Rights under separation when mother pays all rent

[greenforest]

I would like some legal advice regarding a separation and a rental property. I have been a reluctant tenant since 1997 because my husband has always believed house prices too high even though according to our incomes we are extremely high earners (top 10%)so really no issues of affordability. I have never managed to convince him to buy and afer a while I resigned myself. As relationship has started to fall apart and still no home (we have three children, but I have been paying the full rent for the past 7 years (enough to have bought a small flat)- what rights do I have when it comes to separation and how is that viewed by the courts?

I can't really help you but if you pop into your local citizens advice they'll be able to tell you all of this for free x

Maybe some other MN though will know, sorry to interject

Has your partner been contributing to the household equally in other ways - paying for food/shopping/holidays etc?

At least if you split up one of you can just move out seeing as you can both afford it. And share residency of the dc's.

He does help but on a whole my fixed expenses are larger (school related expenses,childcare).

Do citizens advice give out this sort of information? That's good to know. thanks.

In England & Wales because you are married your spouse has home rights entitling them to live in the matrimonial home as if they were a tenant, even though the tenancy is in your name. The usual legal advice to both parties is to remain in the home until arrangements for finances and any children are settled.