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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

I think I need to leave H but not sure how

11 replies

WillLeavingHelp · 29/12/2017 12:33

H and I have been together since August 2012, married since April 2016 and have a DD together who was born in June 2015.

We lived together before DDs birth but I was heavily pregnant, things were stressful. And H had never lived apart from his family before.

The main problem I can see is our differing mental health. H has never hit me or DC but when he's very down he does lose his temper and has damaged doors and furniture before. It's not happened for a while but it's a cycle - he goes down, we argue he loses his temper, neighbour calls police, social services get involved, make him go to the GP and get counselling and then it starts again. I can't cope anymore. I am in the best place I have ever been mentally, I am so happy with my life despite some difficult circumstances. I am worried he'll bring me down, which won't be good for DD. It also affects the housework; the washing up doesn't get done for weeks, and he's too tired all the time to do it. He "forgets" to take the bin out. And he refuses to contact his family at all, they want to speak to their son/brother/grandson not me, but he doesn't care.

He's also very jealous of me. He admits he is. I work but only very parttime as DD has a few extra needs that mean I need to be able to take her to appointments or pick her up from Nursery at a moments notice. He hates working. Not just his job, but every job he's ever had. He begs me to get a job so he can be at home, but as much as I'd love a job the social workers we have involved thanks to him don't think he'd cope at home with a toddler with extra needs - I find it hard enough, but I know I'd never lose my temper with DD. The Social Worker thinks he's all talk when he says he'd cope, and says he comes across as very stressed.

He also has a medical condition he refuses to sort. He blames the doctors, Nurses or anyone else because they forgot him, but he doesn't chase them. He knows he needs an operation but won't sort it out. The Social Worker has warned him that she won't leave him alone until he gets it sorted but he says he doesn't care.

I've tried to leave before but he got upset. He's a joint tenant on our flat and the housing association have said unless he's violent to me or DD he has as much right to stay here as I do in the event of a split. He wouldn't leave here unless forced to as he says he has nowhere to go (despite his parents and grandparents both having spare rooms and living 20 minutes away). And he's told me time and again I can't take DD if I leave. He has stood across her bedroom door while she's been asleep when I've tried to leave before as he "has as much right to be the residential parent as I do". He has a fulltime job his shifts are very variable and he has no idea from one day to the next when and where he's going to be working, so DDs nursery is arranged around my work schedule.

I'd never stop contact with her, but it is something I am concerned about. His shifts, his condition and also to start with at least he'd need to have his mum which would be tricky to arrange. I also don't see it being regular which will be difficult for DD as her SN means she needs to see someone regularly to know who they are - I can't bare the thought of him losing his daughter as well as everything.

So if you've read this far, how do I get him out? Been told if I go I'll be making myself intentionally homeless and could lose DD anyway for that. I want to get out, for DDs sake as well as my own, but I do love him and I just need him to see the way he's being isn't right.

OP posts:
CheapSausagesAndSpam · 29/12/2017 12:48

england.shelter.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/23393/ShelterGuide_RelationshipBreakdown.pdf

Read this. Given your previous involvement from SS I think you have a strong case for him being made to leave.

Do you have a social worker or support officer?

If not, it's time to get some help...the Housing Assiciation sound useless and also wrong.

Make an appointment with Shelter to get some proper help with getting him out.

The HA CAN get him out.

WillLeavingHelp · 29/12/2017 12:58

Support Officer I think, does that make a difference?

OP posts:
ChocolateButton15 · 29/12/2017 12:58

Have you asked the social worker for help leaving him? They may be able persuade the housing association to take his name off the tenancy because he's abusive. It may not be physical abuse but he is emotionally abusing you.

WillLeavingHelp · 29/12/2017 13:01

Chocolate yes I asked but she wanted me to try and get him to sort himself out before her next visit, she's not due to come here again until February and I just don't think I can cope until then.

OP posts:
Maelstrop · 29/12/2017 13:03

Speak to your social worker. Is she aware of the violent behaviour? Could you speak to the HA and ask for him to be removed from the tenancy due to the violence? When does this tenancy end?

ChocolateButton15 · 29/12/2017 13:04

I would get in contact with them again and say you need help getting him to leave now or ask for another support worker. They shouldn't be encouraging you to stay in this relationship

WillLeavingHelp · 29/12/2017 13:05

Tenancy ends is a 5 year secure one, ends in 2021 technically but there are get out clauses.

Social Worker is aware of the violence to furniture as that's why she's been involved, she gets the police reports and they report as there's a child under 10 living the house even if DD isn't there when it happens.

OP posts:
CheapSausagesAndSpam · 29/12/2017 13:23

Don't end the tenancy or move out. Phone the support worker urgently and ask for a private appointment. Tell her or him that you need support and you need him OFF the tenancy and OUT of your house.

Record all emails and make notes of all phonecalls....dates and what's said.

Make an appointment with SHELTER asap...you might have to call a lot or wait a long time to get through but persist.

In the meantime, do you have a housing officer?

Hidingtonothing · 29/12/2017 13:29

I agree with PP's that the HA and SS should absolutely be able to help you get him to leave. He may not have assaulted you but the police and SS have been called because of his violence (which is evidence of his emotional abuse of you) and that's enough proof that you and DD need protecting.

I think you've had bad advice so far from both HA and SS so it's time to do some research into what they should be doing so you have some leverage. Please do make that appointment with shelter, might be worth contacting Women's Aid as well as they should know what powers SS have to help you. There is more help out there than you're currently being offered though OP, I just think you maybe need to cast the net a bit wider to find it.

WillLeavingHelp · 29/12/2017 14:23

I think I have a housing officer but the people at the HA change all the time so I wouldn't know his/her name.

Social Worker said I couldn't use anything that DH did more than 6 months ago as evidence of abuse, doesn't anyone know if thats true? If so I may be stuck until he blows again as his worst outbursts when police where called where in September 2016 and May 2017.

I have the mobile number for Social Worker somewhere H never checks my phone so will text if I can.

OP posts:
Hidingtonothing · 30/12/2017 12:46

I've not heard that OP, have a friend who's a SW though so will ask her and let you know what she says. I would speak to Shelter and WA before you go back to your SW or housing officer, you need to be armed with info about your rights and what they should be doing to help you before you speak to them again.

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