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Divorce/separation

Here you'll find divorce help and support from other Mners. For legal advice, you may find Advice Now guides useful.

Original poster

Is accepting a buyout of the house during separation feasible?

11 replies

MarmadukeM · 21/04/2026 17:32

Husband has said he would like to buy me out of our house.
we have approx £147,000 mortgage and it’s worth around £320,000.
I am happy to take £75,000 and save all the hassle of selling it and buying our own places etc. I would take a small financial hit but I really doubt we would be able to sell easily in the current market and we don’t want to cohabit for longer than necessary and I’d like to move on with things rather than sleep in daughters bedroom etc. It it means he would need a sizeable mortgage but he can just about afford it (I know it won’t be my problem but just for context of how ‘doable’ it sounds)
anyone done similar? We were thinking of getting a solicitor each and getting an order drawn up outlining the agreement of how much he gives me and that we then have no further claims on either his house or any house I buy (as we would rather separate the property for now then deal with pensions and actual divorce further down the line so both happy to remain legally married for the meantime).
does this sound feasible and has anyone done similar? Thanks x

OP posts:
Xmasangel1505 · 21/04/2026 17:49

Yep I’m doing the same now due to delays in cetv of stbxh military pension.

separation agreement drawn up, he’s signing over his half of the equity in the house to me, I’m taking over the mortgage myself (which I’ve been paying myself for the last 2 years anyway) his half of the equity will then be offset against any future pension sharing order.

all relatively simple to do and removes having to wait for the cetv which we’ve been waiting over a year for. Will finalise the rest when we have it 😂

Original poster
MarmadukeM · 21/04/2026 17:59

Xmasangel1505 · 21/04/2026 17:49

Yep I’m doing the same now due to delays in cetv of stbxh military pension.

separation agreement drawn up, he’s signing over his half of the equity in the house to me, I’m taking over the mortgage myself (which I’ve been paying myself for the last 2 years anyway) his half of the equity will then be offset against any future pension sharing order.

all relatively simple to do and removes having to wait for the cetv which we’ve been waiting over a year for. Will finalise the rest when we have it 😂

Fab thanks x
so will he get a sum of physical cash for purchasing a property of his own at this point? Is that how it works?

OP posts:
Xmasangel1505 · 21/04/2026 18:09

MarmadukeM · 21/04/2026 17:59

Fab thanks x
so will he get a sum of physical cash for purchasing a property of his own at this point? Is that how it works?

Show quote history

No, we’re offsetting his half of the equity against his pension as his pension is worth double/triple what the house is worth in its entirety.

He’s in a fortunate position that the woman he had an affair with, and is now buying a house with, has the cash to put down for a new house from her divorce 😂

Original poster
MarmadukeM · 21/04/2026 20:51

Xmasangel1505 · 21/04/2026 18:09

No, we’re offsetting his half of the equity against his pension as his pension is worth double/triple what the house is worth in its entirety.

He’s in a fortunate position that the woman he had an affair with, and is now buying a house with, has the cash to put down for a new house from her divorce 😂

Show quote history

Eeh honestly life isn’t fair sometimes. Best off without the bugger im sure !

OP posts:
Tortephant · 21/04/2026 20:58

Have you had the property valued by at least three agents? My experience in this situation is people undervalue.

yes, you need a solicitor to look after your interests. I was advised do nothing until your formal agreement, but I’m sure there are ways if you have good legal advice.

MelanzaneParmigiana · 21/04/2026 21:31

We did this and it allowed me escape and buy a tiny property which I love and is my forever home. We did this while things were still amicable (they got nasty later when we divorced and the judge tore him a new one)
We were realistic about the value (given that selling on the open market has lots of other costs associated and that I would have to pay stamp duty on the new property.

LovesLabradors · 21/04/2026 22:42

You're agreeing to less than 50% of the equity - so although you're avoiding the fees of selling the house, all the fees of buying a new property will fall to you, while he keeps the extra equity in the home he stays in.
What other assets are there? If you do this, make sure you have this recognised in the final financial settlement - you will be entitled to equalised pensions etc.
Definitely consult a solicitor.

FloydPink · 22/04/2026 16:54

Yes, this was me. House valued at 325, 330, 335 so went in the middle (I did tell them we needed a quick sale).

Equity in the end was around 160k once joint debts etc were stripped out, so I paid her 80k out of my remortgage. Went round the house and took it in turns to keep mirror, pics etc... all big furniture I kept as there really is no value in that, plus she didnt know if it would fit in her new place so worked out an amount I would pay in lieu of that. Started process mid Feb, all done by end of April (remortgage itself took about 7 weeks). In the meantime worked out values on cars pensions etc and went 50/50 on that. At end of April all signed and divorce came though in Nov.

In theory the house was worth a little more but had we sold would have had moving fees, estate agents fees, more legal fees etc... and then there was disruption to kids to factor in. Suppose she was about 5k worse off than selling but felt it was worth it

MayaPinion · 22/04/2026 17:07

Why are you taking less than half? You will be incurring all the costs of buying a new house - solicitors, surveys, stamp duty, removals, etc. can easily rack up about £8k-£10k.

Original poster
MarmadukeM · 22/04/2026 20:02

FloydPink · 22/04/2026 16:54

Yes, this was me. House valued at 325, 330, 335 so went in the middle (I did tell them we needed a quick sale).

Equity in the end was around 160k once joint debts etc were stripped out, so I paid her 80k out of my remortgage. Went round the house and took it in turns to keep mirror, pics etc... all big furniture I kept as there really is no value in that, plus she didnt know if it would fit in her new place so worked out an amount I would pay in lieu of that. Started process mid Feb, all done by end of April (remortgage itself took about 7 weeks). In the meantime worked out values on cars pensions etc and went 50/50 on that. At end of April all signed and divorce came though in Nov.

In theory the house was worth a little more but had we sold would have had moving fees, estate agents fees, more legal fees etc... and then there was disruption to kids to factor in. Suppose she was about 5k worse off than selling but felt it was worth it

Thanks - sounds like you are/were in very similar position to us.
Did you go to mediation or was it not necessary? Am guessing we need a consent order?

OP posts:
FloydPink · 23/04/2026 00:28

MarmadukeM · 22/04/2026 20:02

Thanks - sounds like you are/were in very similar position to us.
Did you go to mediation or was it not necessary? Am guessing we need a consent order?

Show quote history

Just got a solicitor to draw up separation agreement, that allowed me to pay off and then the financial order came about a year later

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