Abandoned Marital Home - bills

[plainNamedDad44]

Hi Community,

As some of you know I have moved to Toronto (near my children). Which means the marital home is now vacant.

STBX is refusing to provide consent at this time to sell. So I am looking at bringing a motion forward to do so.

In the meantime, I have been paying its bills, my rent and child support. I am also tired of eating cat food. (Joke).

Should I just stop paying the bills? Let things slip into arrears? Whose on the hook ? Both of us right ? I see that as better than me footing the bill entirely.

Thanks

[Janibel]

Well, if your wanting to get the house sold, letting it go to pot would not be a good idea. Could you not rent it in the meantime?
Whatever $$ you put towards the home's upkeep, will be reimbursed to you once the house is sold (keep all your documents).

You should both be on the hook for repairs and maintenance. If Ex is not keeping up her share of the expenses, you are going to need a motion for that as well as a consent order for the sale.

[blinkandimgone]

The only thing you accomplish that way is damaging your credit. If the bills are in your name you are on the hook, not her. Any debts you incur post separation are yours alone.

File a motion for the sale of the home.

[North of 40]

I agree with above.

My ex did the same ... paid zero. I also could have not paid a thing as her name was on the bills as w..ell.. but my credit would have been screwed for years.

Thought about it but the lady at the bank said I would have trouble getting any financing in the future.

Agreed..on the motion to sell.

[mcdreamy]

Can you clarify what bills are you currently paying? You can, at least, cancel the realty tax payments for the interim. Whose names are registered on title?

I hope you have considered your insurance requirements before the decision was made to vacate the home - I suspect you have now voided the policy if you haven't approached them and paid for a vacant home policy ($$$$$). Can you rent it out quick, at less than market if necessary? [and not that I wouldn't have made the identical decision as you and moved to the kids' location in a heart beat]

[plainNamedDad44]

Can you clarify what bills are you currently paying? You can, at least, cancel the realty tax payments for the interim. Whose names are registered on title?

I am paying: heat (house winterized now so not bad), hydro, insurance and property tax.

I hope you have considered your insurance requirements before the decision was made to vacate the home - I suspect you have now voided the policy if you haven't approached them and paid for a vacant home policy ($$$$$). Can you rent it out quick, at less than market if necessary? [and not that I wouldn't have made the identical decision as you and moved to the kids' location in a heart beat]

I did speak to the insurance company.

[mcdreamy]

and whom is on title, just one, or both? It can change the date of division of the mat home.

[plainNamedDad44]

and whom is on title, just one, or both? It can change the date of division of the mat home.

both of us.

[mcdreamy]

As it is in both names, it will remain a joint asset until disposition. Unfortunately, that likely means whomever pays the bills won't be compensated unless you really push on sale for reimbursement.

You can stop the realty taxes immediately, that won't affect your credit rating. Allow them to accrue until the sale.

If you've winterized the house to limit the heat/hydro, I'm afraid you need to keep those relatively under control - UNLESS you are in a district that permits utilities to be attached to your realty bill. You can PM me your location and I can check -- but for instance, in my location, our utility bills are governed municipally and if I don't pay water, gas, utilities, it attaches to my tax roll - but I'm not shut down from service.

In fact, my municipality has an arrears management program, where you can defer utility/gas payments until the house is sold - you should check into this to see if you can qualify.