Ex-boyfriend wants me to pay back rent

Gavin83

Kayalana99 wrote: »

I'm suprized people haven't really said this already, to me the money was jointly owned. She didn't contribute to the rent so she could put money aside to save up for their future.

That's because I don't agree with you. He purposely avoided taking the money directly so she didn't have an interest in the property, you can't set up this arrangement and still expect the money. You either take the risk or you don't. I think morally he's wrong to ask for this money now.

Its quite possible that if she did pay him the money he's asking for she'd still get a beneficial interest in the property so he's back to square one anyway.

davidwood123 wrote: »

And if the property has decreased in value I hope the OP will take her share of the loss too!

That's how it works, isn't it?

I genuinely don't know what would happen in this situation, but given the way property is in this country it's pretty much a moot point anyway.

However you can like it or not, that's the way the law works. We're just advising on facts here.

pphillips

He cannot simultaneously retain his cake and eat it!

Murzipan

mariposa687 wrote: »

I'm going to be controversial here as when I lived with my ex he didn't have a job for a long time and when he did get one it was part time. The stress became so unbearable that I chose to leave him over it. I paid the majority of the rent, petrol, food shopping etc. I was tempted to ask for money but the pain of a breakup is hard enough so I let it go. He never offered anything either but knowing him it wasn't a surprise.

You have to try and be fair here, go halves on the money and let it be.

I understand how that must have been frustrating. But that isn't the case here - I paid my half of all the bills, grocery. He wasn't contributing any more than I was to the household. I haven't been working part-time for the entire relationship and I've never been unemployed either.

Murzipan

davidwood123 wrote: »

And if the property has decreased in value I hope the OP will take her share of the loss too!

That's how it works, isn't it?

But I'm not trying to establish an interest in the property - that was never the arrangement that we had.

ERICS_MUM

Murzipan wrote: »

Thank you for this advice. We've split all bills and I've paid my way in everything.

So you don't owe him anything (i.e. Back rent) and he doesn't owe you anything ( i.e. Beneficial share in his property).

You are all square and free to move on. Best wishes for the next stage of your life.

ERICS_MUM

OP's ex is in no worse a position now than if OP hadn't lived with him for that period. He owns his property, she paid half their living expenses. It didn't cost him anything extra for her to live there and no doubt he derived some benefits from her presence (housework, ironing etc !!!). I don't see why he should expect to make a profit from the situation. If OP had known that all the boyfriend wanted was a paying lodger she probably would not have moved in.

davidwood123

Gavin83 wrote: »

That's because I don't agree with you. He purposely avoided taking the money directly so she didn't have an interest in the property, you can't set up this arrangement and still expect the money. You either take the risk or you don't. I think morally he's wrong to ask for this money now.

Its quite possible that if she did pay him the money he's asking for she'd still get a beneficial interest in the property so he's back to square one anyway.



I genuinely don't know what would happen in this situation, but given the way property is in this country it's pretty much a moot point anyway.

However you can like it or not, that's the way the law works. We're just advising on facts here.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5669204

Dird

Murzipan wrote: »

I paid half the bills

Then you owe nothing. I used to liftshare with a guy from work (always him driving). He didn't ask for my travel savings at the end & I didn't expect a stake in his car

Gavin83

davidwood123 wrote: »

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5669204

OK. Still doesn't change the fact I don't know and it's a pretty redundant point as someone paying rent in this situation would still have a beneficial interest in the property.

The only way to find out is for someone to take their partner to court for half the reduction in the house value.

Geoff1963

which we could use were we to buy a property together in the future.

If that was a contractual arrangement, then splitting up means the contract was broken, or at least paused. If they ever get back together ( LMAO ), the OP can put the appropriate amount into the deposit for their new joint home. Unless and until they are buying a house together, the condition of handing it over, isn't yet met.

I tried to claim early on a life insurance policy, and went to the company offices which were on the 20th floor. The agent said it would be no problem at all, I just had to jump out of the window.