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Former partner seeks half share of ex-millionaire’s £6m Surrey home
Coral Read is seeking a half share of Woodlands House, a Surrey mansion valued at £6 million and owned solely by her former partner, 88-year-old millionaire Dennis Read. She says he repeatedly promised to look after her and that the house was hers; the dispute matters because the High Court must consider whether those promises and her contributions give her a beneficial ownership claim.
The couple began their relationship in the mid-1970s, had three children and lived together for about 45 years, but never married; they separated six years ago. Ms Read says she gave up a career and helped manage the home and its renovations, while also seeking £215,000 in personal injury damages over alleged abuse and coercive control, which Mr Read denies. He is counter-suing for £876,000, which he says was a loan to help their son pay off mortgages; Ms Read says the money was a gift and denies signing an enforceable loan agreement.
In short
- Coral Read claims half of her former partner’s £6 million mansion.
- She says promises and decades of contributions support her claim.
- Dennis Read denies her abuse allegations and seeks repayment of £876,000.
Explained simply
Coral and Dennis Read were partners for about 45 years and had three children, but they never married. They separated six years ago, after living together at Woodlands House in Surrey.
The house is legally in Dennis Read’s sole name. Coral Read says she gave up a career, helped with the home and its renovations, and was repeatedly promised that she would be looked after and that the house was hers.
The dispute raises questions about whether those promises and her contributions can give her a share of a home she does not legally own. The couple also disagree over allegations of abuse and coercive control, which Dennis Read denies, and whether money given to their son was a gift or a loan.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Millionaire, 88, locked in court fight with mother of his three children over their £6m mansion as she claims he vowed to ‘look after her forever’”.