Hi
Looking for some advice/ outside perspective.
I split with my children's dad about 3 years ago following a number of angry outbursts on his part. Originally he left to live with his mum & continued to pay 50% of the mortgage. I paid my half, utilities and for anything the children needed. We had agreed that as the house was in catchment for the best rated school in our town the house would not be sold until both children had been accepted there.
Fast forward Sept 2023 the house was due to go up for sale. When he informed me his mum was being evicted and he would need to return to the family home until it was sold - I reluctantly agreed as I didn't feel legally I had any room to say no. By June the angry outbursts started again & I moved out to my parents with both children.
As it stands he pays 50% of the mortgage whilst I'm paying my 50% of the mortgage all the household utilities, everything for the children and rent to my mum to cover the extra gas, electric & water costs as I work from home.
He is now refusing to sell the house ( I need my share of the equity for a deposit on my own place)going off 3 valuations and the sold price of two of our neighbours in identical houses I would walk away with roughly £39k. He has offered 20k but has also stated that buying me out and getting the 20k would increase his mortgage payments and therefore would be using the money he would be paying in maintenance towards the mortgage rather than paying it to me.
Am I being unreasonable for insisting the house is sold and declining his offer? His reason for wanting to remain in the house is that it is close to our children - he's originally from a different area ( about 45 minutes away) however he only has the children for 4 hours per week, has never had them overnight ( his choice) and there is nothing preventing him from buying another home in the same area we live in now.
I'm torn between feeling like he's taking advantage & wanting to agree just so I can move on.