Problems with ex on joint mortgage account.

Cjubb87

My ex and I got a mortgage for a house in 2007, in 2008 he left. Since 2008 he hasn’t contributed anything towards the mortgage payments or the house - I don’t know where he is, I just have an email address for him. 

I had to let the house out, which it is still let out today. 

I’m now having issues with the mortgage company, but because my ex is still on the account I’m unable to do anything and there left paying high interest payments on the mortgage. Last time I spoke to him he wanted nothing to do with the property etc.
how do I get him off the mortgage if he is refusing co-operate/ answer my emails and the mortgage company are NOT helping at all!!!

thank you

csgohan4

You need legal advice if he is not amenable to contact from yourself with a view to selling the property or at the least buying him out if you can afford to. 

if your unable to buy him out, you cannot take him off the property and you are both jointly liable for the mortgage sadly. In hindsight it would have been best to unlink yourselves financially, either through buying out or selling

blue_max_3

This is so sad to read. The mortgage company have no interest I'm sure. They have the both of you to go after if you default and probably significant equity anyway. Did you tell the mortgage company you have the place let out? You should have their permission and likely changed the mortgage to a different product.
I trust an ex partner and not married as this would have been dealt with during the divorce. 
Potentially your ex could ask for half the rise in value and potentially half the rental income. He still owns a percentage and it effectively isn't yours. It doesn't really matter if he didn't contribute to the mortgage payments. You are jointly and severally liable. Whether a verbal conversation is going to change matters is something you'd have to check. As csgohan4 says, you need to seek legal advice I'm afraid. Best of luck.

Thrugelmir

One assumes that you aren't married. You could always hand the keys back to the lender and ask for a voluntary repossession. Obviously not without personal consequences for yourself. However would be an initial step in terminatiing any relationship with your ex. Is the property in negative equity? 

blue_max_3

Thrugelmir said:

One assumes that you aren't married. You could always hand the keys back to the lender and ask for a voluntary repossession. Obviously not without personal consequences for yourself. However would be an initial step in terminatiing any relationship with your ex. Is the property in negative equity? 

I would hope there was plenty of equity since 2007 assuming she couldn't renegotiate the mortgage without the ex's help. Given she is getting an income from it currently and the costs of repossession would be significant, it doesn't make much sense. Additionally, the damage to her credit rating would not be welcome.
Best hope is to get a solicitor involved and get a letter confirming the transfer to her and hope he doesn't want to dig deeper.

Thrugelmir

blue_max_3 said:

Thrugelmir said:

One assumes that you aren't married. You could always hand the keys back to the lender and ask for a voluntary repossession. Obviously not without personal consequences for yourself. However would be an initial step in terminatiing any relationship with your ex. Is the property in negative equity? 

I would hope there was plenty of equity since 2007 assuming she couldn't renegotiate the mortgage without the ex's help. Given she is getting an income from it currently and the costs of repossession would be significant, it doesn't make much sense. Additionally, the damage to her credit rating would not be welcome.
Best hope is to get a solicitor involved and get a letter confirming the transfer to her and hope he doesn't want to dig deeper.

If mortgage is interest only. Then applying in sole name could present a challenge. Affordability, having to move onto a repayment basis etc. Far from just being a simple transfer. 
If the ex doesn't want to play ball. There's the legal route to sell. Though costs will rapidly mount up. 

Natasha.rb

I had a similar situation with my ex and had to go the legal route.
As I had it all in writing the judge signed off on the re-mortgage for me in absence of my ex.