Girlfriend moving in - Help/advice needed!

kenno010

Hi all,

I am 26 and my girlfriend and I have been discussing moving in together. I inherited a £420,000 house 10 years ago which I currently live in which is in my name with no outstanding mortgage. The house is 25 years old and so needs modernising (new bathrooms, kitchen etc). My initial plan was for myself and my girlfriend to get a joint mortgage, renovate the house and live in it. It was only recently when I realised that this idea is fundamentally flawed as I already own the property outright so what use would it be for my girlfriend to be named on the mortgage.

I still want my GF to move in and for us to renovate the house, but if something goes wrong I don't want to be left out of pocket or even worse without the family house. So I am really looking for your thoughts on how I would be best to make this happen whilst protecting both myself and my GF from potential problems down the line.

P.S - I have discussed with my GF whether we should just leave everything in my name but she doesn't want to do that as wants to feel part of something and to have an interest in the property.

Thanks in advance,

Nasqueron

I pay my partner rent for the house but don't have any claim on the house.


Of course your gf wants an interest in the property - if you split up then at the moment it's your house and she gets nothing, once she gets her fingers in the pie she can make some nice money if you do.


I don't know if there is any way of putting in writing that you keep the house as it's yours that will stand up in court...

Ms_Chocaholic

kenno010 wrote: »

P.S - I have discussed with my GF whether we should just leave everything in my name but she doesn't want to do that as wants to feel part of something and to have an interest in the property.

Call me cynical but I bet she does :rotfl:

How long have you been together?

[Deleted User]

Keep the house as it is at least until you get married. If you're never going to marry her that shows the house should stay yours.

She can contribute to housekeeping etc but until it's more formal she doesn't need to be part owner. It's a huge risk to take for someone so young.

Mojisola

One suggestion that seems to work in this situation is for the BF/GF to move in but only contribute to household bills, not a mortgage or renovations/improvements.

The incomer pays an agreed amount into an account every month - if all goes well with the relationship, after a set time, this can become joint money and be put towards the house; if the relationship doesn't last, the incomer can walk away with a lump sum to set themselves up somewhere new.

A BF/GF living in their partner's house has no security at all - the homeowner could turn them out at a moment's notice so it's understandable that she would want to gain some ownership.

If you did get a joint mortgage and spent the money on improvements and the relationship then failed, would you be able to buy her out of her share of the house?

LadyDee

You need proper, legal advice. As I understand it, if your girl friend contributes to the household bills it is possible she might be able to establish an interest in the property - after all, she could be seen to be helping to maintain the house.

Mojisola

LadyDee wrote: »

You need proper, legal advice. As I understand it, if your girl friend contributes to the household bills it is possible she might be able to establish an interest in the property - after all, she could be seen to be helping to maintain the house.

Not for things like utility bills and food costs - both people in the house are benefiting from these.

It's only if the incomer starts to pay towards a mortgage or pays for work on the house that beneficial ownership could come into play.

comeandgo

I think you need legal advise. You are a rich young man, I bet your GF wants her name on it.

Mojisola

If you do go down the mortgage route, your GF would only own a percentage of the house, depending on how much you borrow.

If you own the house as 'tenants in common' and specify the shares you both own, the bulk of the property will remain yours.

LadyDee

Mojisola wrote: »

Not for things like utility bills and food costs - both people in the house are benefiting from these.

It's only if the incomer starts to pay towards a mortgage or pays for work on the house that beneficial ownership could come into play.

The OP should still get legal advice, and they should keep very detailed statements of expenditure - seems if the girlfriend did pay for anything related to the fabric of the building there could conceivably be a problem. A cohabitation agreement could be drawn up by the Solicitor, and it might be a good idea for them to give thought to drawing up Wills too.

Babycatdiamond

Please be very careful and talk to a good solicitor.

I was in the exact same position as you when I was your age. I'm 49 now. Silly me put the house on joint name and when I divorced him after 30 years and him abusing me due to his severe mental health I had to give 50% to him. It has taken me 13 years to get back to where I started but lost my dream home on the process.

Dont put it in her name and make sure some legal arrangement is made before she moves in. It's all lovely if things work out but promises made when e everything is rosy doesn't translate in a divorce/breakup situation