{"id":11314,"date":"2024-09-15T06:57:48","date_gmt":"2024-09-15T06:57:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.godj.com\/news\/my-abuser-used-our-joint-mortgage-against-me\/"},"modified":"2024-09-15T06:57:48","modified_gmt":"2024-09-15T06:57:48","slug":"my-abuser-used-our-joint-mortgage-against-me","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.godj.com\/news\/my-abuser-used-our-joint-mortgage-against-me\/","title":{"rendered":"‘My abuser used our joint mortgage against me’"},"content":{"rendered":"


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\"GettyGetty Images<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Economic abuse can take many forms (picture posed by a model)<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
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More than a decade after leaving her abusive ex-husband, Lauren is still trapped in their joint mortgage.<\/p>\n

Her ex stopped making repayments, blocked attempts to sell or remortgage the property and withheld child maintenance.<\/p>\n

Lauren, not her real name, told the BBC she and her children were left penniless.<\/p>\n

It comes as a charity warns domestic abusers are using joint mortgages as a weapon. Meanwhile, the banking industry is working to break the cycle of economic abuse.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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A survey, published on Wednesday, of 1,000 women who held a joint mortgage in the last two years by charity Surviving Economic Abuse found one in eight experienced joint mortgage abuse.<\/p>\n

The majority of those surveyed said the cost of living made their situation worse and the joint mortgage prevented them leaving their unsafe living arrangement.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

‘Sickening’<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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Lauren told the BBC: \u201c[The abuse] started with name-calling shortly after we moved in together then, after the birth of my oldest child, things turned physical.”<\/p>\n

Shortly after giving birth to their child, Lauren’s ex-husband tried to rape her and, on another occasion, he broke her wrist. <\/p>\n

After he violently assaulted one of her children, Lauren decided to leave.<\/p>\n

Throughout their marriage, her ex-husband had also exerted control over their family finances.<\/p>\n

Economic abuse, which is recognised in the Domestic Violence Act, is estimated to occur in 95% of domestic abuse.<\/p>\n

And for many people like Lauren, it can continue long after a victim escapes their home.<\/p>\n

Despite Lauren being awarded the house in the divorce, her abuser remains on their joint mortgage, and she told the BBC her ex had blocked attempts to sell and remortgage the property and racked up huge debts in their name. <\/p>\n

It could have been different had Lauren been able to quickly sell the family home.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s sickening. The sale of the house would have given us a secure and fresh start,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"GettyGetty Images<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

A survey of 1,000 women who held a joint mortgage in the last two years found one in eight experienced joint mortgage abuse.<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
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Joint mortgages make buying a property easier, allowing people to borrow more money than on their own. <\/p>\n

However, a joint mortgage can cause economic devastation if someone refuses to pay their agreed share, agree to new terms, or sell up. An abuser can continue to exert financial control.<\/p>\n

A survey, published on Wednesday, of 1,000 women who held a joint mortgage in the last two years by charity Surviving Economic Abuse (SEA) found one in eight experienced joint mortgage abuse.<\/p>\n

The majority of those surveyed said the cost of living made their situation worse and the joint mortgage prevented them leaving their unsafe living arrangement.<\/p>\n

The charity is calling on ministers to set up an urgent cross-government task force alongside the banking trade body, UK Finance, to better handle cases of mortgage-based abuse.<\/p>\n

\u201cPerpetrators can use joint liability to cause a lot of economic harm,\u201d said Deirdre Cartwright, public affairs and policy manager at SEA.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Tackling<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

How to protect yourself<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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Financial analyst Sarah Coles, from Hargreaves Lansdown, says anyone can become a victim. Her advice includes:<\/p>\n