Woman's Fight to Keep Land After Husband's Fatal Arson and Financial Abuse
Family life shattered for Francesca Onody on a late summer evening in 2022 when her abusive husband doused their cottage with petrol as police arrived to arrest him. She and her children escaped mere seconds before the building exploded, resulting in the death of her husband, Malcolm Baker.
That night, Onody lost not only her spouse but also her home, pets, and all her possessions. In a cruel twist, Baker had emptied their joint bank accounts and cancelled her mortgage protection and buildings insurance shortly before his death.
Financial Ruin and Repossession Threats
Three years later, Onody faced losing the little she had left. The mortgage lender, Halifax, announced plans to repossess the property to settle £35,000 in mortgage arrears and other charges accrued since Baker's death. This included the land around the ruins where she and her children had been living in a caravan since the fire.
"It feels like my world has once again imploded," she said when contacting Guardian Money in June last year. "I saw my home razed to the ground. I've scraped together to put a very basic roof over mine and my kids' heads, and now Halifax want to literally pull the ground out from under our feet."
This month, three-and-a-half years after the explosion, Onody, aged 53, finally paid off the mortgage and took possession of the land. Halifax halted proceedings after Guardian Money intervened, also cancelling interest and fees that had built up during her long legal battles to secure probate.
Legal and Financial Obstacles for Abuse Victims
Her ordeal highlights the severe legal and financial hurdles domestic abuse victims face long after a relationship ends. Since Baker's death, she has had to challenge his will, which left her with nothing, battle banks and insurers, and fund a barrister for his inquest.
Red tape at the Probate Office and Land Registry left her in legal limbo for months. At one point, she even faced potential blame for Baker's death when the Home Office commissioned a domestic homicide review to assess if he was the abuse victim. The Home Office later apologised, acknowledging in a letter that Baker was the perpetrator and the investigation had "continued the dynamics of abuse" she endured during their 18-year marriage.
"My husband's campaign of financial and domestic abuse was strategically planned to continue after his death, and the subsequent lack of recognition and support from organisations has inflicted further years of fear on me," she says.
Escalating Abuse and Tragic Finale
Onody's nightmare began years before the explosion. Baker, a former Metropolitan police superintendent, became mentally unstable after retiring in 2011, his inquest heard, and was a heavy drinker. Matters escalated when she demanded a divorce.
"He became more vindictive, threatening to ruin mine and my kids' lives," she says. "On one occasion he left a dead rabbit in my bed. We lived in a constant state of anxiety, wondering whether in a drunken stupor or one of his rages he might destroy our house around us while we slept."
Baker began stockpiling petrol canisters in the home, leading to frequent police calls as his behaviour grew more threatening. On his final night, she dialled 999 after a confrontation. Baker barricaded himself upstairs when officers arrived, and as petrol streamed through the ceiling, police evacuated the house just before it caught fire and exploded, with Baker unable to be saved.
Struggles with Mortgage and Legal Battles
Onody and her children moved into a caravan beside the ruins, lacking heating or piped water. Since the property deeds and mortgage were in Baker's sole name, she couldn't sell the land or rebuild. It took 28 months to contest his will under the Inheritance Act and be appointed as personal representative of the estate.
During this time, she wasn't authorised to discuss the mortgage with Halifax due to probate issues. Upon taking over the estate in February 2025, she discovered £34,700 in arrears and legal fees had built up, with a repossession order issued.
Halifax initially agreed to let her remortgage in her name to sell the land but withdrew the offer last June, threatening repossession unless she paid the debt within two months. At this point, Onody contacted the Guardian for help.
"I am being punished for my husband's actions, with Halifax now acting in his place as financial controller and abuser," she said in an impact statement. "If I had a mortgage in my name and lodged with Land Registry, I would be able to move forward with my plan to sell the land, pay off all debts and build us a home and a secure, fear-free future."
Resolution and Future Hopes
Halifax suspended the repossession order after Guardian Money questioned its handling, agreeing to transfer the mortgage into her name once deeds were amended. The bank admitted a staff error in a mortgage application last February and paid her £500 as an apology.
A Halifax spokesperson said: "We truly sympathise with Ms Onody and understand how incredibly difficult this has been. Since she wasn't the mortgage holder and wasn't named in probate, we faced legal limitations early on. Despite this, we tried to be as flexible as possible." The bank paused legal action multiple times, provided financial support, and removed all interest and charges since Baker's death.
The Land Registry expedited the transfer of deeds when contacted. Onody became legal owner in November and paid off the mortgage this month. She now hopes to sell the land and buy a property elsewhere to rebuild a life with her children.
"It's been a really tough time for years," she says, "but I'm ever-optimistic that there can be some degree of happy ending."
Broader Implications and Regulatory Context
The Financial Conduct Authority introduced new rules in 2023 to force financial firms to improve support for vulnerable customers. The Consumer Duty requires companies to act flexibly, but according to charity Surviving Economic Abuse, victims like Onody are still being failed.
"This story is a heartbreaking but sadly all-too-common reflection of the devastating harm caused by economic abusers," says chief executive Sam Smethers. "Perpetrators will use any tool at their disposal – from insurance products to joint mortgages – to maintain control and cause earth-shattering harm. Financial services have made progress, but there's still a long way to go."
