Ex partner refusing to pay have of mortgage

zzzLazyDaisy

As others have said, you are a joint owner, he is not entitled to change the locks or prevent you from having access to the property.

Unfortunately, you are both jointly and severally liable for the mortgage. If he isn't bothered about trashing his credit rating, and continues to refuse to contribute towards the mortgage, then you have to decide to do whatever is best for yourself. If you go bankrupt, the lender will chase him for the money, so the chances are he will also have to go bankrupt (unless him mum bails him out financially).

The point about you paying 90% of the deposit and most of the mortgage is a non-point - if the house is in joint names you are each entitled to half the net proceeds on sale (unless you protected your share of the deposit with a trust deed, or as tenants in common) Unfortunately if the house is in negative equity, the funds must be found to make up the balance of the amount owing on the mortgage otherwise the lender will not agree to the sale. So if he refuses to pay up, you will be left to find the money if you wish to sell up.

I would suggest renting the property out to pay the mortgage, but realistically you'd need his co-operation, otherwise he could be a nightmare for the tenants and get you into all sorts of bother.

These stories seem to be increasingly common, and I have to say, as a home owner, it is pretty scary how quickly a relationship breakdown can trash your home, your security and your finances.