End of the road

[Laura1973]

My sister in law's husband has decided he does not want to be with her anymore. They have owned their house for 10 years, with both names being on the title deeds. He has always paid the mortgage and she has always paid the bills. He is now asking her for rent for staying in the house. Can he do this? They are both still living there, although he dosesn't come home very often (2 nights a week and some mornings to have a bath before he goes to work!) Any assistance would be greatly appreciated

[kazza12345]

Why dosent she ask him to pay half the bills then?

[jean88]

if both names on title deeds and they are married then she should be entitled to half the property. Also she have been making contribution to the house by paying the bills. Any kids? If they have young kids, the judge would let the mother and children stay rent free or keep the property as part of settlement for divorce. Tell her to ask a solicitor asap for her rights, he sounded like a bully anyway. Come and go when he likes......

[Mrs_Pegasus]

Well isnt he a plonker of the first degree!

Basically, they are calling it a day, so she should get to a solicitor and start the proceedings.  She is a joint owner on the mortgage and he may say he paid the mortgage blah blah a judge wont see it like that.  Its very common place nowadays, at the end of the day unless their is a joint account (and legally there doesnt have to be to prove you have contributed to the mortgage) it is difficult to prove who has paid the mortgage.

Tell your friend to ignore this man.  This really is a case for the solicitors.

You sound like a good friend and she will need you in the forthcoming months, tell her to stay strong and start looking forward, its important not to lose sight of the future so she should start looking at where she will be living and maybe even buying him out of the house.

[scorpio61]

lots of sense spoken there, if they have kids then he is in for a shock, not only is he not entitled to charge her rent, he isn't even in line for 50% of the equity!!!! See a solicitor, he'll give her the details, the last case I saw the guy was lucky to walk away with the 30% he was awarded!!!!