Can my wife change the locks?

I have recently seperated from wife and 2 children. I have moved out of the home at her request and am living with relatives.

My wife has now changed the locks without my knowledge or consent. The house is in both our names and we have a joint mortgage and I am still contributing to the finances of the house. There is and never has been any domestic violence etc in the marriage.

Is my wife allowed to change the locks? What rights do I have in gaining access to the house?

Hi,
There is nothing to stop either one of you changing the locks i think.
Have you tried communicating with her so that you could at least grab your things? I think a court order is the only way to prevent someone entering jointly own home.
Regards

The answer is in fact No, she can't change the locks. Or if she does, she must give you a key. It is your house still, as well as hers. Only if there is violence etc, is it possible to get a court order excluding you from the home.

It might be worth asking her why she has done this though.

Good luck

She is not supposed to change the locks, because it's still your house too, and you have a right to live there. However once you've left it can be hard to get back in. If you try to force your way in she will call the police and they will not allow you entry because of the high chance of there being a disturbance of the peace.

If you have a genuine reason to go back in, for example to get your stuff, then you should try to arrange a mutually convenient time with her.

My stbx has done this as well but I have not kicked up a fuss. There are bigger fish to fry believe me without getting too upset about this. Just ask for your stuff back. It will cause less aggro!

I'd ask why. She might be worried you'd sneak in and take stuff she didn't want you to have, or she might want to preserve her privacy now.

In any case you have a right to access to your own home, but I suggest you try sorting this out diplomatically.

My ex still has a key to the house (its his as well as mine of course) and in any case I'd want him to be able to get in, in case of an emergency if I wasn't around.

But he always rings the doorbell when he comes to the house if I'm in and asks if he can come round when I'm out.