Ex wanting 'joint' items 5 years later

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Ex moved out of shared home 5 years ago, took some items from the house with him including furniture saying he didn't want anything else via email. 5 years later and I am moving out and selling some of the furniture we bought together in the past. He is now saying he is entitled to half of all proceeds. Does he have this right?

I have kept these items, cleaned them over time, taken the time to photograph/list them on selling websites and arrange for people to view them, all very time-consuming while he has done nothing but still expects half the profit.

I’d say no as he stated he didn’t want anything else and confirmed this in writing. If he starts being arsey I’d get legal advice.

You are definitely the owner of what was left when he emailed you 5 years ago.

Ignore him. He can see a solicitor if he thinks he is entitled to something.

He abandoned those items 5 years ago, they are legally yours.
Tell him to jog on.

His email shows he didn't want any of it, and he wasn't claiming any of it as joint assets to be split.

He's a chancing shite.

Thank you for the replies. The problem is now the new buyers want to purchase these items independently of the sale of the house and the solicitor has said he needs consent from both of us before transferring the money. My ex has insisted he gets half of this! What can I do?

I should add in the last 5 years ex has not mentioned he wants or should be entitled to any of the contents in the house until now (and obviously hasn't used any of these things in last 5 years). If he goes with this logic then surely I am also entitled to the furniture he took with him, some of which I bought myself before we even met?

I'm not a lawyer but I can't see that he can have a claim on stuff that he has abandoned years ago. If he did try to claim I would put in a counter claim for storage fees for five years and wipe his 'half' out.

Not a lawyer & not sure really so I’d get legal advice especially if he’s adamant.

Ask your buyer to pay you directly for the furniture, if it’s separate from the house sale then there’s no need to go through a solicitor.

I think your priority has to be keeping your buyers happy. It's not worth upsetting them or delaying things over a few quid, galling as it is to pay over money to ex.

Your solicitor is just wrong I’m afraid.

Go back to them saying your ex abandoned those items 5 years ago, they have been yours to dispose of as you wish since then, and he is not entitled to any money.

Your solicitor has no grounds to keep that money or give it to your ex.

Tell them furniture isn't for sale and sell independently, telling ex he's having a laugh. You don't get anything much for second hand furniture anyway, so if he persists give him a tenner.