Marry in haste, repent at leisure as the saying goes. But if you think cohabiting is any less risky than marriage, think again. High rents, big house prices and now a pandemic are driving more lovers to live together than ever. But sharing a home without the legal protection of marriage or civil partnership can be a tricky affair.
Its definitely a higher priority to get the house before the wedding, says financial planner Daniel Hardiman. I generally see it for individuals in their early 30s who have found that rent is so expensive. Or you might see people in their 40s if there is a separation. Id say 90 per cent of them are unaware of the tax implications of cohabiting. Indeed, where the couple breaks up or if one party dies, the financial fallout can be a disaster.