Buying out an ex

sjc1967

Hi, trying to help my sister out here.

Nearly 4 years ago she and her partner separated, he moved out of the property reluctantly and eventually rented somewhere else. They both bought the house equally and the mortgage was paid off.

She wants to buy him out and the house was valued by her mortgage lender at £230k but there is quite a lot of neglected maintenance work which needs doing so she agreed with her ex at £200, giving him £100k with the agreement that she would take over the work that needs doing. He agreed to this a few months ago but then last week he decided to get other valuations done as property prices are rising. Two agents came and valued it at around £320k IF the work is done. She can no longer afford to buy him out so has suggested selling up and moving on. He doesn't want that either as he wants to keep the house as an investment and for her to pay him half it's rental value each month for a couple of years until her youngest is 18. Can he keep moving the goalposts like this? Someone has told us that the value of the house should be frozen at the time they parted? Should she see a solicitor for advice? She has two kids of 16 and 17, both still in education. Thanks

elsien

But the work isn't done, so any valuations should be on the house as it is, not as it might be further down the line.

sjc1967

The real issue is, can he keep asking for more money? Otherwise every time she arranges a mortgage he'll change his mind again.