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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

Stuck living with my ex

14 replies

Starsandshines13 · 11/01/2022 20:26

I ended things with my children's dad over a year ago. We really didn't work in regards to keeping a home. He was only able to focus on his job. But had no interest or clue with the house or garden. Nothing got sorted. He would bring home loads of ict stuff from work and clutter the house up. Weekends He moped about complaining how tired he was. How bad his headaches were. We had sex twice after our 2nd child was born in 3 years. After no sex for 2 years and him being obsessed with conspiracies and work. Our conversation died out along with our sex life. His snoring was unbearable too and we started sleeping apart.

He is a great dad. But he's very slow at everything. Takes him 45 minutes to poo. He jumps in the shower 7 minutes before he needs to leave the house on average. He lurks about in his towel for ages and just seems to take him forever to get out the door. He's fussy with food. He puts his lip up at garlic. Onions. Mushrooms. Spices. He never once in 9 years got me a thoughtful gift. Every birthday or Christmas was some terrible unflattering pj's and bath bombs from amazon. He said he hated jewellery and I stopped wearing my earrings etc. Overall he has provided financially and he will go and sort things whenever I ask. He is good at popping out to pick shopping up etc. He was never one to argue and didn't ever take the lead with plans etc. I'm sure I'm less than perfect too. But these are the reasons we didn't click.

I'm awaiting an operation. I often end up in hospital having blood transfusions and struggle to be reliable due to this. So until my operation and my son goes to school I can't go back to work. I worked before my kids and I've actually owned my house 4 years longer than we've been together. I paid all the deposit and 8 years of the mortgage. My ex has paid it for the last 6 years alone and I've raised our kids as that's what worked for us.

When we split he went into a state of shock for 8 months. Wouldn't talk about it without mentioning suicide. Depression. Heart break. Crying himself to sleep and loneliness. I after 9 months started dating someone and that's when he did accept the split but has still tried to avoid discussing the future in regards to the house.

I don't know what to do. I've paid alot into this. Even if we sold it I couldn't buy another place and would only manage to rent a while before the money would be gone. So many people have said to me normally the man finds somewhere else to stay and usually makes sure the mother and children have the house. I'm aware this isn't fair and I don't want to live of him or expect him to pay for me and somehow he has to fend for himself too. But I'm starting to hate this situation. He still expects me to cook and wash his clothes. I'm still chasing my tail with the housework.

I had a bath tonight and the kids were left to mess up downstairs. I Cooked everyone a roast and he was sat on his phone and the house was a tip. I've been doing jobs all day so found this really frustrating. He said he'd been working all day (he works from home)

He is making things so hard for me. I have to go out to socialise and can't have a friend here for a drink because he's always here. I have to go to my new boyfriends and obviously he can't ever come to mine. So I feel like I'm leaving my kids more than I'd like just so I can get away from this mess.

I really really don't know what else I xan do. He told me tonight I'm always in bed. I go upstairs in the evenings to be away from him.

This situation is awful. I don't know what to do because money wins. I want to shout at him that I don't want to live together anymore. He s making me choose between my kids and trying to make other parts of My life work.

I'm stuck aren't I?

OP posts:
Greenmarmalade · 11/01/2022 20:31

You’re stuck til you divorce. Then you’ll have a share of the assets. Will it be enough to get your own flat?

Greenmarmalade · 11/01/2022 20:31

It sounds draining and horrible. I’m sorry you’re going through this.

EvenMoreFuriousVexation · 11/01/2022 20:39

Dont be ridiculous! Just go out.

Maze76 · 11/01/2022 21:48

Stop cooking and cleaning up after him for a start. You may have to live in the same accommodation, but if you are separated then you should be living like housemates.
File for divorce as soon as you can.

Starsandshines13 · 12/01/2022 09:19

We are not married.
I stay out about 3 nights a week and spend at least one day at the weekend with my new boyfriend or friends. But I feel like I am being selfish to my kids. Am I? I just feel like crying. I have to get better and then earn money and save and then sort this mess and I feel that's a couple of years away. My new boyfriend has said eventually he'd love to invite me to stay with him but obviously we need to take it slow and be sure as it's the kids lives too. Right now I don't feel we are at that stage at all..

OP posts:
Atla · 12/01/2022 09:29

You aren't married? Is it your house? Is he on the deeds? You need proper legal and financial advice.

If your house, the fairest thing is probably to refinance to enable you to pay him back all or a proportion of his mortgage contribution and ask him to leave. No idea what the legal situation would be though.

Absolutely stop cooking/washing for him! The whole situation sounds horrendous.

Atla · 12/01/2022 09:31

Have you asked him to consider moving out? As a single parent you would be entitled to universal credit to help cover the mortgage, particularly because of your health situation.

Squeezyhug · 12/01/2022 09:31

You say you’ve owned the house 4 years before the start of your relationship.

Whose name is on the mortgage?

Starsandshines13 · 12/01/2022 13:53

We are both on the mortgage.

I can't afford to pay him large sums of money at the moment or take over the mortgage.

Would I actually be entitled to universal credits with a mortgage?

OP posts:
lonelySam · 12/01/2022 15:48

So you don't work at the moment (and cannot until the operation), he pays for everything but you want him out. How will you support yourself when he's gone?

NotVictorianHonestly · 12/01/2022 16:00

How is he on the mortgage if you bought it before you were together? Did you transfer a share of the property to him? How did you document the split?

Could you pay the mortgage now if he moved out and you claimed whatever benefits you're entitled to?

Richtea2 · 12/01/2022 17:07

Hi,
I was living with my son's father separated after we split. He was on the tenancy and I was so stuck.
I ended of waking up on day I couldn't do it no more. Think I rang family and phoned women's aid need advice.
He was emotionally abusive and financially abusive.
I first staying with family then I went into temporary accommodation. It was not easy at all.
I hope he does leave the house because it's not fair on the children. Just he needs to be use to be away from you and kids. Using depression and how he is feeling to keep you stuck with him.

The only thing I do regret was getting involved with another guy too soon.

I understand that you are probably happy with your new boyfriend but it adds pressure on top. I think my boyfriend at the time couldn't fully give me his all because I think he thought something was still going on. I felt stuck and if I am honest my guy was my escape. When I went home I would feel so upset and cry at night just wanted my new boyfriend. This guy added further pressure and things didn't work out.
My ex did date other women but he just wouldn't leave the flat.
I am glad I left just wish I didn't start dating so fast. Once I just stays single for awhile it was for the best. Then felt ready to date and now I am married and living with a man again.
I had forgotten what it's like living with a man. Sometimes I forget I am not single but I forgot how nice having a guy around is.
I do hope everything works out for you.

Runforthehillocks · 12/01/2022 17:37

So at the moment, he's paying for everything? As far as I can see, if you ask him to leave, you will not have any money for the mortgage (universal credit won't cover it) so you'd have to sell the house.

To be honest, he's paying for everything while you don't work, and you're out with a new partner 3 nights a week and one day at the weekend while he looks after the kids. If he was the one not working, and out with new partner etc etc, then I think we'd be telling you to take him to court for your share and leave!

gertrudemortimer · 12/01/2022 22:58

How old are your kids? Are you working? When I split with my ex I got a second job and left our home and went in to a private rental with DS 4 at the time, ex wouldn't leave to rent but did agree to sell he was also available more for ds due to lockdowns so he wasn't really working, I think that saved me tbh I managed to get quite a nice monthly wage and be able to afford the costly rentals on my own without UC. You say he works from home so perhaps he can help with the DC.

It wasn't great but I had to leave that hell of a house one way or another, the disruption so far has been minimal for my son and he seems very happy, one year on from leaving the house my ex is in a happier relationship and I'm trying to figure out my own life and get it on track, I miss my cats, garden and having a 'home' but we're all happier. You'll have help from UC for rent until you get the money from your house sale (if it's over 16k they'll stop paying UC). Sorry if none of that makes any sense. Also me and ex both tindered whilst living together, not great but you really do need an escape so I can appreciate why you're leaving the home a lot.

It will get better you just need a plan for yourself and what you can do to change the situation you're in.

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