A woman has won a High Court battle against her 85-year-old mother over ownership of a £3 million Chelsea home. Beverley Lindsay, 53, said she hopes to restore peace with her mother, Diana Lindsay, after the court ruled in her favour.
Judge Patrick McCahill rejected the mother's claim that she had a beneficial interest in the property, Crawford Lodge, which was bought in 1991. Diana Lindsay had contributed £256,554 of the purchase price, with her daughter paying £19,000, but the house was registered solely in Beverley's name.
Diana Lindsay argued that her contribution was not a loan but established a 'constructive trust', giving her a 93 per cent stake. She said she wanted to protect her daughter from her new husband, tax inspector Michael Palmer, 64. However, the judge ruled that the money was a loan, with £101,000 still outstanding.
Beverley Lindsay described the three-year legal battle as 'very difficult, hurtful and distressing'. She said: 'We are hopeful relations with my mother will be restored at some point. It is very sad. We used to be so close.'
The judge noted that the relationship had previously been loving, with the parents helping their only child onto the property ladder. He said: 'This was a case of comparatively wealthy parents seeking to help their only child on to the property ladder, not by giving her cash but letting her borrow the purchase price.'
