Re:Cohabitation problems - Nightmare (Help!)

Hi

I am in a long-term cohabitation situation (15yrs+ where we have been in different countries together).

We own our current house and have no children. A lawyer said I am entitled to 50% as we are joint owners so you'd think it might be easy to leave!! We have issues and now I am thinking of leaving.

However, during discussions, my partner has said he doesn't want to sell and cannot afford to buy me out if we split. He said, as he would represent himself, he would tie me up in court with so many problems that all my money would go in legal fees.

My questions are:-

1]. Can he protest against me selling the house?

2]. Can I force him to sell it and what would be involved? Does it need to change to 'tenants in common' to force this?

3]. If changed to 'tenants in common', can he try to change the % or dispute it? He runs all our accounts and as he does, I am not 100% up to speed with what he pays/transfers so my memory of things would not be reliable as I did not do the payments! Along with this, he has threatened to make me look like a drunk, etc in court as I used to go out on after work at the end of the week, whereas he never wanted to go with me and was happy sat at home.

4]. He has access to the deed records, can he change any of it without my knowledge? Can I keep a copy of the land registray info and keep that as back-up? (He can open accounts without my knowledge as I found out a while ago).

As you can see, if i try to leave, I am in a slight pickle!

Any help is appreciated - there seems to be none if you are in a normal job but EVERYTHING in your hands is completely unaccessible or tied.

..seeking.

I assume your name is on the deeds? I'm sure it is illegal to tamper with them and not something that could be easily achieved. You can check that you are listed as owner with the Land Registry.

If he refuses to sell you would have to go to court to force a sale, which I imagine would be agreed to as you would otherwise have no way of living separately.

Ignore the guff he's talking about. Whether or not you are an alcoholic has no bearing on your entitlement to your share of the property.

I'm sure other Wikipeeps with more expertise can offer further advice. In the meantime you might find it helpful to read this:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/Divor ceseparationandrelationshipbreakdown/ Moneypropertyandpossessionswhenyourrelationshipends/Ifyourenotmarriedorinac ivilpartnership/ DG_193775

Hi NellNoRegrets

Thanks so much for replying.

I got an extract of the Title Register which has my name on it to show the lawyer at the time to show it was in joint names (no percentages or restrictions).

However, I have just re-read it and I need to get a proper version as it mentions it is not admissable in court and I would require a full version.

...seeking.

Hi

Thank you to NellNoRegrets...

Is there anyone else who may be able to add some advice that may help with my questions?

Any assistance is very much appreciated

..seeking