Unmarried Couple's Rights

[LRob]

My partner and I have recently split up. We share a home, however, it is in his name. We moved into the property together and over the years, I have put an equal amount of finance into the property (by way of buying furniture, paying food bills, council tax and other bills etc.).

Now he wants me to move out of the property, stating that I have no right to anything in the home. I thoroughly understand that the house is his and I have no entitlement to it, but I feel that the contributions I have made over the years must count for something!

Can anyone offer me any advice on this?

[Amara]

hi there - I just read your other post on Body and Soul. I think you should speak to a solicitor or the Citizens Advice bureau at least. I think he is being a little mean over this, after all this has been your home too and what does he expect you to do. I know this must be hard for you to think about with all the other stuff going on, but I really think you should take some legal advice. Don't worry you will be fine once all this is over, you are entering a new and exciting phase of your life. Love and light - Amara xx

[Ethel]

Be aware that he will argue you have lived there rent free.

You may have contributed to council tax but you would have paid this if you had your own home and he would have had a 25% discount if he lived alone.

Similarly the bills - you would have had to pay utility bills where ever you lived and you derived benefit.

Any furniture you bought you should take with you.

Get a solicitor.

[lady_p_gold]

Well if you read the post in Body and Soul from Weekaz about her worries over not being married this is exactly the sort of thing that happens. To be honest I doubt if you can do a lot without getting into some legal wrangle which will probably cost more than what you might get. Have you contributed to the mortgage and do you have receipts because if it ever did come to a legal battle then you would have to produce evidence of your contributions. However some might say that you have had the benefit of living there and you would have had to do all these things if you had been renting an unfurnished house. If this is the stand he is taking however, without giving you anything at all, that seems unkind and unfair as most reasonable people would not expect you to set off into the sunset with nothing ..... so perhaps chalk it up to experience and a lucky escape and find someone a bit nicer !

[Eejit]

Go to a solicitor. There are lot's out there that give you a free consultation. I had a similar problem but it was me who had the house in my name. I was advised that if your partner can proove that they had an input then they can make a claim. An input means being able to show actual payments. I paid the mortgage and the bills and they were all in my name so I was told he couldn't claim a penny as he couldn't proove an input. That was years ago now so see a solicitor. The advice I got was free.