Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be on the deeds of the house

340 replies

Unicornetto · 20/09/2022 19:04

We aren't married but should I have my name on the deeds of the house?

Me and my partner have been together for 15 years and bought our first house 5 years ago. The house is in my partners name as I had no income at the time as we had just had a baby. I have had various part time jobs to fit in around the children over the last few years and haven't contributed to the mortgage just the food shopping and clothes etc for kids.

He has just remortgaged and I've been asked to sign the 'declaration of no interest' (I did this before) but I'm wondering if I should be on the deeds as we're not married? Is this possible if I don't pay the mortgage and I'm not on the mortgage? He said he doesn't believe in marriage, even though I do and says he's happy as we are. I'm just worried that I have no financial stability, which is due to giving up my full time job to raise our family. I asked him if its possible for me to go on the deeds and he said no as I'm not on the mortgage and gets really annoyed with me for asking. Just wondering what other unmarried couples have done in this situation?

OP posts:
Daringdarling · 21/09/2022 15:25

You are being unfeeling, economiccervix.

I’ve no idea why my reply got deleted.
The swearing in your previous post was unnecessary about the OP’s motives for not replying.

To paraphrase what I had said:

People are ruled by their emotions and find themselves in complex, compromised situations.

Those with extreme wealth or those whom find life a synch with little money can be easy come, easy go.

Do you think that how you are speaking to the OP is going to suddenly alert her to change?

She’s more likely to think asking for advice is futile.

As humans, we are mostly habitual and it takes something extreme to make that change.

Unicornetto · 21/09/2022 15:56

Thank you so much for your supportive message. There haven't been many on here. I searched to see if I could find a similar thread before I posted but nothing came up. I was hoping to get information from someone in the same situation as me, not married but on the deeds of the house...

I have been at work all day, was too busy to look at my phone and just got back from school run. Had another read through feel more depressed and worthless than before I started this thread! I haven't anything to report yet as I haven't sat down and spoken to him, will do tonight once the kids are in bed. I know I'm going to struggle trying not to let my emotions get in the way.

OP posts:
Andypandy799 · 21/09/2022 16:14

Testina · 20/09/2022 20:53

“a great dad”

Always a great dad… great dads are good men, who don’t fuck their girlfriends over for bringing up their children.

Hardball. Explain to him that you have no protection in this arrangement and that your reduced hours have enabled him to earn. Make him look you in the eye and tell you that you are not his partner in parenting. Shame the fucker, if you can.

spot on

Daringdarling · 21/09/2022 16:23

Thank you very much for returning, Unicornetto.

It will be difficult to keep emotions tempered when much is at stake, perhaps view him as a species under consideration!!

Beware of the following argument which goes something like “Oh, I see, it’s this again, is it, all you care about is how much you can get from me/this house, bleeding me dry, don’t worry when I’m dead and worked to an early gr.ave you’ll be ok, mate, etc, etc”

Don’t be swayed by him making you feel like you’re some sort of gold digger for asking for him to care about what life would be like without sufficient finances. I don’t know if the above is the case with your partner but ignore it, it’s just a ruse to make you feel guilty.

Think of how it must feel like to be him with a lovely fat pension, all your support, a wife to listen and practise what he will say to colleagues, a sounding board, and his name on the deeds. He knows he is holding all the cards. He is literally playing you. Even if denies it, he will know he’s in a good position at your expense.

And in this position he can afford to be dismissive, possibly verbally abusive during disagreements because he is in the stronger position.

And I bet he enjoys showcasing his lovely wife and children at work events too.

You are his best “asset”, don’t forget it. For a man to have a lovely, intelligent wife in public on his arm is beyond price. He gains status from that!

You have sacrificed your best fertile years and eggs, which have an expiry date (unlike his sperm), a better career, a pension and all the benefits of independence of a well respected job to give him a great life.

You have sacrificed your working life to give him a better quality one.

Perhaps ask if he will now support you to study in peace to compensate for that time lost so you can rebuild a career?

If you can talk about seeing an IFA and/or solicitor for life planning he may see how it looks unfair others can see it is too.

Careful, make sure you call and pay that IFA /solicitor.

Andypandy799 · 21/09/2022 16:29

Unicornetto · 21/09/2022 15:56

Thank you so much for your supportive message. There haven't been many on here. I searched to see if I could find a similar thread before I posted but nothing came up. I was hoping to get information from someone in the same situation as me, not married but on the deeds of the house...

I have been at work all day, was too busy to look at my phone and just got back from school run. Had another read through feel more depressed and worthless than before I started this thread! I haven't anything to report yet as I haven't sat down and spoken to him, will do tonight once the kids are in bed. I know I'm going to struggle trying not to let my emotions get in the way.

This must be so hard for you, so don’t beat yourself up. When we are in love we often don’t see the bigger picture so it’s not your fault. You trust and love him but now have this anxiety hanging over you.

it’s not a case of LTB etc. don’t project too much into the future. When you signed the first declaration did you have a child?

Blossomtoes · 21/09/2022 16:38

He said he doesn't believe in marriage, even though I do and says he's happy as we are.

I bet he is. He’s got all the perks of being married and none of the responsibility. What a lovely life he’s set up for himself. I’d refuse to sign the deed unless he put a ring on my finger if I were you. Enough’s enough.

girlmom21 · 21/09/2022 16:45

I know I'm going to struggle trying not to let my emotions get in the way.

Be completely emotionless and completely practical.

Write a list of all the benefits of having your name legally linked to the house.

Explain the sacrifices you've made to enable him to afford the mortgage - as it's unlikely he'll have been able to save so much if you were working full time and not providing childcare.

Tell him it's not about trusting him or you two being happy - it's about what happens if he's hit by a bus and in a coma or dead and you can't keep a roof over your family's heads because you have no legal entitlement.

Andypandy799 · 21/09/2022 17:01

Ok just re-read and when you bought the home you had just had your dc.

So it’s ok to have assumed that you wouldn’t have been able to go on the mortgage as you were not working at the time, we all make little mistakes.

When you speak to him why not just say you had a bad dream and that he had met another woman and left you and dc homeless and as you aren’t on the mortgage you were sleeping on the streets.

Tell him you have looked online today to see if you are eligible for a mortgage as you were worried and even though you don’t work good news is I can put my name on as a joint applicant. 😊

At the moment he assumes you don’t know that you can indeed go on a mortgage even as sahm

Given him the benefit of doubt he may not know about this and not done it deliberately and may well love his wife more than the world.

Until you speak to him you won’t know.

Daringdarling · 21/09/2022 17:02

Couldn’t agree more with the previous two posts.

Is the bank asking you to sign the declaration or a solicitor?

I’m surprised that your partner is happy to list you as a dependent along with the children on the mortgage. Have you seen that paperwork for yourself, Unicornetto?.

Nothing is beyond repair yet. But he will have to be willing to help you, the way you have helped him.

Can you schedule a call on speakerphone together with the bank? Introduce yourself with your name and state that you are his long term partner of x years with 3 children within the same house. Speak up and say with regard to the forgoing of interest in the property “I am concerned. This will leave me in a vulnerable position. It is an extremely stressful proposition for me and my children” and record it on your phone, with it face down.

You may need it one day that evidence one day. Keep it safe, attach it to an email and send it to yourself.

Please do update tomorrow, Unicornetto, and together (Mumsnetters) on here will help you make a step by step list of changes towards improving your independence, that could be achievable.

Good luck tonight!

Andypandy799 · 21/09/2022 17:03

Oh and good luck 🤞

Dixiechickonhols · 21/09/2022 17:13

Unicornetto · 21/09/2022 15:56

Thank you so much for your supportive message. There haven't been many on here. I searched to see if I could find a similar thread before I posted but nothing came up. I was hoping to get information from someone in the same situation as me, not married but on the deeds of the house...

I have been at work all day, was too busy to look at my phone and just got back from school run. Had another read through feel more depressed and worthless than before I started this thread! I haven't anything to report yet as I haven't sat down and spoken to him, will do tonight once the kids are in bed. I know I'm going to struggle trying not to let my emotions get in the way.

If you are emotional maybe write a few things down to discuss. What happens if we die, what happens if we split, pension/death in service - can you nominate me, have you?, wills, enough life insurance etc, fact you don’t get bereavement support payment if he dies (widows allowance). The CAB guide marriage v cohabitation is good start as it sets out different legal positions.
Lots of women end up in this situation. At least you aren’t 30 years down line up shit creek as some threads on here are.
Good luck.

Andypandy799 · 21/09/2022 17:17

You could always say with all the death on the telly recently

Dixiechickonhols · 21/09/2022 17:20

I think being asked to sign the house mortgage form confirming you have no rights is a good natural conversation starter. It’s got me thinking about where me & 3 children would go if you died in a car crash tomorrow or we split up.

HotDogKetchup · 21/09/2022 18:04

Daringdarling · 21/09/2022 17:02

Couldn’t agree more with the previous two posts.

Is the bank asking you to sign the declaration or a solicitor?

I’m surprised that your partner is happy to list you as a dependent along with the children on the mortgage. Have you seen that paperwork for yourself, Unicornetto?.

Nothing is beyond repair yet. But he will have to be willing to help you, the way you have helped him.

Can you schedule a call on speakerphone together with the bank? Introduce yourself with your name and state that you are his long term partner of x years with 3 children within the same house. Speak up and say with regard to the forgoing of interest in the property “I am concerned. This will leave me in a vulnerable position. It is an extremely stressful proposition for me and my children” and record it on your phone, with it face down.

You may need it one day that evidence one day. Keep it safe, attach it to an email and send it to yourself.

Please do update tomorrow, Unicornetto, and together (Mumsnetters) on here will help you make a step by step list of changes towards improving your independence, that could be achievable.

Good luck tonight!

The lender will just say those are the terms of the mortgage, take it or leave it. Her OH is the client - not her, they likely won’t even talk to her. The solicitor will be asking her to sign it on behalf of the bank because they act for both the lender and person remortgaging. There is a reason they ask for one and they won’t risk their security because OP phones with a sob story…

HotDogKetchup · 21/09/2022 18:05

OP - I thought you didn’t work? Yet you’ve been at work all day?

Testina · 21/09/2022 18:07

HotDogKetchup · 21/09/2022 18:05

OP - I thought you didn’t work? Yet you’ve been at work all day?

You just look silly trying to catch the OP out, she’s clearly said she works part time 🙄

GabriellaMontez · 21/09/2022 18:08

Yes she works. But wasn't at work when they bought the house.

Andypandy799 · 21/09/2022 18:15

HotDogKetchup · 21/09/2022 18:05

OP - I thought you didn’t work? Yet you’ve been at work all day?

Im sure she says she now works part time as her child is older but didn’t work when they bought the house as she had just had a baby

jimmyjammy001 · 21/09/2022 18:20

You've had children together, all money and asset should now be shared at 50/50 especially as you are giving up career to look after children, you are currently screwed financially

Beezknees · 21/09/2022 18:20

Threads like these are why we need to teach our daughters about money and financial matters. I hope it gets s

Beezknees · 21/09/2022 18:21

Sorted op.

bellac11 · 21/09/2022 18:40

'Schedule a phone call on speakerphone with the bank'

Is this serious, you think the bank are available for consultations about domestic financial affairs!!!!!

PaperTyger · 21/09/2022 18:57

Agree op What ever you do ,do not sign that form.
Say you have researched and it's imperative that you do not sign it.
It's not in your interest to so do..

Op unfortunately many people slide into this situation including myself.

My situation is rectified!

It's one of those things that can cause issue's but quickly becomes forgotten about as life moves on

It's imperative that you get into the deeds though.

PaperTyger · 21/09/2022 19:00

Op the financial adviser wasn't working for you first time around and it sounds like she was a mortgage advisor not a financial one.

If however you had a solicitor solely acting for you in that situation I'm sure they would have advised you not to 5ake

PaperTyger · 21/09/2022 19:00

Sign it. I'e different advise for different situation and people and circumstances.

Swipe left for the next trending thread