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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

That him buying his own place is a step too far?

134 replies

Mollyandmack · 28/10/2020 16:12

DP and I have had long term issues but have a toddler DC. I don't think he is very engaged with family life and spends loads of time on his phone and doesn't seem that excited at all by DC's milestones and daily life. He is very defensive when I've brought it up and seems to focus on the criticism of him being offensive rather than looking at whether it's true. I have the whole mental load and I can't rely on him to remember anything. It feels to me like although he does give DC some attention, it's like a tick box exercise before going back to his phone. He is often zoned out and gets easily bored. All of the issues between us are long and complex but ultimately, I would like to make it work if possible - for many reasons. He has threatened to leave on many occasions - and sometimes I think that would be for the best . But overall, I don't think I feel mentally ready yet to accept it's over yet. Probably I'm too sentimental to just accept it's over. The home we live in is mine and he says he wants to buy a place of his own as a financial investment. I feel that is essentially him just planning his escape while he lingers on with us until it suits him to leave. If this is the case, I would want him to rent something now and go sooner as I don't want him hanging about waiting for a house purchase! He insists it's just an investment. I have pointed out that if we were trying to make a go of things , buying an investment flat would be something we would consider together. He says as the house is mine, he needs his own protection and he's not leaving but buying as an investment flat . I feel I would have no dignity to allow my partner and father of DC to be buying his own flat while carrying on in the meantime with family life in a checked out way and essentially using us, I feel. Am I being unreasonable? Would you allow this to happen or would you suggest that instead of buying, he goes now with a rental property? Or is it reasonable for him to have his own place in the event we can't make it work?

OP posts:
SoulofanAggron · 28/10/2020 19:36

I don't know if PP's saw that you consulted together about the house you bought for you both as he was not then in a position to buy.

He's now in a position to buy a family home but he refuses to consult with you about which one etc (is that right?)

To me that's like a power struggle or something, and definitely unreasonable of him.

He sounds like an arse and he's not making you feel secure.

I think you should draw the line.

RandomLondoner · 28/10/2020 19:41

Even if he's said he's definitely leaving, if you've lived together for years and have a child together, I think it would be completely reasonable for him to carry on living in his current home for the several months it takes to buy a property. I agree that threatening him with being kicked out immediately is just an attempt at coercion.

I might feel different if he was in breach of some explicit agreement about contributions to the household, but I've no reason to thing that is the case.

mayflowerapplepie · 28/10/2020 19:41

It seems like you want to be in control of when the relationship ends not him...

Let him buy a house. As quickly as possible. And then move into it. As quickly as possible.

Stop trying to hold onto something that doesn’t exist. This will make the inevitable separation so much easier logistically tbh. He doesn’t want to be in this family. Forcing him to stay in it won’t make him want it any more

Eslteacher06 · 28/10/2020 19:42

Crikey, some people (ehem @MootingMirror) really have got the wrong end of the stick! She's not trying to stop him from making financial investments. She's wondering if she's a mug for staying in a relationship with a man who wants to buy a house on his own rather than build a life together with their family.

Ime, yes, the relationship is over. You don't need to ask a bunch of strangers on the internet for that as you clearly don't trust his intentions. Sounds like you're better off without him there. Good luck!

Nailgirl · 28/10/2020 20:03

@Mollyandmack

MootingMirror - my point is that he would be essentially planning to leave us by buying a property I think. Even though he insists it wouldn't be. Remember we have a DC. I can't imagine many dads and husbands/ partners committed to family life unilaterally buying their own flat. I own the house we live in as a family and that's because I was the only one eligible for the mortgage when it was bought. Him using would come from him living with us until it suited him to go. Hence if he is wanting to buy, perhaps leaving sooner rather than later by renting (as it's a much quicker process!) would leave me my dignity. I'm pretty unsure of myself I suppose and not sure it I would be mad to allow this situation of him making his own house purchase or if I would be unreasonable to just let him do what he wants and see what happens
If the situation were reversed and it was his house and you could afford to buy your own property -I'd advise you to buy -one asset each. He currently has no claim on your house. I'd advise the one without a house to buy and rent it and the rent to cover the mortgage -then half the bills of the current house between you.
Remoteraver · 28/10/2020 20:14

He has threatened to leave on many occasions
Even if you take away the talk of hi me buying his own home etc he is threatening to leave you anyway.
What kind a way is this to live.
Tell him to pack his bags and go, you’ll both be much happier by the sound of it.

bluebluezoo · 28/10/2020 20:22

I own my house.

I have suggested many times dh buys his own. Several benefits- a) if we do split he has somewhere to go, b) rental income, and c) when we do want to downsize from this house we’ll have a house/flat ready and waiting, hopefully taking advantage of any rise in the market.

I don’t for one minute intend on kicking dh out by suggesting he buys his own place.

Your dh is being perfectly reasonable. I think this says more about you and your worries over your relationship.

carly2803 · 28/10/2020 20:27

OP, he has checked out. Let him go,you willbe better off without him.

I would also not be waiting for him to buy aflat, i would be telling him to leave now

IseeIsee · 28/10/2020 20:58

Yabvu. You say yourself that your relationship isn't strong enough to put him on the mortgage to your home but are then insulted when he tries to protect himself. You can't have it both ways. Let him buy but suggest he moves to his new place.

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