Selling joint home, partner can't be contacted!!

Scott321

My sister is in the process of trying to sell her (their) property. Her ex partner has moved on and is not answering phone calls or text messages and we have no idea where he is located. Not only has she had to pay the mortgage & bills on her own for the last 6 months, but now someone has made an offer on the property she is being told it cannot be sold without his signature. I am not sure if this is the right place to raise such issue, but this is whole situation is causing so much stress on the family I just don't know what we can do. If anyone could shine any light it would be much appreciated. Thank you in advance. Scott.

RHemmings

It sounds like she's in big trouble. I'm not a lawyer, but it doesn't sound likely that she could sell the house without finding him.

If normal techniques of phoning every single common acquaintance has failed, would it be worth hiring a private investigator. I would have no idea how much it would cost to find him, but imagine that it would be a lot.

lawrie28

send a text tellinghim he has come into some money. That'll get him to contact you...........

RHemmings

dolcevita wrote: »

I could say that your sister could get someone to stand in for her ex-partner and sign the documents anyway.

But I won't because that would be illegal.

And extremely likely to blow up in the OPs face when the ex-partner finds out about it. As he will at some point.

Scott321

Thank you for your comments. It seems we will have to persist and try to contact the clown. Thank you.

clutton_2

i think you ought to tell the lender the situation - they will have seen this happen many times in the past, and at least you will be seen to be doing the right thing.

what does your sisters solicitor say ?

AMILLIONDOLLARS

What about his employers / Employment Agency where he signs on. His mother, father sister etc drop a note through their doors explaining situation and indeed use the bait of some money coming to him, failing that the Electrol(?) Register

Could well be that he is married man and doesn't want to be found, in that case get him to sign everything over to your sister as recompense!!!


AMD

Scott321

She is going to have a consultation with one today for an hour, and hopefully they can come up with some answers. The only other problem with this is the fees seem to shoot up dramatically, and she can just about pay the bills, let alone ££££ on fees. There isn't even much equity in the property to pay it off once the sale is complete.

hev_2

Warning - this information may be seriously out of date.

Your sister could apply to get an order to force sale (usually done after a charging order, but not necessarily) and apply to have substituted service on someone who could reasonably be believed to bring the matter to her OH's attention, like his mother. Or you could apply to serve at place of employment if you know if/where he works.

Her solicitors may be able to recommend a tracing agency.

As a side note, if she wants to divorce, she should also get that done when she finally finds him and can be reasonably sure where he is. If he does a runner once, he may well do it again.

Hope it works out for your sister.

Scott321

The problem is we are dealing with an idiot who doesn't see reason with anything, and any one associated to him is the same. He doesn't see his parents, and if we spoke to any of his so called friends, I think it would just be met with verbal abuse. She did text him and included the sale price, which he would know there is potentially some money. This previously has been the only motivation for him to reply, but now he is even ignoring that. You can't believe how much you don't know someone, he's been her partner for 11 years!!!