GF moving into my house - what are her rights?

JMC39

I've recently bought my first house (Nov for £100k) and my GF is now going to move in with me.

Although sure she would never claim anything back from me, what rights will she have to the property if she starts paying the mortgage with me? I've heard rumours that after six months she is legally entitled to a percentage of the house?

For info, currently the house is only under my name (and that is the way it will stay until we buy together!).

Thanks for the help in advance.

stressed_FTB

If your GF spends time, money, whatever looking after the house or you, ie ironing, general housework, then subsequently you break up, she would likely be able to claim money from you - even if you aren't married and there are a lot of cases backing this up. You need to get a solicitor to draw up an agreement, sort of like a pre nuptual, but not because you're not getting married (are you?) otherwise it is very open to interpretation and particular circumstances. Whether she pays money for the mortgage or not she could claim from you, you need to be really careful. And if she starts paying half of the mortgage she would definitely be entitled to some of the proceeds from sale, if she took you to court over it.

irnbru_2

JMC39 wrote:

Although sure she would never claim anything back from me, what rights will she have to the property if she starts paying the mortgage with me? I've heard rumours that after six months she is legally entitled to a percentage of the house?

Search this forum for 'boyfriend' or 'girlfriend'. This is a FAQ.

In short, giver her a rent book and you won't have any wories about the house.

Other worries yes but not about the house

JMC39

Thanks for the responses - normally I would search first, don't know why I didn't today.

[Deleted User]

stressed_FTB wrote:

If your GF spends time, money, whatever looking after the house or you, ie ironing, general housework, then subsequently you break up, she would likely be able to claim money from you - even if you aren't married and there are a lot of cases backing this up. You need to get a solicitor to draw up an agreement, sort of like a pre nuptual, but not because you're not getting married (are you?) otherwise it is very open to interpretation and particular circumstances. Whether she pays money for the mortgage or not she could claim from you, you need to be really careful. And if she starts paying half of the mortgage she would definitely be entitled to some of the proceeds from sale, if she took you to court over it.

I am not sure about any of these comments. I am not convinced that even if the GF cleaned the property, made general housework etc, any court will see this as a claim. Equally, the BF can say that he shared in all household duties. In any case, I doubt very much that as an unmarried couple, she can claim for a share in the property.

This happened to a friend of mine and she could not claim on her BF's property.

advent1122

JMC39 wrote:

Although sure she would never claim anything back from me,

Famous last words.
Give her a rent book and class her as a lodger.

chant1l

"Give her a rent book and class her as a lodger"...
And make sure you do that in the hall not the kitchen, too many weapons there...

Bossyboots

lindabea wrote:

I am not sure about any of these comments. I am not convinced that even if the GF cleaned the property, made general housework etc, any court will see this as a claim. Equally, the BF can say that he shared in all household duties. In any case, I doubt very much that as an unmarried couple, she can claim for a share in the property.

This happened to a friend of mine and she could not claim on her BF's property.

Each individual case is judged on its own merits and stressed_FTB is in fact right.

Your friend may not have been able to claim. My friend is more than £5,000 poorer because she didn't get things clear at the start and her ex claimed from her.