Facts
- A husband left his wife for a mistress
- The wife redecorated their (ex) joint home, spending £230
- The husband wished to attain possession of the house, whilst the wife claimed that the house was hers by virtue of proprietary estoppel
Issue
- Could the husband be estopped from denying his wife a right to possession of the house?
Decision
- Yes, claim for possession failed
Reasoning
- The wife’s detrimental reliance (by decorating) helped establish an equity by way or proprietary estoppel
- Detrimental reliance need only be minimal
- The husband was forced to convey the house to his wife
- A court will not compel people to live together against their wishes
