Usual disclaimer- all names have been changed for privacy.
I (41F) bought a house with my younger sister Claudia (34F) 17 years ago (2006). Both our names went on the Mortgage at my parent’s behest. To make Claudia ‘Feel grown up’ and perhaps she would be inclined ‘to take the bills seriously’. As was earning more money than her at the time, we agreed that I would pay two thirds of all bills and Claudia would pay the remainder. (Somewhere in all the paperwork, I do remember ticking a box that said Tenants in common and not tenants in Law. Which I believe recognises an uneven split in ownership?)
Anyway, after 9 months of living together and after a silly argument about the washing up. Claudia packed up her things and left to go back home and live with our parents. I really don’t think she could afford her share of the bills and didn’t like spending her money on living essentials. Claudia promptly handed her key over to our dad and nothing was discussed or agreed. Our relationship was slightly fractured after this, but we remained cordial at family gatherings.
I really struggled to afford the bills on my own at first, but by taking a second job and knuckling down at work I earned a promotion and was soon comfortably able to afford everything with a decent quality of life.
Skip to 10 years later and Claudia is in a relationship with Matt. Matt ‘Flips houses’ for profit. Selling some and renting out others. He’s made a successful business out of this. Out of the blue I receive a scathing text message from Claudia demanding I remortgage immediately to take her name off the mortgage. From what I understand Matt had maxed out the amount of properties he could get with just his name and wanted to start using Claudia’s. She states that she doesn’t want to be bought out, just her name taking off the mortgage. She’ll even help pay for the legal fees. I get to own 100% of the house, she gets to build a property empire with Matt. Win-Win! Off I trot to a Mortgage advisor and explain the situation and there’s a few options- I just need to get the house valued. I pay my fee. Alas, the house is in negative equity! The mortgage advisor completely vanishes in the ether, doesn’t return my calls. I get a nasty text message from Claudia (GOD! I wish I’d kept these!) that she’s going to get a solicitor involved and force me to sell the house at a loss. I was absolutely heartbroken at the thought of being forced to give up my cute little house and my home of over a decade. I really didn’t what to do. My Parents aren't much help- they just shrug their shoulders. A few months later Claudia and Matt split up- all goes quiet, and I breathe a sigh of relief.
Fast forward another 5 years. I get offered a fantastic job opportunity BUT it involves a relocation ASAP! The company I work for offers to pay for a full relocation package- the whole she-bang plus they’ll pay for rent on a house for 6 months close to where I need to be so I have chance to sell my house.
No takers. The Estate agent recommend renting it out. It’s in a great location if you commute and it’s close to a lot of amenities, the area has had a bit of gentrification. It’s barely on the rental market for 24hrs before It’s snapped up. I rent it out for just enough to cover the mortgage and the landlord insurance, hoping it’s an investment for further down the line.
So, to be clear I try to sell the house – Claudia is aware but is not interested. I rent the house out- Claudia is aware but not interested and makes no comment on the situation.
4 years ago, the tenants stop paying rent (Just scumbags, but that’s a whole other story). After a lengthy year long battle which nearly broke me mentally and financially-They tried every trick in the book. I secure a successful eviction order and after the bailiffs have kicked them out, I am left with a completely trashed house. It was disgusting. Claudia is aware of this and makes no comment. My parents after seeing me struggle financially help me with the costs of a quick whitewash, several tip runs and a professional deep clean so I can get it back on the market to sell.
For the past year I had to pay both the mortgage and my own household bills. There’s just my wage, as a single person in a Cost-of-Living Crisis. I’ve blown all my savings, maxed out my credit card and had to take a loan out to make ends meet. I was hoping that the proceeds of the sale would allow me to pay everything off, get me a new car and a modest deposit on another house.
In what feels like the only good news of 2023. I have a buyer for the house. I didn’t quite get what I wanted, but I can’t afford to go on like this any longer. I want rid and quick.
Claudia is now asking about how much her share of the profit is, and how much is left on the mortgage. To be quite clear she hasn’t paid a penny towards the upkeep or mortgage of that house for over 16 YEARS! I am shocked but not surprised by the sheer audacity. Somebody has whispered in her ear that as her name is still on the mortgage she’s entitled to HALF of the profits from the sale! I have also found out that she’s taken out a large loan (for a boob job) stating that she is a property owner. My parents don’t want to get involved. They don’t want to come between sisters! My Mother hints that I should take pity on her as she’s now a single mother of two, while my dad thinks I should get legal advice and try to fight her in court.
Is there anything I can do? Or is it more fool me for not remortgaging sooner? She’s set foot in the house twice in the 16 years since she left, and apart from when she was in a relationship with Matt hasn’t said anything and was quite happy to let me keep her credit score nice and high as I’ve never missed a payment. I’m worried that if she doesn’t get her own way she’ll refuse to sign for the sale of the house.