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Original poster

Paying for things after a break up

10 replies

lemonzest123 · 05/12/2016 14:21

Hello!

Would appreciate some thoughts on this one as I'm not sure what the right answer is! Ex fiance and me bought a flat together which is privately rented out at the moment. He says when we sell it I need to pay him back for my share of the new kitchen and bathroom that he paid for when we were together (he earned a lot more than me at the time and I couldn't afford to chip in). Does this sound right? I've always sort of gone along with what he says because he's terribly clever and trained in law etc. but I'm wondering now if I should have to. I mean, I didn't know we would eventually break up. It's not as if we discussed at the time that I'd have to pay half if we split up.

Any thoughts or experiences appreciated!

OP posts:
Dudette29 · 05/12/2016 14:25

Watching with interest. I'm in a similar position although ex has made up loads of loans and is going through solicitors to demand money back, that I never borrowed in the first place! Not sure where you stand legally as you joint owned the property, hopefully someone with a bit more knowledge will be along soon x

Kr1stina · 05/12/2016 14:49

I want to say straight up that I'm not a lawyer but

Definitely don't agree to this, unless you signed a legal document to do this at the time or a solicitor tells you to.

Can he prove that you now get a higher rent for the flat that you would without the new kitchen amd bathroom ? Even if he can, you both have already gained from that in the higher rent ( I assume you correctly spilt the profit from the fiat 50:50) . And when you sell it, presumably you will both gain from the incerased sale price .

So why on earth would he expect to get half of the original cost of the work as well?

And will he also be valuing all the other inputs into your relationship e.g. More domestic labour and paying you for your share ?

Kr1stina · 05/12/2016 14:56

Dudette- my sister tried to do that when she split up with her DH. Claimed that the money they put down for a deposit on their house and for various improvements ( extension, new kitchen ) was from our parents and was a loan. And that that " loan" should be paid off first when the house was sold.

Of course there as no paperwork or anything to prove her lies version of the story as it was assumed that the money was a gift to them both.

Original poster
lemonzest123 · 05/12/2016 15:13

Thanks kristina I don't think he can prove that - I'm not sure. We've only had one tenant and he's always paid the same amount of rent (just enough to cover the mortgage - we've never made any money on the flat so there's no profit to split).

I definitely didn't sign anything saying that! The kitchen was in my name and on credit as he didn't have a credit rating but that's all.

I'm requesting the original mortgage docs as he has them and says he can't send them at the moment.

Another thing I don't understand is he's claiming that even though the documents say 60% to him 40% to me (this was my idea as the deposit came from his Dad and it seemed fair) he says he should actually get more on that as those figures were based on us selling the house after it was paid off in 25 years. I don't even know what that means, but if the paperwork says 60/40 surely there's no argument?

OP posts:
Original poster
lemonzest123 · 05/12/2016 15:14

Lol omg I should total do that! Invoicing him for all the man hours I spent looking after his lazy ass!

OP posts:
TheEmmaDilemma · 05/12/2016 15:17

A solicitor would argue (I'm not one, but but have been through the opposite in a divorce i.e I paid out) that if he can prove that he paid for home improvements which raised the value of the home, then you are due to take a lesser cut to account for that.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but you should have drawn up a legal agreement when doing this all.

Kr1stina · 05/12/2016 15:57

Lemon - don't agree to anything, he's at it . Wait until you have all the documents from him and then see a lawyer .

BTW how much of a deposit did his dad pay, how much did you pay for the flat and how much is it worth now ?

Are you sure it's making no profit now - who deals with the paperwork ? And who pays they service charge on the flat, letting agents fees, building insurance costs and deals with any repairs ?

How are you declaring this on your tax return ? it seems odd that it happens to make exactly zero profit or loss.

Trifleorbust · 05/12/2016 16:03

I don't know the answer but I think get yourself a solicitor as he is going to cause you financial problems. I see his point on the 60/40 because it is unlikely you have paid enough on the mortgage by this point for his deposit to be returned to him within his 60%. Is there? If it was his choice to pay for improvements and there was no agreement in place, I am not sure you should be reimbursing him, but the legal situation may not reflect that.

pog100 · 05/12/2016 16:38

If the credit for the kitchen is in your name, surely ask paperwork actually points to you being the one who paid for it? How can he prove he did pay for it. My feeling is that a solicitor or knowledgeable accountant is easily going to pay for themselves in this situation. You need one.

JustSpeakSense · 05/12/2016 20:07

If the kitchen was purchased in your name, how on earth is he going to prove/demand compensation when on paper it appears you paid for it?

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