Is this true? Or is the arsehole being an arsehole again?

[MilitantFawcett]

My mother in law has got involved with a great gaping arsehole of a man. He moved into her house (owned, mortgage free) during lockdown and has since revealed himself to be emotionally and I think financially abusive. He has her convinced that if he pays for anything more than a bit of food shopping or lifts a finger around the house he will have a claim on the property. She now believes that as he’s been there for more than 2 years she will have to pay him to move out. I do not believe this is the case, can any legal experts clarify?

I forgot to say, they do have a cohabitation agreement. Would it be usual to have a clause in that for one party to pay the other to move after a period of time?

I wish it was! I’m not on the mortgage or deeds of ExDPs house (lived together since he bought it with our joint children) and I am not entitled to a penny even though I paid for all of the decorating, the furniture and the built in wardrobes, laid all the flooring and did all the tiling.

I think he's confused with employment that you can be fired without reason within the first 2 years!
She can kick him out any time she wants. He's not a tenant

This muddies it for me, I’m not sure to be honest. Could moving costs be considered some cardboard boxes and a van rental? What are the terms of the agreement? How much notice does MIL need to give? Can’t she just change the locks one day?

Thanks all. @As476 I’m sorry to hear about your situation, so unfair.

We don’t know the details of their agreement as MIL will no longer talk to us about it. I can see that covering some moving expenses might be reasonable but it sounds as though he would be expecting a more significant payout. Would that be usual for an agreement of that kind?

I should say, this is more so that we can support her once she finally realises what an arsehole he is, not because we think she’ll listen to any reason now.

Hi @MilitantFawcett how is it all going? Did you manage to find out anymore?

can you somehow get a copy of this agreement and take it to a solicitor? X

Thanks for checking in @As476 No updates I’m afraid, MIL is being very cagey. My DP is in treatment for cancer and she has told my SIL that she doesn’t want to worry him. Doubt we could get hold of the agreement itself but I’ve suggested my DP could ask for a few details under the guise of us working out what to do about our living situation. I’m hoping she will come to visit in next few months and we can find out a bit more then.

Providing the cohabitation agreement was properly drafted and executed, it has legal weight - and yes, a clause about one party being financially compensated / given funds for moving costs if the relationship breaks down and they have to leave their home isn’t unusual. You need to find out whether the cohabitation agreement is a proper deed or not.

Even without an agreement, if he’d paid towards the property in any significant way (major works, renovation etc) he could potentially make a legal case for financial compensation if he could demonstrate he’d been led to believe he’d be paid back or benefit long term from the money he put in and from which your MIL will benefit in terms of an improved and more valuable property. That’s not the same as some sort of notion that just by living with her for two years she has to give him money, though.

He is entitled to nothing

In fact he owes her for Bills and food

so long as any payment to MIL can't show a link to mortgage she is clear

Soon as she decides she doesn't want him there, change all locks and inform the police he is unwelcome

It entirely hinges on the structure and contractual nature of the cohabitation agreement. No-one can answer you otherwise.

Cuckooing?

He has made no significant payment either in cold hard cash or in kind towards the household. He won’t even make a cup of tea when we visit, let alone mow the lawn, hoover, fix a leaky tap etc. Thank you @ComtesseDeSpair for a detailed reply - I suspect they’ve got something in the agreement about the two years but will try to find out more if she visits.