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Woman Invests Life Savings Into Buying A House, BF Pays Rent But Expects Ownership
It can take people years to buy a home of their own, and to do so, they need to put in a lot of money, time, and effort. That’s why, even when folks get married or enter into relationships, they might be wary of automatically adding a partner to the deed of their house.
This is what a woman faced after allowing her boyfriend of two years to move in, only to have him demand a stake in her property. Since she had put in so much money to get the home, she felt that he had no right to demand such a thing from her.
More info: Reddit
RELATED:
It can be tricky to add an unmarried partner to a home deed, especially if one person has already paid for the bulk of the property
Image credits: The Yuri Arcurs Collection / Freepik (not the actual photo)
The poster had put $80k down on a house and had spent the last five years covering its mortgage, so when her boyfriend moved in, she asked him to pay rent
Image credits: katemangostar / Freepik (not the actual photo)
The man agreed to pay $1,400 as rent, but after a few weeks, he stated that he wanted to have a stake in her home since they were building a life together
Image credits: The Yuri Arcurs Collection / Freepik (not the actual photo)
When the poster told her boyfriend that she had bought the home before even meeting him, he explained that his friends thought it was sketchy that she was profiting off him
Image credits: Former_Raspberry3277
The man explained that since they were planning on getting engaged, she should add him to the home deed, but when she refused, he threatened to move out
The OP mentioned that she had been saving up for a long time to buy a house, and she eventually purchased one in San Diego five years ago. Since then, she had been paying off her mortgage, and when her boyfriend’s lease was up, she allowed him to move in with her as long as he paid rent.
Although it might seem odd for couples to live together with one person paying a fee, research has found that approximately 51% of people would be okay with charging their partner rent to stay at their property. This might be because folks feel a strong sense of ownership over their house, and receiving such payments can also provide some financial security.
Even though the man initially agreed to his girlfriend’s terms and paid her $1,400 in rent, he eventually began questioning the system. He felt that since he was building a life with her and essentially contributing toward her mortgage, he also deserved to be an owner of her house.
According to experts, it is possible for people to have unequal stakes in the same property if they have each paid different amounts toward it. In such a case, the home’s deed will have to specify the percentage each person owns and how that would affect mortgage payments or the sale of the house.
Image credits: Camandona / Freepik (not the actual photo)
Since the poster had paid $80k toward her home along with her mortgage payments, and had also bought it three years before meeting her boyfriend, she refused to give him a stake in it. That’s when he revealed that his friends had been telling him that her behavior seemed sketchy and that she was profiting off him.
He also tried to sway the conversation in his favor, stating that, since they had discussed getting engaged before, she should make him a co-owner if she was serious about having a future with him. All of this left the woman confused, but she explained that she would consider the matter only once they actually got married.
Even when people want to add their spouse to their deed, lawyers explain that it’s a decision that must be carefully considered. That’s because once your significant other is added as a co-owner, they are also partly entitled to its final payout. This can be a problem for folks if they get divorced or separated.
Luckily, the poster refused to be swayed by her boyfriend’s pleading and manipulation, and she set clear boundaries with him. He still threatened to move back out if she didn’t trust him enough to add him to the deed, and her sister stated that, since they had been dating for two years, she should want to build equity with him.
Do you think the woman was right not to make her boyfriend a co-owner of her house? We’d love to hear your opinions on this situation.
Folks told the woman to refuse her boyfriend’s demands and to consider it a red flag if he was willing to push so much
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What do you think ?
Chrystina Sumpter 4 hours ago
I moved into my husband’s house. It never occurred to me to ask that my name be added. After we married, we made wills so that if anything happened to him, I would be protected. He refinanced the house after over 15 years of my and my name was added to the deed so that my credit could be taken into account and we could get a lower interest rate.
Ali 6 hours ago
That's a crazy request, and what is wrong with her sister? I have twice rented houses from women who were moving to the next stage of a relationship (living together) and the partner INSISTED they keep own home and rent it out for security. Who would be ok with a partner who didn't want that for you? A friend of mine presently in a relationship which has the potential to become forever, was told by her partner that while he was not ready to propose, he would like them to see a solicitor regarding a civil partnership to make sure they both financially secure (both owned homes, both had children from previous relationships). She told me that while he apologised for the lack of romance, she had never felt so loved and cared for - as he made absolutely sure her investments and children were fully protected. In a marriage, you don't always split money 50/50 because you are building together but asking for half of what you had made for yourself before meeting is an outlandish ask.
Paul C 6 hours ago
There is a simple answer, value the house, offer him a 50% stake for 50% of the value. Anything else and he's showing he is a freeloader. Before marriage, I'd be looking into the laws of divorce, as it sounds like if he got a marriage cert, he'd be after half the house, even it the marriage lasted a week. A 36 year old man with no capital doesn't sound like much of a catch, for someone who has so much to lose.
Chrystina Sumpter 4 hours ago
I moved into my husband’s house. It never occurred to me to ask that my name be added. After we married, we made wills so that if anything happened to him, I would be protected. He refinanced the house after over 15 years of my and my name was added to the deed so that my credit could be taken into account and we could get a lower interest rate.
Ali 6 hours ago
That's a crazy request, and what is wrong with her sister? I have twice rented houses from women who were moving to the next stage of a relationship (living together) and the partner INSISTED they keep own home and rent it out for security. Who would be ok with a partner who didn't want that for you? A friend of mine presently in a relationship which has the potential to become forever, was told by her partner that while he was not ready to propose, he would like them to see a solicitor regarding a civil partnership to make sure they both financially secure (both owned homes, both had children from previous relationships). She told me that while he apologised for the lack of romance, she had never felt so loved and cared for - as he made absolutely sure her investments and children were fully protected. In a marriage, you don't always split money 50/50 because you are building together but asking for half of what you had made for yourself before meeting is an outlandish ask.
Paul C 6 hours ago
There is a simple answer, value the house, offer him a 50% stake for 50% of the value. Anything else and he's showing he is a freeloader. Before marriage, I'd be looking into the laws of divorce, as it sounds like if he got a marriage cert, he'd be after half the house, even it the marriage lasted a week. A 36 year old man with no capital doesn't sound like much of a catch, for someone who has so much to lose.
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