Nobody plans for divorce when they buy a home together, but it is one of the most common reasons people need to restructure their mortgage. The emotional weight makes it harder to think clearly about the financial decisions, so it helps to understand the options before you need them.\n\nThe Core Problem — Both names are on the mortgage, and both are jointly and severally liable for the full debt. That means the lender can pursue either person for the entire balance, not just their half. Walking away does not remove your liability.\n\nOption 1: Sell the Property — The cleanest solution. Sell, repay the mortgage, split any equity according to your agreement or court order. Check for early repayment charges first, as these can run into thousands on a fixed-rate deal.\n\nOption 2: One Partner Buys Out the Other — The remaining partner remortgages into their sole name, raising enough to pay the departing partner their share of equity. This requires the remaining person to pass affordability on a single income. Some lenders are more flexible than others. Halifax and Nationwide are generally accommodating for transfer of equity cases.\n\nOption 3: Transfer of Equity Without Remortgage — If you are not changing the mortgage product, some lenders allow a transfer of equity where one person is simply removed from the title. The remaining borrower must still pass the lender's affordability assessment on their own.\n\nConsentOrder — A court order (Consent Order or Clean Break Order) is essential to formalise the financial split. Without it, your ex-partner could make future claims against the property. Solicitors typically charge 500 to 1,500 pounds for a Consent Order.\n\nProtecting Your Credit — Missed joint mortgage payments damage both credit files. If your ex stops contributing, you are still responsible. Contact the lender early if you anticipate difficulty. They have a duty to treat you fairly and may offer a temporary payment holiday or reduced payments.