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?

I cannot see where the OP says which sex they are.

The OP says the errant partner left them for a "local man" so it's a pretty good bet that the OP is a man too.

She and her new boyfriend can move back in anytime she likes. I think you should leave it’s not your home, the council will house you or presumably the money you saved up will be a deposit

You are clearly not a lawyer 🙄

She's a cheater. Take her to the cleaners.

@Guffy
You need proper legal advice.
You'll only get opinions here.

OP, never post as a man here asking for sympathetic advice. You will rarely get it. For example, the 'moral' factor never comes into play when it's the woman who has contributed nothing financially to a property.

Your name is on the deed. You own half legally. It's that simple.

As to if you'll lay claim to that half, that's where you need legal advice. I probably wouldn't but I'm also over 30 years younger than you so my options and ability to rebuild are different.

Good luck. Regardless of what happens, it's hard to lose your long-term partner and home in one fell swoop, especially due to their cheating.

Well more fool you! You turned your entire life upside down and walked away from your employment, your family and your own home to depend on someone you weren’t married to. Your one saving grace is that she was even more stupid than you and she’s about to learn a very expensive lesson.

I’m not a solicitor so I’ve got no idea where you stand legally but you obviously can’t stay in the house much longer because she gave you half of it, not all of it. You don’t sound like you’re in a position to buy her out, so whether she can buy you out, or it goes up for sale, you need to start making alternative arrangements. Whether you take 50% of the equity or not very much depends on your conscience.

I was thinking the same. Post again as a woman and see what's said then!

She gifted him half the house. In spite of the fact he queried the gift, she insisted.

She cheated on him.

"Morally the house is hers" my arse!

The council will not automatically house somebody who owns half a house !

Take your share

I wouldn’t worry about the morality of it
she clearly didn’t when fucking someone else

she was stupid to put you on the deeds
but that’s her problem not yours

Don’t move out - sell the house and take your share
your legally entitled to it

On the title deeds are you tenants in common or joint tenants. If the latter then you both own 50% each. If the former then the title deeds will say what the percentage is.

did you sign a declaration of trust?

Morally is MN speak when the technicalities are in favour of a man!

I think it's 50/50 yours and hers OP.

But at the very least you need to sell and give her half or buy her out. That's not "morally"; that's what you need to do. You could stand your ground and insist on that.

TBH in the circumstances, (I'm meaning it was an inheritance from her Dad, who would have wanted her to have it and probably would think she was a right twit for putting you on the deeds) I'd probably agree to waive your rights in consideration for a lump sum you think would set you up tolerably moving forward. Yes, it was her inheritance, but she has left you without a home because of her cheating, so I wouldn't just slink off with zip when you legally own half.

I'm assuming this is a wind up. (I have no idea why anyone would waste their time on these things though!)
The OP doesn't write like a man. Men don't "love the bones" of women, that's a very naff female expression. For a start.
Anyway.

You know that the house is morally hers. However, because she nievely put your name on the deeds, without a deed of trust it gives you a legal claim on a share if the property. Count your blessings that you will benefit from an inheritance that was never intended for you and negotiate with her.

A freeloader who also wants free legal advice!
Go and pay for a solicitor.

Well said!

Maybe ask if you can stay until you reach retirement age and can claim a state pension?
In the meantime register for council accommodation and claim housing benefit once you are allocated a property. If your ex partner is living in the house you will be eligible. If the house was sold and you were given a lump sum of over 16k you’d need to pay your own rent until your capital dropped below 16k.
Morally, you know full well you did not pay a penny for this house. She was silly to put your name on the deeds. Wether you use that to your advantage or not depends on the type of character you are.

Morally, I think you would be entitled to half of the increase in value from the time it was purchased- if you have been paying equally towards bills- and maybe a bit extra to help you get set up somewhere afresh.
Legally, I guess you own half and can force a sale if one of you cannot buy the other out,

Honestly I don't know why people are saying you should leave and not take 50. It was her choice to put you on the deeds and she's now gone and screwed herself over by choosing to cheat and leave herself financially vulnerable in the process. Agree with what some others are saying, if you were a woman posting this you'd be told to take the half.

Honestly I don't know why people are saying you should leave and not take 50. It was her choice to put you on the deeds and she's now gone and screwed herself over by choosing to cheat and leave herself financially vulnerable in the process. Agree with what some others are saying, if you were a woman posting this you'd be told to take the half.

I don't understand the "morally" point. She gave you half the house. She's a grown adult and presumably of sound mind. She put your name on deeds. So morally she gave you half the house.

She's clearly going to need to get legal advice about this.

But even if your name is on the deeds you don't own the whole thing - so it will need to be sold and the proceeds divided. You'll have to move. The fact that you thought it was your 'forever' home is irrelevent.

Being an old cock lodger isn't better than being a young one.

Are you paying rent to be there?

You cannot claim half her house. It would be an awful thing to do.

Plus, if you're joint tenants you're entitled to the whole house if she dies before you.

Putting someone's name on the deeds is a serious legal step. This is like getting married and then claiming you've changed your mind, you're not really married. It was just temporary. No legal change made.
Nope.