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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

DH wanting to split, he wants me to leave the house

360 replies

SisterNight · 08/06/2021 11:09

DH wants us to split. We are joint tenants in a council property. DH works full time and I'm a SAHM. I had to leave my part time job 3 years ago on medical grounds due to my health. We have 3 dc. I have no family in the city we live in so would probably have to move back to my parents who live about an hour away. He works from home so is able to do all the school runs etc.

I have no savings or any income. I don't want to leave my children. I need some advice. Please help!

OP posts:
purpleboy · 08/06/2021 13:41

@SisterNight

Now I'm in limbo because he's apparently not sure what to do anymore. FFS.
Regarding what?
redastherose · 08/06/2021 13:42

@SisterNight as all the PP's have said do not leave the property.

Get in touch with your Landlord and tell them that you and your H are separating and that you will need to transfer the tenancy into your sole name shortly.

Get him to give you the passwords to access your Bank Account then go in and change all the passwords and do not tell him what they are.

Then make a claim immediately for Universal Credit, are you entitled to any disability benefits for your health condition? If so that may make it simpler as you will already be in the system so to speak. You need to let them know that you have just separated and are still living in the house together at this point in time but you are entitled to start your own claim as they will ignore his earnings from this point onwards.

Have a conversation with him, he is no longer your friend or in your corner so don't believe anything he tells you.

Tell him that you have notified the Landlord of the separation and that he will need to make arrangements to find somewhere else to live, give him a month to sort himself out. Also tell him you have made a claim for Universal Credit and you want details of all the house outgoings so that you can budget. These are Council Tax (remember to claim the single persons allowance as soon as he moves out), Gas, Electric, Water, TV Licence. If there are other things such as Sky TV etc then tell him to take that with him and responsibility for the bills when he moves out. If you have joint mobile phone contracts etc, work out how long is left on the contract and make sure that you agree what proportion you will pay for your phone only until the contract is up and you can take out your own.

Do not listen to him running you down, your work is unpaid but every single bit as important as his paid work in the running of your family. He doesn't just get to discount everything you have done for years.

Also, be prepared for someone else to be in the sidelines, men rarely split up without having someone to go to.

You will need to Divorce in time but getting him out of the house and separating your finances are the priority for you at this point in time. As he has had control of all of the money do you know about any savings or investments or his pension statement? If so try and get copies of Bank Statements, paperwork with numbers on it etc.

When he has moved out you will need to apply for Child Maintenance for the DC's. Do the calculation to work out how much he will need to pay and then if he doesn't agree to that sum then make your application to them as soon as possible as I don't believe they can backdate the claim.

osbertthesyrianhamster · 08/06/2021 13:42

@SisterNight

Now I'm in limbo because he's apparently not sure what to do anymore. FFS.
No, he is in limbo. YOU need not be. You will be staying in the house with your kids, claiming UC, getting a DLA application started for your child and a PIP application for you, changing the password on your account so your UC can be deposited into it. You have power here, Sister, you just need help to see this, and we're here to give it to you Smile.
musthavebeenlove · 08/06/2021 13:42

It doesn’t matter what he wants.
It only matters what you want.

Do you want to stay with someone that treats you like this? He has shown you his true colors, I couldn’t trust him anymore, who says he might not put you trough the exact same thing again next month, next year or in 10 years? He’s a dick and you deserve better.

QioiioiioQ · 08/06/2021 13:42

He's trying to gaslight you into thinking you can't stop him getting what he wants
I would gaslight him into thinking that you believe him
Then you can get things organised out of his sight and present him with a fait accompli

SisterNight · 08/06/2021 13:43

He's not sure if he wants "to be lonely and unhappy in a relationship or be lonely and unhappy on his own"

OP posts:
QioiioiioQ · 08/06/2021 13:44

@SisterNight

Now I'm in limbo because he's apparently not sure what to do anymore. FFS.
Possibly because he realises you can see through him?
musthavebeenlove · 08/06/2021 13:44

@SisterNight

He's not sure if he wants "to be lonely and unhappy in a relationship or be lonely and unhappy on his own"
Barf

What a disrespectful twat.

SisterNight · 08/06/2021 13:45

I'm very upset about the things he's said. Although I was pretty happy before and the kids are happy. Us breaking up would be so stressful for them.

OP posts:
katy1213 · 08/06/2021 13:45

Sit tight. And while it's sinking in that he'll have to go, withdraw all domestic services and meals. No need to give him a comfy ride to the door.

QioiioiioQ · 08/06/2021 13:45

@SisterNight

He's not sure if he wants "to be lonely and unhappy in a relationship or be lonely and unhappy on his own"
Hahaha he knows he's messed up overplayed his hand and he's trying to backtrack It might be better to go along with him now you know whats really behind his mask? You will have more time to organise things properly for yourself and get rid of him for good?
osbertthesyrianhamster · 08/06/2021 13:46

@SisterNight

He's not sure if he wants "to be lonely and unhappy in a relationship or be lonely and unhappy on his own"
Tell him, 'Well, that's a pity. At any rate I'll be chuntering on as usual, looking after the kids as I have in the house like a grown up.'
ScrollingLeaves · 08/06/2021 13:46

SisterNight

“His argument is that he earns the money so he should keep our house. Dc are 6, 11 and 12. I don't want things to get nasty. My 11 year old has ASD and is extremely sensitive to things.”

Please stop listening to him and get real advice from someone like Citizens Advice or a solicitor.

Listen to what other people here tell you.

Do not leave your house.

Do not leave your children.

osbertthesyrianhamster · 08/06/2021 13:47

@katy1213

Sit tight. And while it's sinking in that he'll have to go, withdraw all domestic services and meals. No need to give him a comfy ride to the door.
And this! Stop servicing him in any way.
osbertthesyrianhamster · 08/06/2021 13:48

He thought you were going to beg him to stay, thereby letting him behave how he pleases with no consequences so he could shag about and still get his socks washed at home.

musthavebeenlove · 08/06/2021 13:48

@SisterNight

I'm very upset about the things he's said. Although I was pretty happy before and the kids are happy. Us breaking up would be so stressful for them.
Kids know when a marriage is shit. That’s long term stressful for them. It’s choosing between 2 evils really but staying with him is definitely the worst of the 2 and remember this is not your fault. He put you in this position.
MrsKoala · 08/06/2021 13:50

I'd tell him that decision has come and gone. Do not trust him.

STOP LISTENING TO HIM. HE DOES NOT HAVE YOUR BEST INTERESTS AT HEART. HE HAS AN AGENDA. HE IS NOT YOUR ALLY OR FRIEND ANYMORE.

Every time he speaks hear the above over and over again. There are things in place to help you as PP have all said. Muster up all your strength and fight back. He thinks he's clever but he isn't. Don't think about leaving. Good luck.

TeeBee · 08/06/2021 13:51

@SisterNight

I have a long term illness which means I can't work. I have good days and bad days. He's trying to say I can't look after the kids properly because he sometimes has to take them to school if I'm not well.
Then its important that you stay near the school where other mum friends can support you on your down days. If he cares about the kids, he'd offer to be on-hand to help, not send their mother elsewhere. What a pile of shit he's talking. Tell him to jog on. You're children will have some upheaval anyway so make sure you're looking after their long-term interests by staying with them and staying in their home. He's a fucking chancer.
ScrollingLeaves · 08/06/2021 13:51

“redastherose
Do not listen to him running you down, your work is unpaid but every single bit as important as his paid work in the running of your family. He doesn't just get to discount everything you have done for years.“

Absolutely this.

sasparilla1 · 08/06/2021 13:51

@mam0918

Dont leave your kids, its classed as abandonment (regardless of circumstance) and you wont get custody back, even if you flee you are expected to take them with you (I know a woman who learned that the hard way).

Also courts usually side with the mother, as long as you havent left your children then its mothers who are usually granted main custody and whoever has main custody of the children gets the house as its safegaurding for the child.

As someone who has actually been through this, this is incorrect. It's not as black and white as you're implying.

OP, please take note of all the information on here about not leaving and applying for benefits. You can split everything up and apply as a single person, even if he hasn't left.

Personally, I'd be thinking along the lines of " well you want to split up, so off you fuck!". He's very much downplaying your contribution to the family, and this is all about swaying things in his favour. If he's anything like my ex, it will be all about the money and control.

HaveringWavering · 08/06/2021 13:52

Wow. What sort of asshole thinks that it’s OK to separate a mother from her kids/vice versa just because he is bored? It defies belief that he thinks that you’d just agree to this, and is extremely cruel to the children.

Stakhanovite · 08/06/2021 13:53

I don't want things to get nasty

^ I'm so sorry, my love, but no matter what you do this is going to be tough. The crucial thing is to protect your right to a roof over your head, and the children's.

Blacktothepink · 08/06/2021 13:53

Email the housing association for advice, do not let him bully you op Flowers

Muchmorethan · 08/06/2021 13:54

@SisterNight

I have a long term illness which means I can't work. I have good days and bad days. He's trying to say I can't look after the kids properly because he sometimes has to take them to school if I'm not well.
He still can take them to school even if he's living elsewhere so that argument falls flat!
Ansjovis · 08/06/2021 13:54

Please keep in mind that you are not in control over if the split turns nasty and you should not bend over backwards in an attempt to try and ensure that it doesn't go that way. If he's determined to be an arse he will be an arse no matter what you do.

You've received some excellent advice here and I do hope you are able to take it.

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