Do I have to pay him back?

Nicki

To the best of my recollection, and we are talking nearly 20 years ago now, which is why I want you to see someone who has the up to date position at their fingertips, length of relationship is relevant and income isn't.

Good luck with all of this. It really is better to know than not, however you then decide to deal with the situation.

Bossyboots

LisaJayne wrote:

Nikki..yes you are so right, I have been burying my head in the sand and sticking my fingers in my ears and going "lalalaal" when I had some legal advice. He doesnt know I have had any and I wont tell him. When you say it would depend on individual circumstances, would they take into account length of time he lived here, his earnings in comparison to mine etc?

Yes, all the circumstances would be taken into account. To be honest, after such a short time of living at your property any entitlement would be small and would be swallowed up in legal fees trying to recover it.

He does however have a good case to recover money for the improvements he made which you are now getting the benefit of and he isn't.

I would suggest that you need advice in respect of Trust of Land Act law, rather than matrimonial although the two go pretty much hand in hand nowadays.

Nicki

Hi Bossyboots. I wasn't intending to suggest that the situation would be covered by matrimonial law. Clearly it wouldn't as the parties weren't married. However someone billing themselves as a matrimonial lawyer is most likely to be familiar with the kind of property issues which arise when relationships break down. I don't think, certainly in a high street practice, that you would find any solicitors advertising themselves as specialists in Trust of Land Act law.