Couple buy house, one partner pays for everything, the other nothing: pitfalls?

Is there

Re: Question...

I've seen several very similar cases (one of them being myself!) and I have to tell you none of them ended happily. I would suggest your friend has a serious talk with her partner to try to resolve this. I would also suggest that she draws up a list of who's paid what, who bought what, etc.

Sarah

www.rea.ie

Re: Couple buy house, one partner pays for everything the ohter nothing: pitfalls?

Yes, I've been in this situation....Needless to say we are no longer together... Unless this scenario is one that the couple planned (e.g. one person studying, the other agrees to pay for everything to support them) then its bad news.

In my own situation the guy was earning a reasonable salary. When we met he was a little perturbed to learn that I was earning more than he was. Then he started to enjoy it (a bit too much!)...Almost by stealth (read - serious lack of communication on both sides), I seemed to be paying for everything, accommodation, utilities, entertainment. He bought himself a flash car (on finance) that he alone could not afford but because he was with muggins here, it was easy to afford.

I hate having serious discussions about money and felt that everytime it came up that I was being mean or he made me feel like I was rubbing his face in the fact that I earned more than him. In the end, it came to a head and we broke up (about that and other things).... I hear he's working long hours these days to keep driving that flash car....

My friend

Tough situation.
What are the legal rights in a case like this? ie a couple (not married) are living together, the mortgage is in 1 persons name and the other partner contributes some rent (which is cash-in-hand) but the mortgage holder pays for the furniture/upkeep and maintenance of the property. If the relationship ends, can the non-mortgage holder claim part ownership of the property? I know in some countries if a couple live together for +12months they are considered as defacto married on therefore everything gets split down the middle on breakup - but not sure if this is the case in Ireland.

There is no community property law in Ireland, a maried or cohabiting couple
do not have an automatic right to a share of the other persons property.
It is all down to individual circumstances. If a couple break up and can't come to an amicable settlement, the courts will attempt to split the property fairly according to who owned the property before the relationship, who paid the deposit / who contributed to the mortgage / upkeep / the rights of any children / rights of a partner who looked after children full time. Of course, this way the lawyers get a cut.

if you contribute to the mortgage or upkeep, you can claim part ownership, but you will have to fight it out in court and you have no auotmatic entitlement,