Complicated doesn't cut it

bobajob_1966

One thing to remember (and this may be one of the other factors your sol mentioned) is that, although you may not have made a financial contribution to the properties, you will have contributed to them by other means. For instance, would your husband have had the income to subsidise the properties had you not been looking after the children, maintaining the household etc. An interest does not need to be gained by financial means, especially in a marriage.

Night_and_Day

bobajob_1966 wrote: »

One thing to remember (and this may be one of the other factors your sol mentioned) is that, although you may not have made a financial contribution to the properties, you will have contributed to them by other means. For instance, would your husband have had the income to subsidise the properties had you not been looking after the children, maintaining the household etc. An interest does not need to be gained by financial means, especially in a marriage.

Thanks, yes that's true. It was actually "my" money we used for the deposits.

After many hours of brainstorming, I think I've sussed it (Keep It Simple Stupid - it always comes back to that lol). Ex-hubby will take full ownership of the rental he will occupy, plus one other. I will make all the payments on my own mortgage (even though his name has to remain on it). The last remaining let will be sold and the proceeds go to me. On paper, I would receive the biggest equity share therefore the DWP should be happy.

Once my let property is sold, I would be unable to meet my living costs each month from income alone. But it doesn't matter how I spend the sale proceeds; either they dwindle through normal living expenditure, all of which would be clearly documented in bank statements, or the DWP allow me to make a capital repayment to reduce my mortgage debt. When the funds have gone, the DWP will step in to rescue me because of our children, and I would be less likely to lose our home than my ex would be if he got into difficulties.

I might discuss this with the DWP and see how they would expect me to handle the sale proceeds.