doesn't necessarily give him a beneficial interest. if that was the case, landlords would never let tenants do anything to a rented property. I think she is clutching at straws here and would do better not spending money that she hasn't got on legal activity that will likely lead nowhere.
Yes Woofgang, what I was hinting at was that if the house belongs to a third party, it can't be touched/ equity released by the ex-couple at all. It simply does not belong to them.
i think what you are saying is this:
your "friend" is divorced
she wants some more money from the ex husband
the ex husband has no money, but he has previously spent some money on a house owned by someone else (a new partner perhaps?)
She now wants to chase him for some of the money he spent on the house
Have i got it right?