Property Advice - Ex won't sell

[diane64]

I would like to see any advice on my current situation. I own a flat with my ex boyfriend, I paid the deposit and we have always agreed that when we sell I would get the deposit back first and then we would split the equity. We don't however have anything in writing to prove this (although I have saved emails based on this agreement).

Our flat has been on the market for 2 years but only recently did we receive a suitable offer. I wanted to accept but my ex didn't. Instead he asked to buy me out and his wife and him take over the mortgage. Before he could apply to do that though his wife had to sell her property to improve their credit rating. My ex boyfriends credit rating would not be good enough to take over the mortgage without her. The sale of her property was due to go through in October but fell through and is now due in January.

I am not at the end of my tether as I cannot buy anywhere myself while I am on that mortgage, he is not likely to accept any future offers on the flat and there is no guarantee her sale will go through in January. I am considering taking him to court to sell the property but I am worried that that will take a long time and will be very expensive.

Any advice gratefully received