Where do I stand with the house if I leave

[Kizzyinatizzy]

I’m wondering if anyone can help. I’ve searched through mumsnet but can’t find anything.
ive been with my partner for nearly 15 years. We’ve never married and have two children together aged 12 and 9.
the second year we had been together my partner bought a house and I moved in basically straight away. I had never been on the mortgage. We are still in this house and have never moved.
I put into our joint account every month to cover bills and help pay things.
I would like to know if I have any rights over the house if we separate if so would it be half?
hope someone can help.

No, none. If you're not on deeds then there's not much you can do.

No, legally you have no rights to a share of the house.

It's not the best situation, but it's not a complete no to being able to get anything. You need to get proof of all the money/bills you've paid towards living there and go to a solicitor. You should be entitled to something.

But it would not be half.

No you have no claim on the house. Unfortunately, you’re in a vulnerable position financially.

You only have a claim on the house if you paid (or contributed to) the deposit, paid off some of the mortgage (not just interest payments) or paid for improvements to the house (not just decorating). It doesn't sound like you have done any of those things so I'm afraid you don't have any claim.

Suggest if you dont separate you need a discussion around finances and how you can begin to take a stake in the property. A reasonable man would see this is only fair. Easy to say now I know.

Thank you for your help I did think this but was hoping I was wrong!
I’m actually so shocked I’ve let this happen.
I will have the discussion with him and hope we come to some sort of agreement. Thank you

Do you have savings in the form of the money you didn’t spend on rent/mortgage for the past 14 years?

If you can prove you contributed to the mortgage and house repairs etc you might have a case for something. Might. You'd need to take legal advice.

I'm actually in the opposite situation.
My partner lives with me - makes more than me (£500 a day!) but pays only £400 a month.
That doesn't even cover 50% of bills let alone a small contribution to the mortgage she might be paying (in rent) if she lived elsewhere.
If/when I ask her to actually pay 50% of mortgage and bills then it'd only be fair that we put a legal agreement in place to reflect her contribution.

Yes I have savings and have always put money in for mortgage/bills monthly to cover costs. He does pay more because he earns more. I realise how stupid I’ve been

Well the savings are good. Al least you have that to walk away with. They are in your sole name?

You need to be able to demonstrate a common interest in the property. Paying bills doesn't count. You need to be able to prove the money you pay him goes towards the mortgage, not utilities. And / or you have paid for home improvements.

You need to find out about beneficial interest
england.shelter.org.uk/professional_resources/legal/relationship_breakdown/housing_rights_of_cohabiting_sole_homeowners/occupation_rights_if_one_partner_is_the_sole_owner

Savings are in my name so that’s something I suppose. Not enough for a deposit for a house tho 😭 I wouldn’t have proof of where the money goes. Just goes into a joint account where bills and mortgage comes out so I can’t see that being enough. Lesson learned but why did I wait nearly 15 years for the light bulb to switch on 🙈🙈

You wouldn't have any claim on the house if he died suddenly either, so you really do need to get something sorted out.

It's a common misconception I'm afraid.

@Applebeee OP has regularly put money into the account the mortgage is paid from, and will be able to demonstrate that.
I know it is possible to receive recompense in these circumstances, as I have received it myself. It was 20 years ago, and I only lived there 4 years, but I still received a payout.

But she needs to see a solicitor because from what she's said, she can't prove that she's contributed to the mortgage.

No rights whatsoever and you will not be entitled to a penny no matter what money you have put in for bills etc. Sorry.
The only money you will get is maintenance for the children. You may have been able to get it 20 years ago but not any more so don't get your hopes up.
A friend of mine took the same kind of case to court recently, got nothing except a massive bill for costs.

My friend was in this situation, except she owned the house, but he had been the higher earner and contributed more to bills etc. .

She was advised thay what he had contributed to the mortgage and bills didn't count, that was a cost of living there and likely less than a fair rent would have been. He was entitled to money he had spent on improvements though.

@Applebeee she has said that she has regularly paid money into the account the mortgage is paid from.

That doesn't matter, it's just considered a cost of living there, equivalent to paying rent.

@WoodenClock it very well could matter depending on the monetary amounts involved. There is no point giving definitive answers as none of us know the financial breakdowns. All I'm advising OP is to not completely write off the possibility of receiving anything, and as I said in my first comment to see a solicitor and give them all the relevant info.