Five years ago I set up home with my boyfriend and we got a mortgage in both our names. I made the repayments and he paid the bills. A couple of months ago we split up and I moved out. He’s now moved his new girlfriend into the house and changed the locks. Am I entitled to anything?
If you own the property jointly as joint tenants, which is the most common form of joint ownership, you will be entitled to half the equity. The fact that the locks have been changed does not affect your ownership rights (nor your liability to pay the mortgage even though you are not in occupation). The other point to bear in mind is that, if you or your ex-boyfriend were to die, the property would pass automatically to the survivor. Get legal advice urgently.