Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

DH should fund the house renovations even though we are separated

109 replies

Pinklollypopp · 02/08/2025 12:38

In December last year, we purchased a house that needed a complete revamp. Our initial plan was to rent a friend's house for 3 months whilst the renovations were completed but this fell though and we ended up moving straight into our new home.

Our initial builder let us down so DH hired someone to complete the kitchen whilst our initial builder has some capacity to do the work. The kitchen fitter had taken almost 5 weeks to complete the job. He had taken one another job and was only turning up twice a week in the afternoon, also the company who designed our kitchen made a number of mistakes so had to redo a few parts of the kitchen.

All the aggravation of have no kitchen but a strain on our marriage, and as the SAHP I felt particularly annoyed that I couldnt cook a simple meal for weeks.
After the kitchen was finished DH told me he wanted no more involvement in the refurbishment, claiming I was taking out my anger on him for the delays to kitchen and that I would continue to blame him for any further delays.

As a result, we continued to argue for a few weeks and he decided to move out, and our relationship has progressively deteriorated and we are now separated.

Since then, nothing has happened to the house. We have a full working kitchen but nothing else. I want DH to fund the refurbishment work as several estate agents estimate it will considerably increase the property's value.

DH says he just wants to sell the house as is. AIBU to ask him to fund this. I have no other assets or savings.
I am on the deeds of the house but only as part owner, however he has previously promised to share the proceeds equally with me.

OP posts:
florathedress · 02/08/2025 12:46

You either need to fund the rest of the referral or sell it as it is you have not got each other‘s best interests at heart anymore. He is no longer your friend and you are no longer his.

jbm16 · 02/08/2025 12:46

Sell the house, if your relationship couldn't handle fitting a kitchen it won't cope with even more stress of refurbishment especially if has deteriorated since.

PinkFrogss · 02/08/2025 12:46

So while the refurbishment is ongoing who lives there and who pays the mortgage if there is one?

Sounds like you’re taking the piss, and if a short renovation ended your marriage I can understand why he doesn’t want to continue with even longer renovations, let alone fund them.

MemorableTrenchcoat · 02/08/2025 12:45

You’re separated. The marriage is probably over. Why the hell should he spend another penny on the house?

Goody2ShoesAndTheFilthyBeast · 02/08/2025 12:44

It would be daft to do that. Renovation time, money and stress plus divorce = disaster
Better to sell the house and have it done with.

DrPrunesqualer · 02/08/2025 12:43

Selling the house is the only solution here

I don’t agree dh should spend £200,000 whilst also having to pay for somewhere to live

It also seems you can’t deal with the disruption do time to sell

IkeaJesusChrist · 02/08/2025 12:43

Sell the house, your husband hasn't got to fund the refurbishment.

MyUmberSeal · 02/08/2025 12:43

Your request is a total piss take. If there is zero chance of reconciliation, sell up and split the proceeds as the house is now.

QuickFawn · 02/08/2025 12:40

i agree with your dh

sell the house, refurbishment of that cost is going to take years not months