rights to house

[chas2008]

My daughter and her husband have lived in a house for over 10 years rent free which is owned by the in-laws, have they any rights over this property ? they have spent money on it and carried out improvements
..basically there is a family argument going and they would like to move out but unfortunately dont earn enough to be able to purchase another property or get a deposit together...

[R1Geezer]

sounds like they've had VFM already, 10 years rent free, that's worth about 80k. I don't think they have any rights at all if there is no tennacy agreement and no rent is being paid.

[Postdog]

You can also improve council houses but it has to accepted that it is basically lost money as it isn't yours. I agree that ten years of rent free living is a good deal, and they really ought to have used that time to save a considerable deposit as they weren't paying any rent.

[chas2008]

the house was promised to them, so had no real reason to think otherwise..like a lot of family things its just got messy.
I would also like to point out that my son in law worked for his father for poor wages so in effect he was paying rent , just not on paper

[happyjo]

Was the promise in writing? If so, then there may be a case. There are all sorts of cases like this, where parent have promised the property to the kids, then had a fall out and then gone back on their word.

Is there a mortage on the property that the inlaws have been paying? If it is owned outright by the inlaws .. again there may be a case.

J x

[chas2008]

as far as im aware bought and paid for..

[stonekicker]

even if your son in law and daughter were on very low wages - why haven't they got any money? my rent currently takes up two thirds of my income. what i wouldn't give for a rich in law to lend me a house to live in for ten years.....would be 72000 richer! to be in such a privileged position and still have nothing to show for it is not only naive, but probably stupid too. i'd tell your daughter that if they have to move out and start paying rent as well, things will get worse before they get better. it never fails to astound me how dumb some people can be, you know. and then to ask if they have any rights!

[happyjo]

Who are we to lecture them on the money side of this issue.

The facts given state that they were promised the house, and therefore did not think they would need to save for another property. They have spent money improving the house and making it their home... how do any of you know how much they earn or what there circumstances are?

We all have personal opinions on this, and I have ine...but this thread asked for some legal advice, not for everyone to get on their soap boxes and tell them what they should have done.

This issue revolves around their entitlement to a beneficial interest in the house, via an implied or express agreement.


Your daughter and son in law need to get some legal advice from a reputable property dispute lawyer.

J

[chas2008]

Thanks for that Happyjo..much appreciated...

Stonekicker sounds like one sad bitter and jealous person..there are other complicated & personal circumstances/facts involved in this and i am certainly not prepared to discuss them openly on here..people should keep there opinions and insults to themselves without knowing the full story..

[stonekicker]

i don't think i was particularly insulting - you asked for other people's opinions and then moan about them when you disagree or the cold hard facts of stupidity hit home! at the end of the day, you are in a house belonging to someone else, have not got any documentation to say it should be yours, have spent ���s on it and not saved any money (for the inevitable rainy day - particularly where family is concerned) despite living rent free for ten years. you can't turn round and moan when life bites you in the @rse because you didn't think...

[happyjo]

Stonekicke where did this poster ask for opinions??

I can only see one question and that was do the daughter and son in law have any legal entitlement to the house...

How do you know what is going on behind the scenes??

j x

[chas2008]

thanks again happyjo..

hes making assumptions again, whos mentioned anything about my daughter moaning ??? , where did that come from ? and who asked for opinions on my daughters private life ? certainly not me...and who said they have not got any savings? cant see that mentioned anywhere...

not a SUN reporter are you ?..

must make a note to read Stonekickers answers to ABs , post,s they are obviously based on fact !!

[voltr4m4x]

R1 is correct up to a point...however, it appears from what you say that your daughter and her husband may have "squatter's rights" since they have been allowed to remain in the property without payment of rent for the past ten years. They would be well advised to visit their local Citizens' Advice Bureau or Law Centre (their advice is free), and, since it would also seem they cannot legally be evicted from the property (because there exists no tenancy agreement) they may well find they may be on to a winner.