Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Partner won’t put me on deeds to the house

565 replies

HannahXsanderson · 21/07/2025 06:55

Hello,
AIBU I have been with my partner for 5 years and we have a 2 year old together, things have been slightly rocky since having our child but other than that our relationship is good. We currently live in my partners house which he had bought before we met. I contributed to the house before baby arrived but haven’t went back to work as my partner very fortunately earns a good wage and doesn't want me me to go back to work until our child is 3 and starts nursery. We are planning on moving into a bigger family home this year and I assumed that I would be made a co-owner. I brought this up to my partner and he said absolutely not because I’m not financially contributing.
I disagree with this as I feel that I am contributing in the sense that I’m brining up his child and keeping his house clean ect ect.. I just find it very odd that we are in a well established relationship and he said once we buy a house he wants to get married, so my thought is what’s the problem with me being put on the deeds to our family home?
I feel very insecure about this, I saved up money to keep myself going these past couple of years and my savings are nearly done, so it’s not as if he hands me money ect… he pays bills and food shopping.
I feel that he is reluctant on making a commitment and especially a financial commitment not even just to me but his own child. He also refuses to update his will or life insurance policy if anything were to happen to him.
Am I expecting too much?
I feel that I need to have some sort of security about our relationship especially since I’m dependent on him. I also feel that we’re not equal as he makes comments that this is his house ect..

OP posts:
ExhaustedElephant · 21/07/2025 07:29

OP you are in a bad situation. But well done for realising it now. Some women don’t see this till they are in late midlife. The actions you take now will be crucial. Think long-term not short-term. Please.

HannahXsanderson · 21/07/2025 07:30

I’d be happy to go back to work, but my partner feels our 2 year old is to young for nursery. I did a couple of shifts when my maternity ended but he didn’t like me going to work and would create an atmosphere about it. The ups and downs in our relationship have been to do with the in-laws not necessarily us.

OP posts:
Purplecatshopaholic · 21/07/2025 07:31

Theeyeballsinthesky · 21/07/2025 07:03

so you

  • live in his house
  • dont Work
  • entirely financially dependent on him
  • aren't married
  • and he wants more children?
for the love of god do not have more children with him!

youre taking all the risks here. Go back to work, stop being so dependent on him. I'd say get married as that legal contract would be the best protection but I expect you'll never actually buy that bigger house and get married as he says. He's a future faker

you need to put yourself and your child first because he certainly won't

Absolutely this op. Read it again and again. You should not have put yourself in this position, but now you have you need to sort it, you are very financially vulnerable. He’s not going to put you on the deeds or marry you, why would he, he’s got what he wants without any financial risk. If you break up, you are out on your ear with nothing. Do Not Have More Kids.

crumblingschools · 21/07/2025 07:31

Why didn’t you get married before having your child? I know it’s an old fashioned notion but certainly a good idea especially if you are the lower earner/asset poor.

user1476613140 · 21/07/2025 07:33

Pop down to the registry office and get married then you'll be able to put your name on the title deeds. It doesn't take long.

Coconutter24 · 21/07/2025 07:33

If I bought a house before I met someone and was in a slightly rocky relationship I would not put their names on the deeds. If we were to buy together with joint deposits etc I would only once the relationship was good and not ‘slightly rocky’. I definitely wouldn’t use my house equity as a deposit for a house in both our names…. Married and stable I would….. partner and slightly rocky no I would not

Rabbitsockpeony · 21/07/2025 07:34

HannahXsanderson · 21/07/2025 07:25

He has never lived with a previous partner nor a long term relationship before me 🤷🏼‍♀️

🤦🏻‍♀️ what a choice.

TooManyCupsAndMugs · 21/07/2025 07:34

HannahXsanderson · 21/07/2025 07:30

I’d be happy to go back to work, but my partner feels our 2 year old is to young for nursery. I did a couple of shifts when my maternity ended but he didn’t like me going to work and would create an atmosphere about it. The ups and downs in our relationship have been to do with the in-laws not necessarily us.

Tell him he can't have it all ways. Either he gives you the financial security of marriage and shared assets OR agrees you go back to work to build up your assets. And he contributes to childcare- it's his child too.

arcticpandas · 21/07/2025 07:34

What's done is done. Now you have to take back control over your life. Tell him that if he doesn't marry you and put you on the deeds he doesn't love you nor sees you as a life partner so maybe it would be best to go separate ways. Do not have any more children with him.

tumblingdowntherabbithole · 21/07/2025 07:34

I wouldn’t put you on the deeds to my house either.

MayBeee · 21/07/2025 07:34

You say you have funded yourself whilst off work . To what degree ?

Are you paying him any rent , do you contribute to bills gas , electricity , water ?

Who buys the food you eat ? Petrol , clothes , days out , your families birthday / Christmas presents etc ?

Are you saying you fund all that 100 % ?

Emotionalsupporthamster · 21/07/2025 07:35

He doesn’t want you financially tied to him - he wants to be able to leave if he fancies it later on and leave you with nothing. Given that, I’d be surprised if he does genuinely plan to marry you.

In your position I’d go back to work full time for some financial security. Otherwise if he leaves you you are left with no home and no job, nothing.

Rabbitsockpeony · 21/07/2025 07:35

HannahXsanderson · 21/07/2025 07:30

I’d be happy to go back to work, but my partner feels our 2 year old is to young for nursery. I did a couple of shifts when my maternity ended but he didn’t like me going to work and would create an atmosphere about it. The ups and downs in our relationship have been to do with the in-laws not necessarily us.

He’s controlling AF. He can’t decree you’re not allowed to work because he has decided your kid is too young for nursery.

Tandora · 21/07/2025 07:35

Damnloginpopup · 21/07/2025 07:03

I wouldn't put anyone on the deeds of a house I bought.

Would you expect someone to quit their job in order to provide round the clock free childcare and domestic labour for you?

Spindrifts · 21/07/2025 07:35

Check out how the English law stands where a partner is unmarried and what would you do if you split up or he disappeared? Will you be left with no money, no roof over your head, and no job or child care? Why do people not protect themselves before they get into these situations? And then wail when it befalls them?

Coconutter24 · 21/07/2025 07:35

user1476613140 · 21/07/2025 07:33

Pop down to the registry office and get married then you'll be able to put your name on the title deeds. It doesn't take long.

Op can’t just put her name on the deeds because they are married. Her partner would have to do a transfer of equity.

Dozer · 21/07/2025 07:36

Oh come on @HannahXsanderson

Forget the in law/family issues: take some responsibility for your poor decisions in taking these massive risks for yourself and your DC.

Minnie798 · 21/07/2025 07:36

How much equity did he have in the house prior to you moving in?

Coconutter24 · 21/07/2025 07:36

Tandora · 21/07/2025 07:35

Would you expect someone to quit their job in order to provide round the clock free childcare and domestic labour for you?

Edited

Is it free though because she’s also getting free housing, bills paid for her and food bought for her.

Dozer · 21/07/2025 07:37

And see your partner’s behaviour and attitudes for what they are - not good.

bluecurtains14 · 21/07/2025 07:37

HannahXsanderson · 21/07/2025 07:30

I’d be happy to go back to work, but my partner feels our 2 year old is to young for nursery. I did a couple of shifts when my maternity ended but he didn’t like me going to work and would create an atmosphere about it. The ups and downs in our relationship have been to do with the in-laws not necessarily us.

"I did a couple of shifts when my maternity ended but he didn’t like me going to work and would create an atmosphere about it he's an unpleasant bully who wouldn't let me"

fixed that for you.

Theeyeballsinthesky · 21/07/2025 07:37

HannahXsanderson · 21/07/2025 07:30

I’d be happy to go back to work, but my partner feels our 2 year old is to young for nursery. I did a couple of shifts when my maternity ended but he didn’t like me going to work and would create an atmosphere about it. The ups and downs in our relationship have been to do with the in-laws not necessarily us.

and??? So what if he doesn't like it!

seriously OP this is your life here, not his. You've made yourself unbelievably vulnerable as it is. Go back to work & stop being so passive about all this

user1476613140 · 21/07/2025 07:37

Coconutter24 · 21/07/2025 07:35

Op can’t just put her name on the deeds because they are married. Her partner would have to do a transfer of equity.

Getting married will make it easier. Unless she plans to leave then she should make plans for that instead...

Dozer · 21/07/2025 07:37

@Coconutter24 for as long as her boyfriend wishes to pay and could stop at any time.

Rooroobear · 21/07/2025 07:37

You need to go back to work op. If he doesn’t want your child in nursery he can stay home. Stop being dependent on men when they give you fuck all back. If he creates an atmosphere that’s on him but you need to think of you here. Go back to work