Ex-Partner not responding to solicitors letters

[loumaria]

Hi, my partner and I separated over a year ago and I am still in the home with 3 young children. He does however still come and go as he pleases (still has key) and has been in a new relationship for 9 months or so now.
Mediation failed as it would have left myself and the children vulnerable (he is only interested in selling the house so he can have his 50% - we weren't married). I have since found a solicitor to try and move things forward. It took months for us to exchange financial information as he dragged his heels and now he is ignoring letters with a suggestion to sell the house and a proposed split.
My question really is what next steps should be - should I just take it to court (I will have to represent myself) as he isn't cooperating or trying to resolve anything. I'm feeling very frustrated. He doesn't contribute anything financially and only sees the children on a Saturday for the day. I just want some closure so I can get on with my life. He refuses to communicate about anything, is completely unsupportive as a parent and is completely disrespectful and nasty when he is in the house.
I realise I need to run this by my solicitor, but it's expensive and I thought i would get some input here first.
Also, my solicitor is trying to contact his solicitor to find out what is going on but she is not responding either!!

[BlackDaisies]

That's really frustrating. If he's being disrespectful/ nasty in the house, might it be worth calling the police non emergency number to say you're feeling threatened in your own home, and see what advice they can give?

[cestlavielife]

you need to take it to the next level.

take it to court under TOLATA /childrens act and force the sale.

how much equity is in the house? will it be enough for you to use as deposit and get a mortgage on new house? could you take on current mortgage on current house? get all the financial details before you visit a solicitor.

[sittingupstraight]

Hmm, I'm in a similar situation to you and it's very hard. We are selling but it's been months and months of feeling trapped as my ex comes round to see our DS and is generally undermining and difficult, helps himself to my food (power and control thing I guess) and doesn't really help in any useful or practical way. Cestlavie is right - things need to be pushed forward otherwise it could go on and on, and it sounds like that's down to you. Get some numbers of local solicitors and phone them up to find out which ones offer the free half hour and get some advice regarding your options. That way you'll be informed and able to consider your next steps - whether that's staying where you are or selling up. Good luck.

[NAR4]

Your situation sounds the same as mine, except mine has only been like it for 6 months (when we split). I have now had my locks changed because I figured even if he went to his solicitor, to contact my solicitor and ask for a key (which is what he would have to do), it would at least give a record of him wanting access to the house (what for?). Until last Monday (when I had the lock changed) he was coming in and removing things just to be difficult, such as all the children's underwear have 'disappeared' on more than one occasion, the pushchair tyres all punctured themselves while stood in my porch and the new pushchair pump 'disappeared' to where ever the previous one went. At the moment he simply denies ever coming into the house, saying he doesn't have a key (well he doesn't now).