Ruling on cohabitees' property rights
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Unmarried couples who buy a home together face heavy legal bills and years of uncertainty over ownership if they later split up, lawyers warned yesterday. Patricia Jones, 56, won an appeal at the Supreme Court against an earlier ruling that had given her partner, Leonard Kernott, 51, the right to half of the Essex bungalow they bought in 1985 – despite his having left 18 years ago and not contributed to the mortgage since.
After a three-year legal battle, Ms Jones was awarded 90 per cent of the house she had bought with Mr Kernott. Solicitors said the time and money it had cost both parties proved the need to reform the law on how home ownership disputes are settled outside marriage.
The pair bought the bungalow in Thundersley under joint names and with a joint mortgage for £30,000, with a £6,000 deposit provided by Ms Jones. But Mr Kernott moved out in 1993 when their relationship ended, leaving Ms Jones to pay the rest of the mortgage and most of the costs of raising their two children.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments