My son is buying a house worth £170,000. His partner, who has a child from her previous marriage, doesn’t work and is not paying anything towards the mortgage or bills. Would she have any claim on the property if they were to separate?
The girlfriend would have to be able to convince a court either that she and your son bought the house together and that there was an intention to share ownership, or that she had done something to her detriment – such as giving up her secure accommodation relying upon a promise that she would have a share in the house. Alternatively if her child becomes a “child of the family” she could seek a home for it until it had ceased to be dependent. There are risks involved for your son, but his obligations would be greater if the couple married.