Will my daughter's boyfriend have a claim on her house?

Q My daughter is about to ask her boyfriend to move into her new home with her and of course all the bills will be jointly paid. She tells me that his name will not be added on the deeds of the property but I said she should check with her solicitor to make sure that he has no claim over the property should they split up later. I am worried for her but I think as they will be cohabiting he will have a claim as paying the bills is the same as paying a mortgage. CB A The fact that your daughter and her boyfriend will be cohabiting doesn't give him a claim over your daughter's property. However, you are right to be worried that his making a financial contribution to the home could mean that he could claim to have gained an interest in the property, even if this wasn't your daughter's intention. As it is not your daughter's intention to pass an interest in the property to her boyfriend, it would make a lot of sense for her to put this in writing or to ask her boyfriend to sign a declaration accepting that he will acquire no interest in the property even though he is contributing to the bills. Without a written agreement, your daughter could potentially face a legal dispute to sort out rights in her property were she and her boyfriend to split up. Contact Virginia at [email protected]