Orla had no idea...
"I'd been with my partner Gareth for 9 years when he sat me down and told me it was over. He said his 'feelings had changed'. Later that evening, he told me that he understood it would take a couple of weeks, but that I should start looking for a flat right away.I was dumbfounded - less than 3 hours earlier he'd dumped me, and now he was making me homeless too! I told him that he couldn't do that!I had as much right to be there as he did. We'd been living together for years. I thought that meant I was his common-law wife and I had rights. He couldn't just kick me out! But I was wrong.
When we moved in we had put the tenancy in Gareth's name. The stupid thing is it was my suggestion, someone at work had told me it was easier if the tenancy was in one name. But apparently that means that he has the right to stay and I have to go. It doesn't matter that we've lived together for 9 years, it counts for nothing!"
Don't get caught out!
It may not be romantic but it is vital that you know your rights when it comes to your housing. Whether you're thinking of moving in or have already lived with your partner for years, make sure you know where you stand!
Our Housing guide shows you exactly what rights you have no matter what your situation, and what you can do to maximise them and ensure your partner (and children if you have any) will still have a roof over their head if anything happens to you. Download our 
Housing guide (350 KB).
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