Partner going halves on decorating

thecatwithnotail

After three years of living apart my partner and I are moving in together. He rents his flat, I own mine and I have space, so for now he's moving into my flat.

He's gently requested that I get some decorating done before he moves in which is totally fine as I've lived by myself for the best part of ten years and not really bothered. He has offered to pay for half of the cost of decorating three rooms - and as they need to be replastered etc, the costs are starting to run up quite high.

We've both agreed that we need some kind of "pre-cohabitation" agreement so that should things not work out, I would give him back whatever he chips in for the decorating.

Does anyone know of a standard sort of legalese document for us to agree this? Something that would have some value in court should I decide I wanted to screw him over? Or would it be worthwhile getting a solicitor to draw something up (seems a bit overkill).

Cheers!

Gigglepig

Can't help with a template, but you may want to be careful regarding whether or not your OH should obtain a stake in the equity.

I also think it is fair enough to distinguish in the agreement between paying for big improvements to the property which will increase value, or paying towards mortgage on one hand, and normal decoration/wear and tear on the other hand.

It is normal to re-paint /decorate every 3 years so IMO I don't see why he should get a refund if he were to move out in a couple of years.

beautiful_ravens

Does anyone know of a standard sort of legalese document for us to agree this? Something that would have some value in court should I decide I wanted to screw him over?

Seriously?

thecatwithnotail

Thanks - I want to avoid stake in equity, sure - if all goes to plan we're going to look for a place together in a year or so, and that would be a whole new world of pre-cohab agreements.

The work that needs doing to my flat is a bit above and beyond just a lick of paint, so it definitely falls into the category of improvements/much needed maintenance that hasn't been done for years - so for now it's just something that would say "OH paid £xxxx and should get it back if he was to want to no longer co-habit/be my OH".

Mojisola

thecatwithnotail wrote: »

Does anyone know of a standard sort of legalese document for us to agree this? Something that would have some value in court should I decide I wanted to screw him over? Or would it be worthwhile getting a solicitor to draw something up (seems a bit overkill).

Both of you should read all this advice - https://www.advicenow.org.uk/living-together/ - before he moves in so that you both know where you stand.

See here - http://static.advicenow.org.uk/files/livingtogether-agreements-2010-867.pdf

thecatwithnotail

beautiful_ravens wrote: »

Seriously?

I'm being glib, ravens - we just both want something that gives security to him.

christineperseus

use his rent to fund the decorating

thecatwithnotail

christineperseus wrote: »

use his rent to fund the decorating

I pretty much own outright, so won't be changing him rent - but nice idea - maybe I should!

embob74

You should look on the house buying,selling and renting forum. There is a lot of info about this sort of thing.
I would be wary of putting anything into an agreement as your OH could potentially lay claim to part of the property if he can show he has contributed to it.
Of course if you plan to get married then he could get it anyway!
Perhaps you could get the property valued and get an agreement drawn up that should you split up you would get the value as it is now and half of any future increase.

embob74

Assuming you split things down the middle of course otherwise you have to devise how to split it fairly depending on the percentage contributed.

londonsurrey

The rent idea is excellent. So this way, making it legal, it is firmly established that he's just renting, not gaining any equity in your property.

And the longer he stays, the more "rent" you draw from the money he's "lent" you.
So if he leaves after two months, he gets a big chunk of money back.
If he stays for yonks, he gets the enjoyment out of the redecoration, and you'll eventually be a happy ever couple who don't worry about repayments.