Is there something wrong with the system?

Is there something wrong with the system?

Furniture under the veranda

Last week a family was thrown out of their flat at Saint Louis by Mortgage Finance Company Ltd. The family which has two girls was also advised to go and live with the woman’s ex-concubine. Apparently the relationship between the man, who is also the father of the girls, and the woman had broken down over 10 years ago. Although the name of the woman was still on the title deed as owner of half share of the property, the man had then went on to pay the outstanding loan with MFCL on his own. The woman who was living with another man with her two daughters unloaded all her furniture, personal effects, fixtures and fittings on the verandah at her ex-concubine’s house.

She insisted that she had nowhere to go and that she is going to live in the same house with her ex-concubine together with her present boyfriend and two daughters. The man strongly objected and called the police for assistance. The police officers who attended the scene showed great professionalism and were extremely patient with the woman who was adamant that she is going to live with her ex-concubine in the same house as she was still owner of half share of the property on paper.

The police then threatened the woman and told her if she does not leave the place they would have no option but to arrest and detain her. The threat of arrest and detention finally paid off and the woman eventually left. However, many couples are experiencing the same problems as this family since MFCL insists that both the names of the parties are put on the title deed at the time of sale. When the relationship breaks up it is then difficult to resolve the dispute as the parties claim that they own the property jointly. These disputes eventually find its way into the Courts where they protract causing misery, distress and mental anguish to the parties concerned.