Obstructing house sale - advice please

[SparkleUK]

Hi all,

My jointly owned home has just sold and I'm meeting ex to sign sale papers next week. As there's no equity in house, he's now sent me a list of every item of substantial furniture in the house except 3 things (lots of things I bought or were presents) which he wants to sell to pay off his debts he's tried repeatedly to get me to pay money for since we split.

I'm paying the mortgage shortfall on the sale, all of the solicitors fees for selling/moving on and offered to give him some furniture he bought on his Next account. I've said we have plenty of time to negotiate furniture etc but house sale paperwork is time limited. He's basically saying if I want it quick I will just agree to his demands and he won't sign the sale paperwork now unless I give in and just agree to what he wants.
Any advice on negotiating a fair settlement? He's had nearly two years to come to this.

I would give him what he wants and be glad to be rid of him to be honest. It's very difficult to price up the monetary value for second hand furniture.

I'd be tempted to send him a message saying "have the lot you greedy bastard" :)

How come there's no equity in the house? When did you buy it? What about pensions?

If it truly is almost everything what does he think he will get for it? Most second hand furniture is hard to give away. I would let him have it and laugh along..

Get your solicitor to deal with him. Don't engage with his demands........... and shouldn't he be paying his own debts?

My ex tried to do a similar thing. I have a huge family law book and looked at all the laws/ clauses regarding this. If you can prove that you bought the items with your own money, they are yours. This does not necessarily mean by receipts. You can state the facts around when you bought them etc under what circumstances. Obviously if you bought them since separating then they are yours outright and it’s a no- brainer.

Any gifts bought for you both should be split equally, I.e. you take one, he takes one. You may have bought him a gift for you both to enjoy in the house (eg. I bought my ex a posh coffee machine); this is them jointly owned by you both.