First House & How To Keep It?

[David87]

I'll soon be buying my first house and will be living with my girlfriend of almost four years. Thing is, I'll be buying it alone and solely in my name and all she'll contribute is a little toward the bills and council tax. As far as I'm aware, if someone lives with you in the house for six months or more, they're entitled to a share if you're to split and kick them out - is that right? Is there any way to get around this? Our relationship is rather shaky at times and if we broke up within a year or two it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest, so I'm rather keen to protect myself against this situation! I've saved for years for this and she hasn't saved a thing, so it wouldn't be right for her to have anything from it should the worst happen.

A colleague of mine mentioned that she 'on paper' owns 51% of her son's house, preventing the above situation from happening. Is that right? I'll speak to a solicitor about it closer to the time, but thought this is a good place to start! Thanks.

[Tow Vehicle Rqrd]

David87 said:

I'll soon be buying my first house and will be living with my girlfriend of almost four years. Thing is, I'll be buying it alone and solely in my name and all she'll contribute is a little toward the bills and council tax. As far as I'm aware, if someone lives with you in the house for six months or more, they're entitled to a share if you're to split and kick them out - is that right? Is there any way to get around this? Our relationship is rather shaky at times and if we broke up within a year or two it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest, so I'm rather keen to protect myself against this situation! I've saved for years for this and she hasn't saved a thing, so it wouldn't be right for her to have anything from it should the worst happen.

A colleague of mine mentioned that she 'on paper' owns 51% of her son's house, preventing the above situation from happening. Is that right? I'll speak to a solicitor about it closer to the time, but thought this is a good place to start! Thanks.

I had an ex boyfriend a few years back who tried this crap with me, and was sent packing with the small suitcase of junk he'd arrived with, just 8 months previously. He dragged me into the courts in a hissy fit of temper and was sent away by the judge with a flea in his ear as I had paid the mortgage, not him, and the judge, quite rightly concluded that he wasn't entitled to a thing. But always play it safe; the law is a fickle beast, so get everything agreed in writing so you both know exactly where you both stand from the outset. I normally loathe solicitors - most of them are nothing but parasites IMHO - but in this instance, it's worth an extra couple of hundred quid for complete peace of mind. Good luck,

[Adam B]

get her to sign something that says she has no legal or equitable interest in the property, even though she may contribute to some of the bills, and get it witnessed

[Swoxy]

She pays you rent. You pay the mortgage and the bills

[shirt]

(soovy) rent book (/soovy)

[dewaltman]

Don't worry. You will need to declare that she lives in it to your mortgage company and they won't draw the mortgage down until she signs a letter (I forget the name), but it basically states that she has no rights to the property blah blah blah.

[marky1]

Don't let her pay any bills. As someone else said let her pay you rent. Once she starts helping with bills she might have some rights to the property (I think)

[rich_vw]

dewaltman said:

Don't worry. You will need to declare that she lives in it to your mortgage company and they won't draw the mortgage down until she signs a letter (I forget the name), but it basically states that she has no rights to the property blah blah blah.

As this OH had to sign something the other day...she was a bit put out by it but nowt I can do.

[David87]

Thanks for the help with this, guys. Some useful information! The whole idea of just paying rent is a good idea, and hopefully the mortgage company will also provide something official to her to sign as suggested above. Cheers.

[al1991]

Don't take this the wrong way but if it 'wouldn't suprise you' if you split up in a year or two then are you doing the right thing moving her in?

[Adam B]

David87 said:

and hopefully the mortgage company will also provide something official to her to sign as suggested above. Cheers.

do not rely on hope, my mortgage company did not require it but I told the ex it did hence I got her to sign and she did not take it personally

as things turned out we split up and she didn't try anything stupid, but slept a hell of a lot easier

[Dave_ST220]

al1991 said:

Don't take this the wrong way but if it 'wouldn't suprise you' if you split up in a year or two then are you doing the right thing moving her in?

Must be a good shag

[auditt]

Swoxy said:

She pays you rent. You pay the mortgage and the bills

No cheques or bank transfers

Just cash