Ex partners rights to our furniture

[LadyAnna89]

Hey!! Back in March I asked my abusive partner to leave the home (rented) and he’s since been living at his mother’s. I’m still in the family home with our 3 kids + another from my previous relationship.

I moved from NI to England to live with this man (red flag I know) so didn’t bring any furniture with me. I’ve been off work or working very little over the last 6 years whilst I’ve been pregnant & postpartum.

Technically he has purchased everything in the house.

He’s telling me that he is going to come and collect HIS FURNITURE … which amounts to almost everything I guess.

he said “I’ll leave you the fridge” (generous) and he’ll probably leave a small and incredibly vile sofa that’s in the kids playroom (which honestly should have went to the dump a year ago)

So this will be the sofa in the lounge, tv, all the units, my desk for work and possibly the bed.

as a single mum to 4 kids im struggling to see how i could replace all of this.

do I have any rights here??
ive presumed not. considering gathering what I can from free ads? but I have nowhere to put it whilst his furniture is here. do I ask him to remove it now? In bits, whilst I replace? or simply wait for the day when he removes all the furniture from the house and I start from scratch.

I'm afraid I'm not a lawyer, so unsure of your rights, I'm sure someone will be along who will know.
But just to clarify, you used the term, 'partner', I assume you were not married, is that right?

Just from an emotional point of view, this is really tough for you.
However, I suspect, this is just another abuse tactic.
Thinking about it logically, if he lives with his mum, where is he going to put all this furniture? Also, he will need to organise someone to help him move it.
This is why I think its unlikely he is going to come and remove the furniture and this is just another way to cause you pain.

That's said, what I would do is start to replace all his furniture so he can't use this as a way to continue to abuse you.
Do it bit by bit.

It's OK if he comes and takes furniture away. Granted you may be sitting on the floor for a bit, but I know you can do this.
Charity shops sometimes sell furniture at really low prices and deliver.

Thankyou. Yes, it feels like an emotional tactic for sure. He does plan to get his own place shortly … which is why he wants to remove the furniture.

I’ve seen an affordable pre owned sofa that is the right size for my room, that will deliver! … although if i order it now, I’ll have 2 sofas and no room … do I ask him to remove his (since he’s been threatening to do so anyway)

but yes. maybe me and the kids sit on the floor for a while. we’ve got this.

Not a lawyer, as you have joint children, presumably the furniture was purchased for the benefit of the family.

So he cannot claim ownership per say.

I would if i were you refuse to give him essential items such as beds settee TV etc, and tell him to issue proceedings if he thinks he has a claim. Let him have things you can do without.

Is he paying child maintenance?

I'm afraid the previous post is wrong. If you were not married, the starting point is that everything that belongs to him is his, everything that belongs to you is yours, and everything you own jointly is split 50/50. If he bought all the furniture, it is likely to all be his.

There is a remedy somewhere for you. An injunction application to prevent removal (as an act intended to intimidate and harass you) , or a Children Act application for a settlement of property (contents).

but all of these cost money that would be best spent replacing the items.

Just change the lock and don't let him in.

I would also change the locks and tell him to take me to court for it! Also contact the domestic abuse charities and see what they advise - it won't be the first time they've come across this.

I certainly wouldn't leave him with access to the house - getting those locks changed (front and back doors) today is essential.