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TOLATA claims often arise when a relationship between individuals breaks down and they disagree about the ownership of a property. This can be unmarried couples, family members, friends or romantic relationships.
If parties disagree about their rights in a shared home, it could be where one partner is the sole legal owner. The non-owner may bring a claim saying there was a common intention to share ownership or they made contributions (like to the deposit or mortgage), giving them a beneficial interest. Where there are two or more parties, it may be that there is a disagreement over the percentage of ownership for each party. When parties can’t agree, one partner applies to court under TOLATA to decide ownership or force a sale.
TOLATA is a shortening of the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996. This is a statutory law that deals with disputes about property ownership. People typically make TOLATA claims to :-
Find out what share of a property they own
Force the sale of a property when co-owners disagree
Determine who can live in a property
Get back money they've put into a property
Establish rights to a property when their name isn't on the deeds
TOLATA may be important for :-
Unmarried Couples - if you've lived with a partner but aren't married, and you separate with disagreements about property ownership, TOLATA helps determine your rights.
Joint Homeowners - if you own property with someone else and disagree about selling it or who can live there, TOLATA applies to your situation.
Family Members - if you've helped a family member buy property (like parents helping children or siblings buying together), TOLATA can protect your interests.
Friends or Business Partners - if you've bought property with friends or for a business venture and now have a dispute, TOLATA provides a way to resolve it.
There are several ways you might have rights to a property, even if your name isn't on the deeds:
Written Agreements - if you have a formal document (like a Declaration of Trust) that shows what share of the property you own, this is usually the strongest evidence.
Financial Contributions - if you paid money toward buying the property but aren't named as an owner, you might still have rights to it. For example, if you contributed to the deposit or mortgage payments, the court may recognise your interest in the property.
Shared Understanding - sometimes there's no written agreement, but both parties understood that you would have some ownership rights. This can be shown through conversations you had about sharing ownership, actions like paying for renovations or splitting bills and/or other behaviours that suggest you both saw it as a shared property
Before Going to Court - going to court should be your last resort. First gather evidence of what you've contributed (payments, improvements, etc.), write to the other person explaining your position and what you want, consider mediation and get legal advice about the strength of your case
Court Application Process - if you can't reach an agreement through mediation or negotiation you will need to start a claim, there will then be an initial court hearing, where directions are given for the parties to share relevant documents with each other, provide written statements from witnesses and if needed, get expert reports (like property valuations). Property disputes can take time to resolve, and if the case goes all the way to trial this could take between 9-24 months.
If you want the property sold, you need to explain:
Why selling is necessary for you to get your fair share
How you've tried to find alternative solutions
Why your need to sell outweighs reasons to keep the property
The court has several powers in TOLATA cases and can:
Declare exactly who owns what share of the property
Order the property to be sold and proceeds be distributed in particular way
Decide who can live in the property
When making decisions, the court considers:
What you both intended when buying or investing in the property
Why the property was purchased
The welfare of any children under 18 living there
If someone ignores the court's orders, enforcement action can be taken and someone else might be appointed to handle necessary paperwork.
If children live in the home, their welfare will almost certainly impact how the court exercises its powers, especially if one parent asks to delay a sale and continue living in the property. In such cases, the court may consider Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989 alongside TOLATA, allowing a parent to stay in the home for the child’s benefit, even if they don’t own it.
Costs - TOLATA claims can be expensive. The losing party usually pays most of the winner's legal costs. If you refuse to try mediation, you might face cost penalties.
Evidence Problems - it can be difficult to prove your case if you don't have written documents about property ownership or your agreement was only verbal and is now disputed or you can't find records of old payments or contributions and/or you need to prove exactly what percentage you should own
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