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trying to evict adult stepchild

806 replies

DionneEz · 01/03/2025 22:33

This is my dilemma. The property is a marital home with my husband from whom I am now separated.

Before the separation, his adult son (21) was living with us. My husband has now left the property but insists that his adult son remain with me. This has been nearly 2 years.

At first I was accommodating, as my husband still pays half the mortgage, I pay all of the bills.

The stepson living here was not an issue at first, but now I can no longer cope as he basically stays indoors on his phone all day. The only time he comes out of his room is to collect his Ubereats.

I asked him about getting a job and contributing something financially towards the bills and I was given a story about how he was freelancing from home...and that his pay was intermittent.
However, I see the receipts for his Ubereats orders and they amount to about £20 daily, which is about £500 a month. When he does leave the house, he takes a £7 cab to the station when he can get the bus, which costs £2 or even walk as it is only 10 mins away...so clearly he has funds to splurge but he doesn't feel he has to contribute to the running of the house since his father owns half.

So the scenario is that I have a nearly 22-year-old man 24/7 in my house who refuses to lift a finger to do anything in terms of chores and doesn't contribute financially. I recently had to stop him using my toothpaste and bath soap because I was like you can buy your own surely.
I do go into the office 3 times a week and have errands and stuff to run on weekends but will come back to clean my house as this guy does absolutely nothing. When I was on hols for 3 weeks, he didn't even take the bins out. Yet his father insists that as he owns the house as well., he has every right to dictate who lives there. Is this true?

Anyway, I have given stepson notice even though he is not a tenant. The notice has now passed but he is still here and has no intention of leaving. I know the next step is to change the locks when he leaves which is rare but can his father come and let him in again and will I be breaking any laws if I lock the father out as well? Father doesn't live there and does not pay any bills..just half the mortgage but as the resident homeowner shouldn't my rights surpass his?

OP posts:
fashionqueen0123 · 31/08/2025 14:59

DionneEz · 31/08/2025 12:40

Yes a typo..Stepson is now living with her bio mother.

Not his Dad/your ex?

BruFord · 31/08/2025 20:43

@DionneEz That’s great news.

jay55 · 01/09/2025 05:01

So sorry to you had to go through multiple court cases to get this far.
Glad you’re finallly having some peace.

Interested in this thread?

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Osirus · 01/09/2025 08:47

Fraaances · 02/03/2025 03:45

First I would be putting locks on all of the rooms you occupy so he can't enter. I would then get an electrician out to the house and paying to have SS's bedroom & bathroom isolated on their own circuit with a breaker and get a lockable circuit box. I would ask that the rest of the house be put on a circuit breaker and lock that box too. Turn off the power to the whole house when you're not home, and only turn on your bedroom & bathroom. I would totally shut off the electricity to his bedroom, eat out, get your own uber eats, etc until he fucks off. He doesn't pay the bills and is not entitled to your electricity, heat or water. He won't be able to play computer games or shower, and will soon be chilly.

Wow, that’s crazy, psychotic territory.

Osirus · 01/09/2025 09:20

Thelittleweasel · 02/03/2025 14:04

@DionneEz

You really do need to take advice from a Solicitor on [at least] two points.

1 The "lodger". You will need to establish your "rights" to evict him

2 Your ownership rights. You say you are tenants in common. As you are married that is unusual and you would ususally be "joint tenants" - in effect toy would each own all the house. If you are tenants in common the proportion for each is set on the Land Registry deeds...

Point 2 is not true.

For one, it’s not unusual at all. Plenty of reasons married couples do this. And secondly, the LR won’t stipulate percentages. Only a declaration of trust will do that and the shares are not set out in the title register itself.

And it’s quite often still 50-50.

T1Dmama · 03/09/2025 23:55

Sadly the courts and police are useless at times!
I have a friend currently going through similar with her ex, he’s very controlling and nasty, will make sure he’s places that he knows she has to be and mouth abuse at her to intimidate her..
She has video evidence of behaviour and reports him.. the police’s response is that he can go wherever he likes! Useless!

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