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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think the house should be in my name too

248 replies

CharlotteCollinsneeLucas · 27/01/2020 17:12

DP and I are buying a house. We're each contributing deposits of about 35% of the value, with the final 30% being DP's mortgage which he's moving over from his current house.

The solicitor's just said the legal title has to match the mortgage offer. So since the mortgage is in his name, the house has to be, too.

I feel really insulted! I'm paying for a third of this house, but I can't have my name on the deeds?

I fully admit to knowing almost nothing about house-buying, but I wasn't expecting this. It seems so unfair!

OP posts:
redcherryred · 27/01/2020 17:27

There’s another thread running at the moment that says lenders will not allow someone to be on the deeds if they are not also on the mortgage.

So, which is it?

Babdoc · 27/01/2020 17:27

Wow, your DP saw you coming, didn’t he! Once he’s got your money and the house is his, he can simply tell you to leave. If you’re not married, you’re not on the title deeds, and you’re not on the mortgage, you haven’t a leg to stand on in contesting it.
Please, OP, see a separate lawyer yourself, get proper advice and safeguard your money and your position, before even considering moving in with this person.

MrsJoshNavidi · 27/01/2020 17:28

"You have 4 DC from a previous relationship, you’re not married and you’re going to give this man 35% towards a house you won’t own?"

"I don’t think this is a good idea."

Exactly this.

RebelWithVerySharpClaws · 27/01/2020 17:28

Do not do it. Your money will become his money, in his mind and in fact. You will be risking your and your DCs financial future. These bloody men must think we are daft. The whole system is rigged to fucking rip us off. Get some advice, and not from his solicitor.

Pollaidh · 27/01/2020 17:29

I think it partly depends on the mortgage provider - when we first got a mortgage we applied in DH's name only only the broker's advice as I was on ML and it would make for a weaker application, but I was still a joint tenant on the deeds of the house, so definitely possible to do it like that. When we remortgaged for a better rate, I was on ML again but this time the mortgage provider was happy to take us both. In the kindest interpretation, he's confused the legal ownership with the mortgage situation.

Whatever you do, do not put money into this house without having any right to it. I've seen this go wrong in friends' relationships. Get some legal advice yourself, it will be worth it. You need to be on the deeds.

WorraLiberty · 27/01/2020 17:30

As others have said OP, do not do this, especially as you two aren't married.

Get your own legal advice

SHAR0N · 27/01/2020 17:30

Please, OP, see a separate lawyer yourself, get proper advice and safeguard your money and your position, before even considering moving in with this person

This.

LakieLady · 27/01/2020 17:31

I thought it was the other way round - you can't be on the mortgage without being on the title.

When I had to pay my ex an exorbitant amount of money in the divorce settlement, it was too much for me to raise on my own, so DP and I had to take out a joint mortgage.

Consequently, he had to be added to the title deeds.

magoria · 27/01/2020 17:31

I can only echo what everyone else has said. Do NOT put your money into a property with no watertight agreement that it is your money or your name against the property.

You need independent advise, not through his solicitor.

If the worst happens and you split up you may never see your share again.

Cyborgfeminist · 27/01/2020 17:32

Like PickaChew, I don’t work and our mortgage (and house) is in both names. The amount they were willing to lend us was based on what DH earns, so adding me to it made no difference. I had to go through the usual credit checks

5LeafClover · 27/01/2020 17:32

How will the finances for the mortgage repayment work. If you are putting in the same equity and pooling resources so that he can afford the repayment it should be 50/50. If he's paying the mortgage then you split bills fairly on top it should reflect this.

SimonJT · 27/01/2020 17:33

@redcherryred You can do it, I’m on the deeds but not the mortgage. But you have to raise/apply for a change of ownership after the property has been purchased, at least you did when we did it, we also need to send permission from the lender to the land registry.

LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 27/01/2020 17:33

I'm on both deeds and mortgage but only my DH's income was assessed when we applied for the mortgage - simply because I'm self-employed and CBA sorting out my accounts etc. It's perfectly possible to do this, it was only 2 years ago that we re-mortgaged with the same ts and cs.

Do NOT put your money into a house where you aren't on the title deeds!

Cyborgfeminist · 27/01/2020 17:33

I think it’s probably up to the lender?

Original poster
CharlotteCollinsneeLucas · 27/01/2020 17:34

We're getting married before we complete the purchase, and until today I thought we'd be owning the house together.

I think you're all right, I don't want my name not on the deeds, even though if it's the marital home it matters less, I think?

OP posts:
BoxedWine · 27/01/2020 17:35

It does matter less when you're married, but you're not married yet...

LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 27/01/2020 17:36

It matters less if you're married, but it still matters. If you break up, there has to be a paper trail that shows who owns what and who brought what to the party.

eurochick · 27/01/2020 17:37

It doesn't sound like your solicitor is dealing with this well.

It's not unusual for a lender to refuse to add someone to an existing mortgage that is being ported. We had this issue when we moved the other way around - we wanted to port a mortgage in my name but add my husband to it. The lender wouldn't agree. We were past the point where early repayment charges would apply so we just took out a new mortgage for the new house.

You need to make sure they money you are putting in is being protected. As mentioned above there are various ways to do this. Don't just chuck your money in and hope for the best.

ChicCroissant · 27/01/2020 17:37

There certainly are lenders who will not permit anyone not on the mortgage to be on the deeds of the house. I think the ones that will are in the minority. The mortgage company will have a charge on the property.

How is your contribution reflected in the paperwork OP?

5LeafClover · 27/01/2020 17:38

Also, adjust if you are providing any work to help him afford the house ( childcare/ school runs for his DC etc) you should adjust for that. My friend had an agreement that original investment was split as per investment but any profit on sale was shared 50/50.

BlueJava · 27/01/2020 17:39

No way I'd be putting in anything towards it if my name wasn't on the deeds (whether I was married or not). Think really carefully OP and protect yourself and your DCs first.

strawberrytea123 · 27/01/2020 17:40

Will your partner be happy to speak with mortgage advisors? They can give lots of advice about different providers and methods of doing it. If between you you have 65% of the deposit I'd be wary of someone saying you wouldn't be eligible for a 30% mortgage (if I have understood you have 35% deposit and your DP is providing 30% deposit) and def worth checking it out

Purpleneonpinkunicorns · 27/01/2020 17:42

I would find yourself a solicitor to give you the information you need as you really should protect your money.

Original poster
CharlotteCollinsneeLucas · 27/01/2020 17:43

He's going to talk to the mortgage provider tomorrow.

OP posts:
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