Can’t get out of mortgage

johnniejj

Hi I’m not sure if this is a common problem or unique one . I got divorced 16 yrs ago I left the family home my ex took on the property but I’m still stuck on the mortgage. I am now told I was given bad advise from my solicitor because I signed over the home to my ex but in the deal was that I was taken off the mortgage but this never happened. They told me the mortgage company would not allow this so for 16 yrs I’ve been stuck renting because I couldn’t get another mortgage with the other one hanging over me. I came to accept this just for the sake of my children so they had no disruption and had a home now they are grown up I want to get out of this ridiculous loop I got the mortgage companies name and number from my ex to find it had changed several times to different companies yet I knew nothing about this and the latest company even though I’m on the account won’t give me information as I cannot get through some of the security checks which would be impossible for me answer as I’ve never been involved with them. Surely this can’t be allowed for me to be held prisoner like this if anyone can help with some advise I’d be very grateful thank you 

getmore4less

If ex changed lender without your knowledge might be time for a complaint to the lender to investigate as that should not have happened.

MWT

johnniejj said:

...I am now told I was given bad advise from my solicitor because I signed over the home to my ex but in the deal was that I was taken off the mortgage but this never happened. They told me the mortgage company would not allow this...

That was not necessarily bad advice as just because the deal was to take you off, doesn't mean it was possible to do that if the lender did not agree, for example if your ex didn't have the income to meet their criteria.

If the alternative was you remaining paying for the mortgage as well, or forcing the sale of the house to end the mortgage then it sounds like you took the best path to stop paying towards it but still letting it continue for the benefit of your children as you mentioned.

johnniejj said:

I got the mortgage companies name and number from my ex to find it had changed several times to different companies yet I knew nothing about this and the latest company even though I’m on the account won’t give me information as I cannot get through some of the security checks which would be impossible for me answer as I’ve never been involved with them.

I wonder if this is one of the mortgages from Northern Rock or similar that has been traded around for a while and ended up on a closed book somewhere? Who was the original lender and who is the lender now?

Even if you can speak to the lender about the mortgage this isn't going to be something you can resolve without involving your Ex, as it will come back to the same point that they will need to be able to meet the lender's affordability criteria before you could be removed from the mortgage.

How much longer is left to run on it and what type of mortgage was it, hopefully repayment?

penners324

If you're ex has remortgaged with you still on the mortgage that would be mortgage fraud.

But worth doing as MWT suggests first before going down the fraud route

kingstreet

I suspect the lender changes are 'closed book' issues rather than deliberate remortgages.

For example, Northern Rock to UKAR to Topaz/Heliodor etc.

johnniejj

I’m sure the mortgage was through YBS originally but not sure I’m gonna be digging out old paperwork and hope it’s all on there but I know it’s gone through rose mortgage, carame mortgage and now with engage credit there’s 9 yrs left on the mortgage but I’m getting older and at point that I won’t even be looked at for buying as I’m too old for mortgage and yes it’s a repayment 

MoneyGeoff

Are you still on the deeds? You can check for £3 https://www.gov.uk/search-property-information-land-registry

If you still part own the house, and are still on the mortgage, and the children are grown up then discuss with your ex about selling the house.

SuseOrm

MoneyGeoff said:

Are you still on the deeds? You can check for £3 https://www.gov.uk/search-property-information-land-registry

If you still part own the house, and are still on the mortgage, and the children are grown up then discuss with your ex about selling the house.

It probably is as good a time as any to sell the house and buy something in her own name.  Just in case it all crashes and she cant move in a year or two