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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

Need advice on my controlling ex

20 replies

roses321 · 21/08/2023 11:13

So long story short, I left in May this year and have been living in a room share ever since. I'm 39 and he's 8 years older.

He was verbally and mentally abusive and it got too much (I was too scared to even cook dinner in my kitchen without him starting on me) so one day I just packed up my shit and left, got legal advice regarding mortgage payments and basically told him that if he paid the mortgage I wouldn't claim occupational rent - he refused to leave the house despite ending things with me (which he did because I went to the police about his behaviour after he relentlessly followed me around the house and I had to lock myself in bathrooms or stay with my family).

He doesn't accept responsibility for anything that happened and says I left of my own free will and never had to, well, I did because my mental health was being destroyed and I would have lost my job because I couldn't function.

I'm much happier now mentally at least, but we're having to deal with a mis-selling situation and a dispute with the neighbours which was in progress before we bought the house (the sellers lied to us about it and witheld information).

I've been pushing the legal process along while my ex has done frankly nothing. I've organised absolutely everything regarding this and he's been copied in on everything.

He is doing the following.

Emailing me to tell me that unless i speak to him first I am not to talk to our solicitors about the mis-sale without speaking to him first. If I do then I'll be liable for all payments.

He's doing this despite the fact he's copied into every email and could easily respond with his feedback which he doesn't.

Emailing me to tell me that he's making changes to our house (i'm a joint owner) and that I can't do anything about it and that when it's sold I won't benefit from any of those changes if it adds to the value of the house.

I've told him that if he wants to change the equity split then he needs to take me to court as it's currently a 50/50 joint split.

He's telling me that i'm toxic and controlling and that he's not accepting anymore of my disgusting behaviour. I'm simply dealing with him factually and not arguing with him at all, but he's threatening me with a solicitor but I haven't heard from them - I've been told by multiple people to ignore him and his threats.

He was threatening to take me to court for not cleaning adequately and "letting the house go into disrepair" before I left (because I was basically living in the bedroom whenever arguments would happen to get away from him and he had the monopoly on our living areas).

He's compared me to Amber Heard, told me i'm a narcissist, called me names and I also found evidence of him being involved with a coworker when I went back to get my stuff.

He's threatened to have me locked out of the house for going back to get my things without informing him and getting his permission first (this was back when I was still paying the mortgage).

What I don't understand is why he's doing this? He cheated on me when we were together through sexting other people and lying to me about it, he has smashed a door down previously and called my family c**ts, he's texted my family to tell them i'm mentally ill and unstable and they need to intervene to help me.

He's got our house which is clearly what he wanted, I don't go there (only to get my things when he's not there) and I don't message him unless he messages me. He's blocked on every platform except email, even his number is blocked from calling me.

I don't understand why he is making this so difficult when i'm just trying to move things forward so we can sell up quicker.

OP posts:
EvenMoreFuriousVexation · 21/08/2023 11:28

It all sounds really horrible and stressful. Hold your nerve, he'll be out of your life soon.

As to why he does it - might as well ask why a snake bites or a nettle stings. He's an abuser, he abuses. You're no longer there to abuse in person, so he's doing it by any means he can. The fact that he's hurting himself in the process is irrelevant. He wants you to suffer for having the temerity to leave him.

Well done for getting out. Thank goodness you didn't have children with him.

yellowsmileyface · 21/08/2023 13:19

I'm afraid I can't advise regarding the house, but essentially he's using the house to continue abusing you as it's the only way he has left.

He's angry at you for daring to leave him so he wants to make this as difficult for you as possible. He doesn't want you moving on. He doesn't even want to move on and be happy himself, he wants to continue hurting people.

It's a classic abuser's tactic to project and accuse their victims of being the abusive one.

I know it's hard but try not to get stuck on trying to understand why. You'll never understand because you're not an abusive person. There's something broken in them that means all they care about is power and control. He doesn't share your desire for peace and contentment. He wants destruction and chaos.

I'm sorry you're currently going through this difficult hurdle, but you're doing so well. Continue focusing on yourself and try not to let him get to you.

GingerIsBest · 21/08/2023 13:29

I know this is very very hard, but you need to stop trying to understand why he's doing it, or at least, stop trying to come up with a rational reason why he does it.

He does it because he is an abusive, manipulative twat. And whether he is doing it on purpose or just because he has a messed up personality/way of thinking, I couldn't say and it doesn't matter.

Let's take your very first example - you left of your own free will and now you must be penalised? hahaha. Any sane or rational personal knows that if you leave, that doesn't mean you have to do penance.

As for the house - hahahaha again. Let's see if he can convince any sane person that you can't talk to your lawyer without getting his permission first. This is 2023, not 1723.

Next time he threatens you with a solicitor, tell him you'll look forward to receiving their communication and a court date. It's complete bollocks.

Lowtower · 21/08/2023 13:32

He's doing that as he is abusive as fuck.

All he has is the house to try to control you with now.

Tell him to fuck off and do what the hell you want to do

roses321 · 21/08/2023 13:48

Thanks for your input, I think you are right, I just can't get my head around why he would carry on. If he hates me so much then that's fine but I'm not there so why continue to make contact to do these things.

It is horrible.

OP posts:
TiredButDancing · 21/08/2023 13:58

For a long time, we all tried to understand exBIL's rational for the way he would send SIL and the rest of us these long, angry, aggressive messages in which he accused us of all kinds of things.

Then one day, SIL was upset about yet another exchange with him and she showed me the messages. Needless to say, the vitriol was off the chart and really unpleasant and upsetting to read - the messages to us were tame in comparison.

But what really struck me was that these were messages he'd sent her the day before. At the end, there's a break in terms of time and then that morning, he'd sent her a friendly little message updating her on the job interview he'd just done and how if he got the job it would be life changing and he'd be able to pay her back for all the things he owed her.

Talk about Jekyll and Hyde.

And I realised in that moment that attempting to rationalise anything he said or did was pointless. He could literally send her some of the most hideous messages I've ever seen and then, less than 24 hours later, change his tune and he did not for one second see that for the crazy, bizarre behaviour it was.

Fraaahnces · 21/08/2023 14:00

Ignore him and forward all emails he sends you to your solicitors.

yellowsmileyface · 21/08/2023 14:02

but I'm not there so why continue to make contact to do these things

The answer to that is because you're not there.

The relationship is still very recent and in a way the abuse is ongoing, so it's natural to still feel an overwhelming desire to understand why. In time it'll get easier and you'll find peace. You'll find closure in being able to let go of needing to understand.

Theunamedcat · 21/08/2023 14:03

Is there anything left in the house of yours now?

Laurdo · 21/08/2023 14:05

Cut all contact with him, block any means he has of contacting you and communicate via solicitors only. This is what I did with my ex and we sorted house sale and divorce without having to actually speak to each other.

Summer2424 · 21/08/2023 14:09

Hi @roses321
I'm so sorry you've gone through this xx
Please ignore his threats which i know is difficult but please try.
He's trying to get to you mentally from afar. He's talking rubbish. I'm so glad you're in a good place now. Stay strong and may you continue on a peaceful happy path xx ❤

BoohooWoohoo · 21/08/2023 14:11

Don't reply to his messages but keep cc'ing him in legal correspondence. He can't change things like equity split without you signing or agreeing to something. Since he's clearly deranged and can't be talked down so just ignore his rants. He is panicking because he's losing control over you and the house is an easy way to try and remain in control. If he wants to prove that you shouldn't get money for these so called improvements etc, he needs to pay for legal advice and go through that legal process and hassle.

He is not your problem any more and I hope things progress quickly for you.

roses321 · 21/08/2023 14:20

yellowsmileyface · 21/08/2023 14:02

but I'm not there so why continue to make contact to do these things

The answer to that is because you're not there.

The relationship is still very recent and in a way the abuse is ongoing, so it's natural to still feel an overwhelming desire to understand why. In time it'll get easier and you'll find peace. You'll find closure in being able to let go of needing to understand.

This is what confuses me so much because he's the one who ended things with me and he treated me like he couldn't care less about me when I was there. He's told me he's attracted to other people anyway and doesn't want me so if that's the case - I've gone! Case closed surely?! Why continue this?!

I've just told him that if he makes improvements that are not essential he won't be taking any of my equity and he won't be getting me to pay for them either. I've said I won't stop contacting the solicitor to move things forward either and that if he has something to say he can say it on the thread with them included and stop emailing me directly. Until I hear from his solicitor about OUR issues, I'll be ignoring all threats. It's just ridiculous. It just amazes me that this is who he really is. It's utterly beyond comprehension.

OP posts:
roses321 · 21/08/2023 14:21

Theunamedcat · 21/08/2023 14:03

Is there anything left in the house of yours now?

Yes books/plates etc. I'll organise to collect and I always go there with someone so i'm not alone as per my counsellors advice and all my friends advice.

He is normally out if he thinks i'm going there with my parents - he won't face them because he's a coward.

OP posts:
LemonTT · 21/08/2023 14:44

I agree with everything above but going slightly against the grain, he does have a point about the legal action. If you are instructing solicitors and he is liable for the costs he does have a right to know and question that. Otherwise you could be running up costs and liabilities in his name. He could decide the legal action isn’t worth it any longer.

Its the same as work on the house. He has to get your agreement on all aspects including any new instructions to contractors that might raise costs or devalue the property.

Presumably the legal action is getting in the way of a sale or buy out. But maybe it is time to cut your losses.

roses321 · 21/08/2023 14:54

LemonTT · 21/08/2023 14:44

I agree with everything above but going slightly against the grain, he does have a point about the legal action. If you are instructing solicitors and he is liable for the costs he does have a right to know and question that. Otherwise you could be running up costs and liabilities in his name. He could decide the legal action isn’t worth it any longer.

Its the same as work on the house. He has to get your agreement on all aspects including any new instructions to contractors that might raise costs or devalue the property.

Presumably the legal action is getting in the way of a sale or buy out. But maybe it is time to cut your losses.

So the legal stuff needs to be sorted to get the property sold - it's a mis-selling issue basically. We're going through litigation as well.

I'm copying him on EVERY email with the solicitors and what i'm doing is answering their questions and doing what they are instructing us to do. He's not having any input into any of the discussion ongoing/answering any of the questions himself but he's then emailing me separately just to have a go at me for responding.

Example: I suggested that if our solicitor isn't sure of things she could visit the house but it would be best to refer to the video of the garden I sent her a few months ago.

He didn't reply, but he then had a go at me for suggesting she visit. I understand his point as well, but he could quite happily respond to the conversation and say he'll take photos so she can see what we're talking about - however he didn't do that he emailed me directly instead and had a huge go at me and told me if I said anything he didn't agree with again i'd be paying.

I'm not instructing anyone to do anything I'm simply responding to questions and making suggestions. Apparently I have to speak to him first, well, I'm not going to do that because he's abusive and you simply cannot talk to him sensibly, he wants his own way no matter what and he won't agree with anything that I say or try to come to any sort of compromise - that's not what he's about.

OP posts:
OhamIreally · 22/08/2023 06:08

Can you set up an email rule that moves/deletes his email where he is the sender and you are the only recipient?

Theunamedcat · 22/08/2023 07:56

Personally I would go and get everything of mine in one shot and be done it removes one source of agitation for him because going little and often it's reopening a wound there is plenty for him to be pissed off about don't give him extra ammunition he has proved he isn't reasonable

roses321 · 22/08/2023 09:15

OhamIreally · 22/08/2023 06:08

Can you set up an email rule that moves/deletes his email where he is the sender and you are the only recipient?

I wish I could but I can't unfortunately not in gmail, I have just set them to go into a folder called "ignore".

Obviously though I still see them and his threats make me angry and also worried about actions he'll take so I automatically try to reason with him. I've told myself no more now.

As for getting my stuff, I agree - I went and got all my furniture picked up because I had to sell it which was incredibly sad and upsetting. I bought some of it for the house less than a year ago and it was all sold to a second hand furniture company because I can't afford the storage, no idea when i'll be buying another house and when this one would be sold so there was no point keeping it all.

The only stuff left there are my books and plates/some other personal items which I need to get collected.

OP posts:
Erin444 · 30/12/2023 14:26

Agreed last bit of control he has flexing his muscles .

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