Tweet
Hi all, I’d appreciate any advice.
I’m in a difficult situation with my ex-partner. We bought a house together under a joint mortgage and joint tenancy. I contributed £8,000 towards the deposit and around £12,000 during the two years we lived together for house-related expenses. My ex contributed a larger deposit - £40,000 and asked me not to pay into the mortgage so I could cover other costs and save for holidays, which I now believe was a tactic to later claim I didn’t contribute and don’t deserve anything. I didn't feel this is right so later, I decided to send her money despite her request that I not contribute to the mortgage, which she did not refuse and accepted.
After we broke up. my ex has asked me to move out. I'm now renting a room, while still being financially tied to a mortgage for a house I don’t live in. I want to be removed from the mortgage and reclaim my fair share of equity, but my ex is dragging things out ignoring emails and saying they’ll respond “when ready,” which has been nearly a year now. I feel completely stuck.
My solicitor has sent two letters before action and advised I have a strong case, but progress has been slow. I’ve already spent nearly £2,000 and can’t afford to waste my remaining savings with no guarantee of success. They’ve now suggested trying mediation, but that also costs money I’m struggling to justify without any real movement.
Meanwhile, my ex goes back and forth with my solicitor just enough to keep things going, which runs up my legal bill. I suspect the plan is to delay until the mortgage can be changed without penalties next year and then try to remove me only if I agree to walk away with nothing. If I refuse, I stay tied to the mortgage indefinitely. And if the mortgage ever goes unpaid, I’d still be legally responsible despite not living there.
I also want to mention that I’m not British and don’t fully understand the UK legal system, which I feel is being used against me, not just by my ex, but possibly even by my solicitor, who seems more focused on prolonging the case than resolving it.
Any advice or guidance would mean a lot. I don’t know how to move forward without enough money to take this to court or any clear path to resolution.
I’m in a difficult situation with my ex-partner. We bought a house together under a joint mortgage and joint tenancy. I contributed £8,000 towards the deposit and around £12,000 during the two years we lived together for house-related expenses. My ex contributed a larger deposit - £40,000 and asked me not to pay into the mortgage so I could cover other costs and save for holidays, which I now believe was a tactic to later claim I didn’t contribute and don’t deserve anything. I didn't feel this is right so later, I decided to send her money despite her request that I not contribute to the mortgage, which she did not refuse and accepted.
After we broke up. my ex has asked me to move out. I'm now renting a room, while still being financially tied to a mortgage for a house I don’t live in. I want to be removed from the mortgage and reclaim my fair share of equity, but my ex is dragging things out ignoring emails and saying they’ll respond “when ready,” which has been nearly a year now. I feel completely stuck.
My solicitor has sent two letters before action and advised I have a strong case, but progress has been slow. I’ve already spent nearly £2,000 and can’t afford to waste my remaining savings with no guarantee of success. They’ve now suggested trying mediation, but that also costs money I’m struggling to justify without any real movement.
Meanwhile, my ex goes back and forth with my solicitor just enough to keep things going, which runs up my legal bill. I suspect the plan is to delay until the mortgage can be changed without penalties next year and then try to remove me only if I agree to walk away with nothing. If I refuse, I stay tied to the mortgage indefinitely. And if the mortgage ever goes unpaid, I’d still be legally responsible despite not living there.
I also want to mention that I’m not British and don’t fully understand the UK legal system, which I feel is being used against me, not just by my ex, but possibly even by my solicitor, who seems more focused on prolonging the case than resolving it.
Any advice or guidance would mean a lot. I don’t know how to move forward without enough money to take this to court or any clear path to resolution.