My boyfriend purchased this house in columbia tn so I could have a place to live and be close to my family he would stay on and off until he got cancer which he was living here with me till he passed he was going to make a will sao I would have a lifetime diary but got brain cancer and passed rather quickly now his kids want me to pay rent I'm on dissability and can only afford the ulilities which I told him can they make me pay rent

Yes, they can even evict you if they want, if he did not leave you the house in the will, someone else owns it, and they may do anything they want with the house.

This is an all too common occurrence when people trust to love and don't get things in writing.

You and your boyfriend had THREE years to document his wishes that you be allowed to live in the house and you both failed to do so. Now you are paying the price. Unless you have some concrete and documented proof that this was his intention, then you are stuck. The house went to his heirs and they now own it and can do with it as they see fit.