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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to expect the house value to be split evenly?

34 replies

jumbojumbo · 05/04/2025 17:30

Hoping this should be a clear cut yes or no.

Whilst pregnant, bought house as a cash buyer with husband 10 years ago, paid 40k each and bought the house as tenants in common.

Following maternity leave, I decided to leave my job, in order to take care of my newborn at the time, and become a full time stay at home mum. Had another child shortly afterwards.

The house was old and needed renovation, and whilst I helped complete jobs on the house, my husband paid for 100% of the cost of the renovations due to me obviously not working.

We are now in the process of discussing divorce, and looking at him buying me out with cash so that he owns the house solely. He thinks that since he paid for all of the renovations, he should be entitled to a larger share of the house, since his renovations have raised the value of the house. Obviously the house value has also risen purely due to the current market.

We havent discussed numbers, but say the house is now worth £140k would a 80/60k split be fair?

OP posts:
WhisperGold · 05/04/2025 18:00

50:50

Phresh · 05/04/2025 17:39

50/50 all day long. Where was his share of the childcare? Absolutely no chance I'd be agreeing to anything less.

AirborneElephant · 05/04/2025 17:36

Don’t agree to anything like that. You were on maternity leave and then looking after your joint children. The starting point would be 50:50, but if your needs are greater due to the children you might end up with a larger split. And please remember you are also entitled to 50% of his pension and any savings you both have. See a solicitor.

LavenderFields7 · 05/04/2025 17:35

Yeah, and then send a bill to him for 24/7 childcare for x number of years 😂

TheSassyAmberNewt · 05/04/2025 17:35

TeenToTwenties · 05/04/2025 17:32

What price all the childcare you did?
He may have put more in, but only because you were saving the nursery costs etc...

Edited

This. If he’s charging you for the house renovations, charge him back for the cost of childcare, the loss of career progression and the loss in any extras like pension contributions, investment growth and benefits that you lost while not working.

Two can play at that game.

ThePoetsWife · 05/04/2025 17:34

See a solicitor - you’re probably entitled to much more

Grecianrainbow · 05/04/2025 17:33

I don’t know what you’re voting buttons mean - but you need to get proper legal advice for all assets including pensions. Not just the house. And giving him a larger portion when you may have DC more and therefore reduced earning capacity would be very short sighted.

MuggleMe · 05/04/2025 17:33

I hope when you say "I decided" you mean it was joint decision but either way, you've curtailed your earning potential to look after your joint children, at least a joint split is standard.

TeenToTwenties · 05/04/2025 17:32

What price all the childcare you did?
He may have put more in, but only because you were saving the nursery costs etc...