mean, this happens all the time. All he has to do is just come up with money that’s equal to whatever her half is and just buy her out of it,” attorney Anthony Friedman told The U.S. Sun.

The lawyer went on to say that Tom, who offered Ariana to buy her out of the five-bedroom, six-bath property, “could set up an LLC” and buy it once it goes for sale.

“I think if I had to bet, I’d say the TV show’s doing it just for the sole purpose is of making it dramatic,” he continued, noting that he is aware of the duo’s differences on the show.

“I mean, it’s just stupidity. At least they’re portraying her to be super angry, which I get, but if this whole basis is her anger, then so be it.”

During the April 2 episode of Vanderpump Rules, Ariana was seen screaming at Tom about how her bedroom is the “only safe space” left in her “dream house” that he “f**king wrecked.”

Friedman added: “I am assuming they had no agreement between them and they’re just normal people that weren’t married that are going through a breakup.

“And if they want to spend their time and energy fighting over stuff, they can. If they don’t want to, they don’t have to.

“Tom clearly doesn’t want to. He just wants to get this over with.

“And if he has enough money to be able to own the house and buy her out, then good for him if he wants to stay in the house.”

TOM’S TAKE

During a Bravo After Show, without disclosing a figure amount, Tom said that he gave Ariana an offer that was “top market value,” which he says is not more than what the actual sale of the house would be, if it got to that point.

Ariana, for her part, said that her counteroffer will include all their furniture that was purchased after they moved in in 2019.

According to Zillow, the house is now estimated to be worth $2,824,900.

The two continue to bring up the house battle whenever they have the opportunity.

Tom claimed during the Bravo After Show that he “paid the bills for the house for the past nine months” and that Ariana “doesn’t clean” and doesn’t change a paper towel roll, empty the dishwasher or even water the plants.

“I’d say the TV show’s doing it just for the sole purpose is of making it dramatic.”

Anthony Friedman, Esq.legal expert

Ariana has argued that she has “paid for majority of stuff” in the house and even had the interior designer they worked with, Lucinda Pace, help calculate how much each item was worth.

In court, the last filing in the case was on February 23 when Tom filed his response. He feels a partition of their shared home should not be granted and claimed that Ariana “did not act reasonably and in good faith” when filing the lawsuit against him.

The first hearing on the case is schedule for June, which the lawyer who spoke to The U.S. Sun said will just be the initial status conference about discovery and how they’re going to move forward.

Tom stated to cameras that he hopes they could come to a “reasonable agreement” and that they can “figure it out without any kind of judgment.”

SPENDING MORE CASH

In a turn of events, Ariana purchased a new home for $1.6million on March 19 – a three-bedroom, two-bath mansion that’s located just over six miles away from her home she once shared with her boyfriend of nine years.

The U.S. Sun reported Ariana took out a $800,000 loan from a mortgage company, which she now has 30 years to pay off.

Ariana and Tom have also recently paid off their 2023 property taxes totaling $27,213, which were due by February 1, 2024, according to court docs obtained by The U.S. Sun.

With all these expenses, the Los Angeles-based attorney believes Ariana should just “take the deal [from Tom],” because all they’re both doing is spending money on attorneys, plus attorney’s fees once they sell it.

“She’s paying dollar for dollar to have her attorney basically make him leave,” Friedman told The U.S. Sun.

“There’s no attorney’s fee provision in bringing this type of action.”

He continued, “I mean, the reality is, I don’t know she’ll necessarily win this litigation because all he has to really do is come into court and say, ‘I’m willing to pay the half.

“I’m willing to stipulate to X dollar value for the house. This is what we need to pay off, and here’s the net that she would get. Here’s the money.'”

The house battle continues to play out in new episodes of Vanderpump Rules, airing Tuesdays at 8pm ET on Bravo.