I bought a house in my name 5 years ago in which me and my pregnant girlfriend lived. We split up shortly after the birth of my son (now 4) but continued to live in the house. I paid all mortgage, bills, house renovation costs, furniture costs etc...
I have since found a new partner and moved out of my home and allowed my ex to rent it off me at the same rate as my mortgage repayments. This has continued for the last 6 months.
I am now looking to sell the property and she is demanding half. my solicitor has advised that she could claim the property was purchased with the intention of being a family home and could indeed be entitled to half.
Outstanding mortgage value £51,000 - Current Valuation £70,000
She has never paid a penny in all the time she has lived there and constantly withdraws access to my son when I don't do what she says. She has assaulted my current girlfriend twice and now insisting she be assesed as a danger to my son even though my girlfriend has no history of violent offences unlike my ex.
How can I protect the equity in my house or at least remove it before she starts any legal proceedings so there is nothing left for her to take?
I have offered her money to pay the deposit and first months rent on a new home and told her she could keep the furniture, I just want to release my equity to buy a new home and put some into a trust fund for my son.
Should I evict her and refuse to sell? Remortgage and use the equity asap? transfer ownership of the property? secure loans against the property? I'm totally clueless? Any advice would be greatly appreciated?
Many thanks.
I have since found a new partner and moved out of my home and allowed my ex to rent it off me at the same rate as my mortgage repayments. This has continued for the last 6 months.
I am now looking to sell the property and she is demanding half. my solicitor has advised that she could claim the property was purchased with the intention of being a family home and could indeed be entitled to half.
Outstanding mortgage value £51,000 - Current Valuation £70,000
She has never paid a penny in all the time she has lived there and constantly withdraws access to my son when I don't do what she says. She has assaulted my current girlfriend twice and now insisting she be assesed as a danger to my son even though my girlfriend has no history of violent offences unlike my ex.
How can I protect the equity in my house or at least remove it before she starts any legal proceedings so there is nothing left for her to take?
I have offered her money to pay the deposit and first months rent on a new home and told her she could keep the furniture, I just want to release my equity to buy a new home and put some into a trust fund for my son.
Should I evict her and refuse to sell? Remortgage and use the equity asap? transfer ownership of the property? secure loans against the property? I'm totally clueless? Any advice would be greatly appreciated?
Many thanks.