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Want to kick ex husband out but can't?? Won't?? Help!

40 replies

Mummypig16 · 25/04/2024 14:32

To start off I'm very non confrontational and the last 10 years of my life have been spent not being able to speak my mind to my husband due to him shutting me down and gas lighting me into me thinking I'm in the wrong.

Anyways! We split up 6 weeks ago. He has finally told his family but they won't let him move in but also told me I can't keep living with him (??? Idk what they expect me to say to that).
He barely has any money and insists he knows we're over. I want him gone but we're both on the tenancy (private renting) though I'm lead tenant and my dad is guarantor.
I don't want to lose my house but he cant/won't leave because he'll be homeless. I couldn't live with myself if he was homeless cause he's a great dad to our 2 dds.
BUT I can't keep living like this. I want to be rid, I'm so over this marriage and I'm ready to MOVE ON and discover happiness as a single mum.
My parents offered to let me n my girls move in with them from July (once my brother finishes his exams) so I can save up some money and be rid of him. But then that's leaving him homeless again cause he can't afford the house on his own and he's not having custody of our kids (we agreed this).
My head is frazzled and I just had the full blown guilt trip and sobbing from him when I told him I'm seriously considering moving out in July. I can't keep living with him, I just can't. But I dont wanna lose the house so I could stick it out a bit longer but my worry is how much longer?? Will he ever leave??
So am I the biggest asshole for this?
Any questions just ask, happy to provide more info

OP posts:
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Duckingella · 26/04/2024 09:34

He probably just doesn't want to use his weed money to pay more child maintenance,he either needs to get a better paying job or find a second one.

He's not your responsibility anymore,it sounds like his family has cottoned on to his BS too and also wont stand for it.

BluntPoet · 26/04/2024 09:22

Mummypig16 · 26/04/2024 09:17

This is super helpful, thank you x

No problem.

Btw, forgot to say, one joint tenant can assign their interest in a tenancy to another (so in the case of 2 joint tenants the tenancy would become sole) but imho best not to do it until they have somewhere else lined up as the council might be unsympathetic (they might be wrong if it’s a relationship breakdown scenario but might jump on the fact that someone gave up their home voluntarily).

Also, this can only be done if everyone agrees, including the landlord.

There are ways of excluding people from a property if there’s been abuse etc but best speak to an expert about it if it’s relevant in your case. Perhaps a charity or a local law centre.

Mummypig16 · 26/04/2024 09:17

BluntPoet · 26/04/2024 09:12

Afaik (disclaimer: I’m not a solicitor and sorry in advance it’s not better news):

One joint tenant cannot just kick the other one out. Whether the landlord agrees to it is irrelevant. Both joint tenants have the same right to live in the property. So, he is under no obligation to move out (tbh he wouldn’t be even if he wasn’t on the agreement because of the matrimonial home rights but it would be easier to end an agreement only in your name).

If you are in a fixed-term agreement, you can’t really give notice even if the agreement allows for it (not all do) because all joint tenants have to agree to end a fixed term. It’s different with a periodic agreement but the notice requirements are very specific. An invalid notice given on a periodic agreement by one joint tenant won’t end it, because an invalid notice counts only an offer to end the tenancy if the landlord agrees (doesn’t have the power to end anything automatically) and one joint tenant cannot agree to end a tenancy on behalf of all.

If you move out in the fixed term, you’ll still be liable for rent. And the guarantor.

I’d get advice from CAB, Shelter or another charity before you do anything. Otherwise you might end up living with your parents but liable for unpaid rent on the home you jointly rent with your husband.

Btw, if your husband presents to the council as a single bloke, they might have a duty to help him find somewhere to live but not actually sort it out for him. They might also take a view he isn’t homeless as he has a joint tenancy, or intentionally homeless for leaving it voluntarily. The latter two might be debatable in light of a relationship breakdown but depend on certain factors.

Edited

This is super helpful, thank you x

OP posts:
BluntPoet · 26/04/2024 09:12

Afaik (disclaimer: I’m not a solicitor and sorry in advance it’s not better news):

One joint tenant cannot just kick the other one out. Whether the landlord agrees to it is irrelevant. Both joint tenants have the same right to live in the property. So, he is under no obligation to move out (tbh he wouldn’t be even if he wasn’t on the agreement because of the matrimonial home rights but it would be easier to end an agreement only in your name).

If you are in a fixed-term agreement, you can’t really give notice even if the agreement allows for it (not all do) because all joint tenants have to agree to end a fixed term. It’s different with a periodic agreement but the notice requirements are very specific. An invalid notice given on a periodic agreement by one joint tenant won’t end it, because an invalid notice counts only an offer to end the tenancy if the landlord agrees (doesn’t have the power to end anything automatically) and one joint tenant cannot agree to end a tenancy on behalf of all.

If you move out in the fixed term, you’ll still be liable for rent. And the guarantor.

I’d get advice from CAB, Shelter or another charity before you do anything. Otherwise you might end up living with your parents but liable for unpaid rent on the home you jointly rent with your husband.

Btw, if your husband presents to the council as a single bloke, they might have a duty to help him find somewhere to live but not actually sort it out for him. They might also take a view he isn’t homeless as he has a joint tenancy, or intentionally homeless for leaving it voluntarily. The latter two might be debatable in light of a relationship breakdown but depend on certain factors.

Starlight7080 · 26/04/2024 09:00

Tell him to start saving for deposit and first month's rent and find a flat . Work out his money together and make a realistic target for how long it will take him . And say either he does this or you move out to parents. But also say he will need a new guarantor for this house. Otherwise your dad will get billed for the rent .
Sounds very stressful for you. I hope you can come to some agreement soon

HelloMyNameIsElderSmurf · 26/04/2024 08:58

I wouldn't want to lose a tenancy if you're happy there and the kids are stable. I'd speak to your LL first and find out about getting it moved into your name. Give him a month's notice, then chuck him out. Is there someone who can support you to do that - your dad maybe?

If that doesn't work then you will have to move out. But as pp said, be very careful and clear with your land lord about this and do it properly or your dad will be liable for your Ex not paying rent.

He'd get UC, single person's discount on CT (as would you) and, ya know, if he didn't spend his cash on weed he'd have plenty money for rent.

LookItsMeAgain · 26/04/2024 08:50

The kids that you have @Mummypig16 - are they his kids or were they by a different man?

You have said that he's a great dad - I would see that there are at least two other kids that are without their father and he's having to pay child support for them so he's not the great dad you're making him out to be.

At this point he could have more than 2 kids on child support and he still isn't standing up and facing his adult responsibilities!

ThirtyThrillionThreeTrees · 25/04/2024 18:00

Do you want to and can you afford to stay in the house without any financial contribution from him?

If you do, both you & your father need to contact the landlord and request a variation to the guarantee saying it is subject to the lease being in your name only and your partner to move out.

If you can't afford the rental alone, move back in with your parents.

His housing is not your problem. It's up to him to sort out.

ToxicChristmas · 25/04/2024 17:56

I'd not leave him in the rental alone as it is going to come back on your father as guarantor when he won't pay the rent.
I lost sympathy as soon as you mentioned the weed addiction. He's a fully grown man with kids, he needs to sort his shit out. I presume his family won't take him in as they know that he won't contribute and will sit around smoking and doing fuck all -and to be fair to them, I wouldn't either.
Hand the notice in on the rental, let him know the date you both need to be out and he can get himself sorted. It isn't your problem, stop feeling guilty.

Ponderingwindow · 25/04/2024 17:53

It would be a shame for you to lose a stable rental. He can go rent a room to start until he figures out something better.

since he can’t afford the rent and you have an option to go elsewhere, you can try to force the situation. Tell him if he hasn’t moved out by x date, you are going to put in a notice to terminate the lease on Y date.

If he leaves or at least shows you the contract for where he is moving with reasonable delay, you get to stay on. If not, you have to terminate because he can’t afford the
rent and you can’t leave him in the place. Y

BMW6 · 25/04/2024 17:52

Come on OP.

He can afford to support himself in a shared house. He just needs to cut down on his drug use.

Enough now. Tell him he has 1 month to move out.

Stop treating him like a helpless child.

AdoraBell · 25/04/2024 17:48

He is not a great dad because he’s abusing the children’s mother.

IsEveryUserNameBloodyTaken · 25/04/2024 17:44

You need to tread carefully with your father being guarantor.He needs to leave at the same time as you or before so your father doesn’t get left with the bill.Speak to your landlord.

Blondeshavemorefun · 25/04/2024 17:42

On that low wage he will get some uc help

As sure you will

So his rent will get mostly paid /something towards a bedsid /one bed flat

Mummypig16 · 25/04/2024 17:37

PicaK · 25/04/2024 17:35

Can i just check when you started renting. Will you get another place easily? The rental market has changed so much.

We've had it since October 2022. To be fair we've never been asked to renew the lease...

OP posts:
PicaK · 25/04/2024 17:35

Can i just check when you started renting. Will you get another place easily? The rental market has changed so much.

Mummypig16 · 25/04/2024 17:33

JadeSheep · 25/04/2024 17:10

He's a fucking drug addict? Are you having a laugh?

I get so pissed off on here when women use the line "he's a good father" then the next post is he uses several quid a month on fucking drugs

Look, I'm not defending him. He used to have weed occasionally on an evening once kids were in bed and I was okay with that. But he's been hiding how much he's been smoking and doing it behind my back. I didn't realise how bad it had gotten.
On paper yes he's a good dad. He is a very loving parent, he cooks, takes them to school etc. The minimum. He's not a dead beat dad, I know he loves them. But it's not enough and he's not putting them first. So he's not a reliable dad.

OP posts:
JadeSheep · 25/04/2024 17:10

He's a fucking drug addict? Are you having a laugh?

I get so pissed off on here when women use the line "he's a good father" then the next post is he uses several quid a month on fucking drugs

Starsandflowers · 25/04/2024 17:07

Move in with your parents or kick him out. You aren't actually doing him any favours by allowing him to stay. You aren't helping him or the children because it's enabling him. He's an addict and he has to face the actual consequences of his behaviour and how he spends his money in order to get better.
All you would be doing by allowing him to stay or staying there yourself so he can afford to stay there, is letting him continue with his addiction.
He is an adult. He is NOT your responsibility. It us NOT in your children's best interests for tou to be sheltering him from his own behaviour.

coconutpie · 25/04/2024 17:04

Kick him out OP. He's not your problem.

LeChatChat · 25/04/2024 17:03

Well then, he has enough money to rent a bedsit if he has £500 a month after normal expenses. When is the lease up? I would take him off it and get him removed - do not leave him in the house on his own when your dad is liable for any missng rent.

Mummypig16 · 25/04/2024 16:58

Child maintenance is for his 2 children from a previous relationship!

OP posts:
Mummypig16 · 25/04/2024 16:58

Sorry I should have clarified.
He does have a full time job, he gets 1400 pm pre tax but pays 400 child maintenance, council tax, normal tax and tends to withdraw half his wages throughout the month (I thought to help with bills but actually turns out he was buying weed with it. Yep he has a weed addiction!)
I make him sound like such a catch don't I. He's made a mug out of me for so bloody long and I'm so tired of it.
I work 3/4 days a week as a carer so long shifts, he has his days off on days I work and vice versa to help with childcare

OP posts:
lamptabletv · 25/04/2024 16:38

Ah, that sounds so tricky and stressful.

Before you decide what to do seek proper advice on your housing situation. Speak to housing at the council. Phone Shelter. Or make an appointment with CAB. Maybe even call Rights of Women.

Please know that he is no longer your responsibility. He needs to take care of himself now.

Your energy and focus is best placed into you and the kids. Take your time, get advice, have a calm think on it and then take action.

Stay safe.

I hope you feel better soon x

LookItsMeAgain · 25/04/2024 16:24

He should present himself at his local council housing office as homeless. He's an adult - time to start acting like one.

He needs to be gone from your home.

Let your landlord know that from X date, you will be moving out and as you're the lead tenant on the agreement, this will be the situation. You've advised your ex-husband of this too. Send him a letter to the same effect. Treat it as you would any contract. I'd also get a solicitor to set the ball in motion for a divorce. Again - I'd try as hard as possible to remove all emotion out of the situation for as long as you can.