Will UC do this??

SuperSonicDog

Hi
Not sure if this query should be a benefits or a property post so admins please feel free to move.

I am wanting to leave my husband, things have not been good for 10+ years. He doesn’t want to split up so won’t entertain selling the house. Ive been asking him for about 6 months but we’re no further forward. I’ve seen I can force a sale via a solicitor but this seems expensive and long winded. I want to go asap.

I always assumed we’d have to sell ours and I’d buy a property just for me.  I have never considered renting but today decided to look online and a flat nearby seems good for me. I used Turn2us to see if I’d get any help at all. This is where I need help. It implied on Turn2us that UC would pay towards rent even though I’m still on a mortgage (he could stay in the house we joint own, mortgage around 60k) Does that sound right?

so if he stayed in the house, carried on paying the mortgage. We’d have to see a solicitor to see how it would work I guess, as in how and when would I get my equity. 

This has all come into my head this afternoon so looking for any help, suggestions or advice as to whether this could even be a plan.

thanks 

itsthelittlethings

They could be difficult as you have equity in the house presumably. I would try CAB.

huckster

Agree, if you claimed UC with equity in a property you did not live in, you would have to declare this to UC and provide some evidence you are trying to force a sale. A Solicitors letter to your husband about starting the process of forcing sale might suffice. And it would be referred to a UC Decision Maker to see if they could disregard the equity.

kaMelo

After a breakup any equity you have in the former matrimonial home can be disregarded for six months. This disregard can be extended as long as you can show you are genuinely taking all reasonable steps to sell the property at a realistic price.

What evidence DWP would require to grant any extention and whether a non co-operative ex would cause problems is difficult to say as these scenarios are decided on a case by case basis.