Financial order after divorce

iwantadog

My husband divorced his first wife 2 years ago but no provision was made for finances in the divorce. They are amicable, although she is difficult to get any response from or to have a serious conversation with. They still have a house together. It is rented but the rent does not cover the mortgage and they are terrible payers. The mortgage is £800+ per month and they pay £600 a month. The ex-wife hasn't put anything in to the house since she moved out (4 years ago) and my husband hasn't lived there for 3 years. He has put around £25000 extra into the house than she has. He burdens the loss every month and all the other costs (repairs, insurance, etc.). We are desperately short of money now, but he is loathed to do anything about it. The house has been on the market for 18months now but only 3 people have been round it. It's a nice house but the wrong area. The ex-wife just wants to keep the house on, of course without paying any money into it, and then expects 50%when it sells. My husband also put a £20000 deposit in to begin with. Even if it did sell today, he would be lucky to get £20000 profit from it, let alone the rest of the money he put into it. Ok, she would get nothing, but it has still cost him.

Can anyone help?

Would my husband have a claim to 1/2 the money he has put into it from his wife?

She he do a financial court order? Is it easy to do yourself?

She he just sell the house through a 'we buy every house' company and loose the deposit as well?

Thanks.