What do you think about proposed rights for cohabiting couples?

[CheekyPombear]

Recently I have read that the government is going to give rights to couples that live together equal rights that only married people usually have.

The proposals are if you live with someone who owns or inherits a property or money after 3 years if you split up or they die you can claim half or inherit.

That is insane. Even if your married for three years under current law its classed as short and you wouldnt get half.

There is a older gentlemen who lives with his disabled brother on my street.

Say his brother dies and he takes a younger lodger in and he dies that lodger could say she had a romantic relationship with him and claim the property?. If thats the case whats the point of making a will?.

Also there is no such thing as common law marriage thats why people who dont want to lose money or property if a relationship ends dont get married.

What does anyone else think about this?.

Where did you see about tax? Because I can only see that the consultation specifically is not including inheritance tax, and can’t see anything about the income tax marriage allowance.

it should be a ring on the finger only

Your sister’s shitty life choices don’t trump the autonomy of people who actively choose not to marry. This is a terrible idea.

I think the law fails at every turn to protect women from cocklodging and/or abusive men.

I used text box, the options were poor! In text I basically wrote disagree in principle - being financially tied/responsible for someone is available through marriage and shouldn’t be forced - will worsen housing crisis and birth rate - marriage already low - the one fix would be making prenups legally binding - so those who wanted to be married and protect their assets could be - no need for a grey area - get married or don’t -

I disagree with it.
You can get married or form a civil partnership if you went to make someone your next of kin.

It is a disaster, it’s rights away from cohabitating couples who have not married or entered a civil partnership on purpose due to lazy couples who don’t bother making legal changes to their relationship but want the benefits anyway.
Turning living together as a defacfo marriage and not allowing couples to remain as separate financial entities is dystopian and overreaching.

It's a terrible idea. The government needs to do a public information campaign about the lack of rights if you don't marry (including relying on only a religious marriage).

I'm married but we only chose to do that once we planned to have DC.

Shitty life choices? She’s being abused!

if you don’t want to get married don’t.

but don’t “play married” by living together!

It's very wrong. My DP has lived with me for 10 years - he's has proposed in the past and I've said no, purely for financial reasons. He lives in my house, owned outright, and pays half the utilities only (£50 pw). He has earned far more money than me over the years but didn't like the "risk" of a mortgage so bought a mobile home (which he still has). Why the hell should he be entitled to some of my house!! I understand it is different where children are involved but what about us oldies? I'm really hope an opt-out option will be offered where no children are involved.

Don’t be ridiculous. People are entitled to live together without wanting to legally entwine every aspect of their finances. Your sister’s partner sounds awful, why has she stayed with him for 20 odd years? Personal responsibility is a thing.

I think the government only want this bought in because as others have said religious marriage ceremonies are not legally binding in the UK.

Why should others put their homes or money at risk because some one else cant bother to stand in a register office for a few minutes. If you can do the religious bit you can do the legally binding part.

You need to get a cohabitation agreement or give him a rent book and make sure he signs it each month.

Jesus did you come straight out of Gilead? Couples are allowed to live together without being married, nor are they playing marriage.

Many religious ceremonies are legally binding.

I live for in a city with lots of Muslims. I'd say the majority of posters on the local women's FB group are Muslims and there's often confusion about the validity of a Muslim wedding ceremony in England.

I mean, I don’t think we should change longstanding UK laws because someone doesn’t understand them.

If this specific aspect wanted to be addressed there are much better and more direct options, Scotland and NI have much more liberal marriage laws for example. I don’t think turning cohabitation into a defacto marriage really addresses this specific concern.

Neither do I @Honeyhonayboo. I'm arguing for better education about lack of rights, including thinking that certain religious ceremonies give rights when they don't.

Scotland is part of the UK !!!

If you take in a lodger you would need to prove that they were paying you rent not just living there for free.

A man who lived next door to my parents took a lodger in when his dad died.

He was a lovely gentle man but no mug.

The lodger paid him in his hand but he made sure the lodger signed a rent book every month.

If i lived on my own and took a lodger i would insist on a BACS payment and get them to sign a exercise book monthly.

Nearly everything is card or bank transfer now except the salon i get my hair cut at.

I dont see rent books you can buy now.

Wilkos and Partners used to stock them very cheaply. I really miss Wilko, i think Rymans might have them

I know its part of the UK but they have different laws.

If I had lived in N Z and lived with a few different people from say 22 to 32 i would have had enough money to come back to the UK and buy a nice 2 bed apartment in Manchester city center.

We have civil partnerships if people want these nights but not marriage. It’s ridiculous. Not like we have real problems to address in this country.

Some partners who live together pay rent to the partner who owns the house. Unfortunately being able to prove the person you live with pays rent is not enough to prove you're not in a romantic relationship.

I don't hate it actually. I'm married but I know a few women who are in very long term relationships, with kids where they would like to get married and the man just won't. I know some will say they shouldn't have had kids or stayed with a man they weren't married to but the one's I know were always told next year, after this or that and often it wasn't a deliberate attempt to shirk responsibility from the man just a disinterest in sorting or paying for a wedding. It's probably only if the relationship breaks down or someone dies that it becomes an issue.

As with anything it will be good in some ways and bad in others, I suspect it is to try and prevent people being left homeless and destitute if cohabiting relationships fail leaving the state to pick up the bill. Perhaps it will make people think twice about moving in together or having kids without that commitment?

I do think you have a point, while I do see why other poster's oppose this and have valid reasons I also think it stands to benefit a lot of highly vulnerable women especially disabled women. Not every women has the agency and power than I or any of you might have over their lives.