Ex-partner wants house bought with inheritance despite my name on deeds

[Guffy]

My partner and I were together for 10 years. I loved her dearly and believe we had a strong relationship. About 5 years in she came into a sum of money after her father sadly died and she decided to buy a house with the money so we could set up home together. She decided to put my name on the deeds effectively giving me half the house. I cautioned her at the time that it was a big step and a generous gift but she said she loved me and it was our home. A year or so ago, after 6 months of lying and deceiving me, she left me for a local man. I now live in the house on my own but she is indicating that the house belongs to her because she ‘paid for it with my dad’s money’. Where do I stand legally please?

If you're not posting this to rage bait all the man haters then please go to a solicitor and find out what you're entitled to. Or if you want to ask people online go to the LegalAdviceUK sub-Reddit. You won't get useful legal advice on this site.

You aren't married. What contribution have you made? At vest, as you are on deeds you could be entitled to half but I imagine it eill also depend on you being able to prove you have co tribute financially.

Id tou didnt contribute financially, what did you do with the money you saved by living at no cost in her house?

Absolutely. I was going to say the same thing.

I think you need legal and financial advice. Did you take any legal advice at the time she put your name on the deeds regarding tax implications?
I can see why you would be devastated in your situation.
From what you have said the house is legally half yours ,your Ex gave you half the house when she loved you and now she doesnt she wants it back,i suspect thats not how it works legally but you really do need legal advice. When you have that decide what you want to do. As for morals ,people have different morals .........

I agree. If a woman had wrote this they would be told to get what they can to start again. Especially if it had been the man that had cheated

Tomorrow arrange an appointment with a solicitor Op.
By the way - people are coming at you as if you'd posted on AIBU because this is appearing in the 'trending' side bar. So, although you've posted in Legal, you're going to get all sorts of dodgy advice. Probably abuse too. :-(

I don’t think OP actually said they were a man? In any case, OP should get off Mumsnet and get some proper legal advice

You realise that OP could be a woman.

A woman who would be doing the majority, if not all of the childcare, then yes, it would be a completely different scenario. I'm assuming no children involved as none mentioned. Therefore sex, and who could have potentially taken a hit on earning potential, is irrelevant.

Morally it's hers. If it's as simple as presented though, the rent OP would have paid elsewhere if he was living rent-free at this property needs to be considered. As do improvements made to this property by him - financially, or any physical labour. As does not being able to build equity elsewhere, considering this house to be their investment as a couple. Has it stopped you getting on the housing ladder alone now - have prices in your chosen area increased?

Legally it could be considered 50/50 as the money has been put in a property with two names on the deed.

You'll recover from this period of your life better if you play fair and consider all variables, and emerge holding your head high. Play nice.

The partner left them for a "local man" so it's most likely the OP is a man too.

I think it's very different if you moved to be with her and now she's changed her mind.
Morally - she's allowed to change her mind, but equally you are entitled to something because you went into it in good faith (if you did).

Legally I think there's no argument - if you're on the deeds, you're on the deeds.

Part of me thinks that your half or third is the consolation prize for being rejected when you went it to it all in good faith (again, if you did) at a time of life when these decisions can have significant impacts down the line (because you can't get a job and move).

Morally it is her house. She has left herself in a precarious position putting you on the deeds, and was probably done out of love so you could inherit the house if she died while you were together.

You legally can take some of her inheritance now, and make it difficult for her to take back the house. I think its a bit of a scummy thing to do, but you may feel you have little options.

I think you should try- as far as you can- to sort yourself housing or buying the house without taking her inheritance. Yes cheating is morally awful but stealing from someone- even when legal to do so- is morally awful as well. Which you know this is. What kind of person do you want to be?

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if after all these ‘moral’ replies, OP comes back and declares they’re a woman! 😂

This could be a long expensive process that could go ether way
personally deducted what she put in and split any profits
which ever way it goes you’ll be having to leave anyway

Morally ended when she cheated. OP, see a lawyer for advice. Unless you cheated too.

If a woman is entitled to half in the same situation, then he is entitled to half. What do you mean by look at all the work she put into it?

Ffs if we are going down the moral route then she is a disgrace and a down right cheat. She was also an idiot. I bet if we were talking about a man who had cheated instead of a woman it would be very different answers given.Op is absolutely the innocent party in this and is entitled to half I would say. I would take whatever I could legally get especially with how she has behaved. Op seek legal advice and ignore the morality police who think other women can do no wrong.

Yeah her home paid for with her farther's money!

Go speak to a lawyer @Guffy

as it stands, it’s half yours I think. You’re going to be in deep shit if you just walk away, you owe it to yourself to do the best for yourself

I believe your ex might about to learn what FAFO means

If she was stupid enough to just put his name on the deeds then, no, it’s not just her house. She’s an idiot as well as a cheat. A fact that seems to have bypassed a lot of people.

I would try and negotiate a fair settlement. You will need to find somewhere else to live. Take legal advice. I would say that if the house was purchased jointly and severally and this is how the deeds speak, then you legally own half of the house and she will be unable to sell without your consent.

Absolutely irrelevant. They were in a partnership for which he gave up his own home and family for. She shouldn’t have been so stupid and deserves everything she gets.

You must be so happy that you have lived in this house rent free for five years and now you can get half the proceeds of the sale of the house for free. All paid for by her late father. If this is the kind of person you are I can see what she left you for a real man. And don't lie to us and said you loved her bones! You're a low life scum bag!

Despite how angry you must be feeling, you know that this is her house and you would be out of order trying to take her inheritance. You’ve had a good run of living rent free, and now need to move out and on with your life