OK I'm worried now...

Newlyboughthouse

I bought my house by myself in just my name in 2013. Put down a good deposit which I saved myself.

My partner has been living with me since moving in, paying the equivalent of half of the household outgoings, including mortgage payments, which I think is perfectly fair - he's paying probably less than what he would if he was renting his own place. I thought nothing of this until something I saw elsewhere on the forums suggesting OH would have a claim on the equity if he 'helped' to pay the mortgage.

I take care of all repairs, bought all household items - sofa, frigefreezer etc etc.

Would he genuinely have a claim???

ACG

If hes paying half towards the mortgage and bills then yes. He might be paying less than rent, but he could be living with his parents or in a house share - meaning hes actually paying more than he would be otherwise.

I bought "our" (which is currenlty in my sole name like yours) house. I put down the deposit, my girlfriend pays half towards everything. If we split up, I take out my deposit and the rest we split 50/50 in my eyes.

How can you expect him to pay half of "your" mortgage and not have any claim to it?

Newlyboughthouse

ACG wrote: »

If hes paying half towards the mortgage and bills then yes. He might be paying less than rent, but he could be living with his parents or in a house share - meaning hes actually paying more than he would be otherwise.

I bought "our" (which is currenlty in my sole name like yours) house. I put down the deposit, my girlfriend pays half towards everything. If we split up, I take out my deposit and the rest we split 50/50 in my eyes.

How can you expect him to pay half of "your" mortgage and not have any claim to it?

Because it's only fair I thought? Why should he pay nothing just because I have bought the house and have a mortgage? What if we just make it so that he only pays bills? Still a claim then? Also I make huge overpayments which he has nothing to do with - he only pays half of my 'monthly payment' - what's the situation there?

kazwookie

My OH moved in with me, I took legal advise and all he pays for is his food and towards the bills.

I do not even let him do any maintance, or any thing similar.

I do allow him to hoover and cook the odd meal, put on the washing machine, but that is all, and I am very carefull about it all.

Newlyboughthouse

Would I be best off just transferring all the bills into his name and cease receiving payment from him?

BaileyMoselle

ACG wrote: »

If hes paying half towards the mortgage and bills then yes. He might be paying less than rent, but he could be living with his parents or in a house share - meaning hes actually paying more than he would be otherwise.

I bought "our" (which is currenlty in my sole name like yours) house. I put down the deposit, my girlfriend pays half towards everything. If we split up, I take out my deposit and the rest we split 50/50 in my eyes.

How can you expect him to pay half of "your" mortgage and not have any claim to it?

I can understand why he would have a claim to the money he has paid into the mortgage but how does this give him a claim to the house itself? The OP has taken out the mortgage, and fronted the risk of the investment. If they split up does he get back more than he has paid into the mortgage because the house has appreciated? If the situation becomes negative equity then does he actually owe the OP money lost through depreciation? Seems strange that he would have a claim - but I am not an expert.

ACG

Your overpaying... is that because he is paying half towards everything?

Hes still paid, towards some of the mortgage.
Difficult one to answer, it would be solicitors earning a fortune if you both decided to argue it out.

You might want to have the conversation and put some paperwork in place? Not a great conversation but your obviously concerned by it.

As I said, im in a similar boat but as far as im concerned im in a relationship we both put in equal amounts if it goes south so be it and we sort it out. Life is too short to be arguing about it.

You cant expect your partner to pay towards your mortgage and have no come back down the line. You could be going out with him to enable you to clear your mortgage asap... gold digger? Im not suggesting for a minute thats what your doing but in theory thats what could happen.

Newlyboughthouse

ACG wrote: »

Your overpaying... is that because he is paying half towards everything?

Hes still paid, towards some of the mortgage.
Difficult one to answer, it would be solicitors earning a fortune if you both decided to argue it out.

You might want to have the conversation and put some paperwork in place? Not a great conversation but your obviously concerned by it.

As I said, im in a similar boat but as far as im concerned im in a relationship we both put in equal amounts if it goes south so be it and we sort it out. Life is too short to be arguing about it.

You cant expect your partner to pay towards your mortgage and have no come back down the line. You could be going out with him to enable you to clear your mortgage asap... gold digger? Im not suggesting for a minute thats what your doing but in theory thats what could happen.

I see what you're saying completely and I guess yes him contributing does help me overpay. But just in my defence this is the first time I've really thought about it that way so no way am I a gold-digger (I know you weren't calling me one)

I'm just a head over heart kind of person, black and white - love my OH but it's my house and the way I can't help seeing it is - why should he live for free making no contributions just because I have a mortgage and don't want to risk him having a claim if all goes wrong.

Tough one isn't it

ACG

Why not set up a joint account for food and bills (excluding the mortgage).
It might help to defend your point of view should you have to argue it out down the line?

meer53

Newlyboughthouse wrote: »

I bought my house by myself in just my name in 2013. Put down a good deposit which I saved myself.

My partner has been living with me since moving in, paying the equivalent of half of the household outgoings, including mortgage payments, which I think is perfectly fair - he's paying probably less than what he would if he was renting his own place. I thought nothing of this until something I saw elsewhere on the forums suggesting OH would have a claim on the equity if he 'helped' to pay the mortgage.

I take care of all repairs, bought all household items - sofa, frigefreezer etc etc.

Would he genuinely have a claim???

So, you'd class him as a lodger then ?

The longer you stay together. the more he would be able to claim. If you don't want him to have a claim, then get something down in writing which you both agree to.

Newlyboughthouse

ACG wrote: »

Why not set up a joint account for food and bills (excluding the mortgage).
It might help to defend your point of view should you have to argue it out down the line?

Do you think this is a better option than simply transferring bills into his name? Wouldn't a joint account imply more intention of trust?