Joint Mortgage Nightmare!!!

Pandora70

Hi everyone,
Firstly Im new to this so please please forgive me if I have done this wrong.

I just wondered if anyone could give me any advice or even just to know that someone else had been in a similar situation as I am feeling very alone at the moment

Here goes then - I have a joint mortgage with my ex. We bought the house in Sept 2004 and split in February 2005 (one of my better decisions). Over 2 years on I am still stuck with the house and I feel completely trapped.

Neither of us have ever lived in the property as it needs totally renovating. I cant afford to buy my ex out and he refuses to buy me out - so that isnt an option. My ex will only agree to sell the house after it has been completely renovated - I have spent years trying to persuade him otherwise and he will not change his mind. If we could just work together and get the work done it could be up for sale in a few months but there is still a lot of bad feeling (on his part) about the split. Even to the point where he has said being stuck with the house is my punishment for not loving him anymore. I want to make a start on the work myself but its such a big project that I dont know where to start and I am scared that if I dont get his agreement for everything he can refuse to pay half towards the work.

We currently pay mortgage, council tax etc 50/50 which is good in one way. But of course while I have this house I cant afford my own place. It sounds so melodramatic but some days I cant see any point in getting out of bed as my life is just totally on hold.

I have seen citizens advice and spoken to a solicitor. But was told my only real option is getting him to buy me out.

I'm probably waffling - sorry it's because Im getting upset as Im typing.

Mr_helpful

Cpouldnt you rent it to a builder free in echange for him doing it up. I own a 6 bedroom HMO and one room is let to a builder free on the grounds he does all the repairs. It works fine for me

lightspeed

Although Mr Helpful's post is a good suggestion, i dont think it quite solves your problem of having "your life totally on hold" because you still wont be able to move on and away from this relationship/situation.

I was going to post earlier but changed my mind as i didnt feel that i am knowledgable enough (i still arent, lol) to comment on the legalities of your situation, however, my main concern for you would be that your ex appears, indirectly, to be holding you hostage. I realise that this is quite a bold statement, however, when you mention that you "feel completely trapped" and that "he has said being stuck with the house is my punishment for not loving him anymore", i cant help but think that this person has got some serious issues and is likely to make this whole thing as difficult as possible.

I would go back to a different solicitor (usually, for a first visit you can get a discounted rate to see someone for 1/2 hour) and explain everything again. Take some notes with you so that you dont forget anything and see if they can give you an alternative.

I would be reluctant to finish the house by myself because i bet that if you did that he still wouldnt want to sell, likewise, i wouldnt stop paying your share of the mortgage as this will affect your credit rating. It appears that the house is a pawn in a selfish game, and he knows that as long as your name is on the mortgage you cant move on.

There must be a way to force a sale when joint owners fall out and cannot agree on an action. It may be costly but i am sure that there must be something.

Maybe someone else on here will have a better undertsanding of the legalities.

Mr_helpful

How much mortgage is on it and where you live at present is that with a new boy friend or do you have another mortgage