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Legal matters

What could be the problem if my name is not on the deeds?

35 replies

mamafridi · 09/07/2013 00:03

My husband and I are about to buy a place, but because I am a SAHM our mortgage will be in my husband's name only and this apparently means my name can't be on the deeds. How will this affect me if we were to divorce? I ask because half the deposit was money I saved.

OP posts:
hellsbells99 · 09/07/2013 00:13

I had this problem a few years ago - in my case I already had a mortgage and was renting my house out. The solicitor I spoke to said it wasn't a problem as we were married, as opposed to just living together, except I needed to make sure I was named beneficiary in my husband's will.

prh47bridge · 09/07/2013 00:16

As hellsbells99 says it is will have no effect if you divorce. The house will be part of the assets to be split between you regardless. If you were unmarried and living together that would be another matter.

mamafridi · 09/07/2013 00:59

Thank you ladies, you have put my mind to rest.

OP posts:
K8Middleton · 09/07/2013 01:02

Unless you have bad credit being a SAHM is it a reason not to be on the mortgage. I would get on the mortgage and the deeds.

K8Middleton · 09/07/2013 01:07

Forgot to add, you need to think about what will happen if you predecease your husband or if your husband dies. If the house is clearly shown to be a joint asset you can will it as you see fit. If it is not a joint asset you have no say and your husband could decide to will it to the cats' home and although you would have legal right to challenge it if you or your children are dependents it can be expensive and time consuming to sort out.

NatashaBee · 09/07/2013 02:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

babybarrister · 09/07/2013 09:21

This reply has been deleted

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SignoraStronza · 09/07/2013 09:25

The mortgage is in both our names but only based on dh's income as I was in a minimum wage very p/t job, so it wasn't taken into account. My name is on the deeds as well.

I was v. surprised when the mortgage company (Brittannia/Co-op) were happy to put me on the mortgage, as HSBC wouldn't countenance it when I spoke to them - they were actually really rude and patronising (was pg at the time).

SoupDragon · 09/07/2013 09:27

You need to go to the land registry website and find the form to fill in about "home rights" This puts a charge on the property in your favour meaning, I think, that your DH can''t sell it without your permission (or something - it's probably more technical than that but it protects your right to live there)

Aetae · 09/07/2013 09:28

As far as I know different lenders deal with it differently. When we sp

Aetae · 09/07/2013 09:30

Oops stupid phone!

When we spoke to HSBC they said that for DH to be on our mortgage (and therefore deeds) he would have to be listed as my dependent as his business isn't making any money at the moment, which would negatively affect our eligibility. But as Signora said not all lenders have the same criteria.

SoupDragon · 09/07/2013 09:31
LieweHeksie · 09/07/2013 09:32

I didn't count towards what our lender would lend us as I was a student at the time. But I have always been on the mortgage and on the deeds.

caramelwaffle · 09/07/2013 09:37

You can have your name on the deeds (ownership) without having your name on the mortgage (liabile for payments)

As a married person you can have your rights to the property asserted through the Land Registry.

Spero · 09/07/2013 09:39

You are protected by way of your marriage, this is a marital asset and could be divided on separation. If you have given sums by way of deposit, make sure you have a clear record of this in case you have to rely on it later.

But I would want to know more about why you 'can't' be on the mortgage.
You both need to be on the same page about what marriage means to you both, it shouldn't be about each clinging to 'their' assets.

Floggingmolly · 09/07/2013 09:39

I'm a SAHM and my name is on the deeds Confused

Kaekae · 09/07/2013 09:53

I have this same problem. We owned a house together then sold it when I became a SAHM therefore, I no longer had an income when we got a new mortgage. I paid half of everything into our our house and put up a large sum of money upfront for our new mortgage. However, I was unable to go on the mortgage or deeds for the new house because I was not earning at the time. We have spoken to solicitors and the mortgage company and for some reason or another I still can't get my name on the deeds or mortgage. Really worried as we aren't married.

LunaticFringe · 09/07/2013 09:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AnneEyhtMeyer · 09/07/2013 09:59

This is nonsense. When we took out this mortgage I wasn't working as I had left my job to move to a different part of the country. I am on the mortgage and on the deeds. I wouldn't dream of having it any other way.

fubbsy · 09/07/2013 10:45

Who told you that your name can't be on the deeds? Not your solicitor, I hope.

When we bought our first place, I was a full time student and not working, but my name was on the deeds.

notcitrus · 09/07/2013 12:05

I think most banks don't want to lend if someone else other than them and the mortgagee has an interest in the property. I was on the deeds but not the mortgage for our first flat, and the bank was shocked when we came to sell, as apparently that was against their policy, and banks since have only agreed to lend if we're both on the mortgage.

Though presumably I'd have an interest even if not on the mortgage or deeds, given all the forms our lodger has to sign when we remortgage, to confirm they don't.

K8Middleton · 09/07/2013 12:16

The mortgage company should be using household income to calculate the amount they will loan. Blimey I'm not even old and I remember housewives homemakers on mortgage applications! Some of them had never worked!

The problem isn't if you are married and get divorced, the problem comes when the person with the property dies. There is nothing to stop the dh leaving the house to the children. All fine now but when they grow up and sell it out from under the op? Or if the op died and her dh had a new family there would be nothing to stop him leaving their house to the new family. These may sound extreme but they can all happen even when people truly believe they are acting in everyone's best interests and being very fair.

Obviously this is a lot of "what ifs" but that's what financial and estate planning is for.

Also notcitrus is right. The mortgage company has strict terms and conditions about second charges and additional interests on properties. If it ever came to repossession they will want the best chance of recovering their money.

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mamafridi · 09/07/2013 12:24

Our lenders calculated that we would be lent less if my husband and I were on the mortgage as I am not working. It was both the solicitor and lenders who informed us that my name could not be included on the deeds. I am going to check the land registry website and see what it it says.

OP posts:
babybarrister · 09/07/2013 14:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

K8Middleton · 09/07/2013 17:06

What possible objective justification could they have for lending you less because a SAHM is on the loan too?! That sounds like it would breach equality legislation.

I hate lenders who behave like this :(

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