Separated, but neither of us can move out

[Treeshrub]

As the title says…neither of us can afford to move out. We’re separated, we sleep in separate bedrooms, but we’re also co-parenting our almost 3 year old.
I want to move on, he doesn’t seem bothered if we carry on living like this, but I’d like to start dating again eventually, I feel like my life is in limbo at the moment.

We both have debts to pay, we’re claiming universal credit as a top up, we can’t afford to manage without it.

We have a joint mortgage, in both our names, but we’re not married.

If you moved out then Uc would help with rent, the house can be disregarded for a while I believe as long as reasonable steps are being taken to sell it.

If you sold the house could you pay off your debt?

Is there anyone you could move in with?

He doesn’t want to sell the house either. He says it’s his house too and I can’t make him sell.

@PurpleyBlue nope, I don’t have any family nearby and no friends who have space for me.
His parents live 15 mins away and have a large house with a big spare double bedroom…but he won’t leave.

You can force a sale

@maddening can you?

@Treeshrub

He doesn’t want to sell the house either. He says it’s his house too and I can’t make him sell.

You need to speak to a solicitor. If he doesn't want to sell then he will need to buy you out of your share.

Yes, my friend has just had to do so, but yes it requires solicitors.

@Babyroobs I know, but he can’t afford to do that, he definitely can’t afford to. So I don’t know where that leaves us.

I can’t afford a solicitor…it’s embarrassing but I don’t think I can.

[quote Treeshrub]@Babyroobs I know, but he can’t afford to do that, he definitely can’t afford to. So I don’t know where that leaves us.[/quote]
If he can't afford to buy you out then he needs to agree to selling and you divide any equity left after the mortgage is paid back. I think you can get half an hours free advice from some soliciters maybe?

@Treeshrub

I can’t afford a solicitor…it’s embarrassing but I don’t think I can.

No need to be embarrassed.

Do you think his parents might be able to make him see sense?

If you're properly separated (ie not cooking for each other, doing washing, buying food) then you can claim UC as a single person.
Do you claim child benefit in your name?
Have you run the figures yourself to see if he can increase mortgage to give you half the equity?