Relationship breakdown

This content applies to England only.

Housing laws vary between England and Scotland. This page applies to England only. Get advice relating to Scotland

This section is designed to help you work out the options and rights you have to your home if you split up from your partner.

It doesn't cover divorce proceedings (see the Adviceguide website for information), but there is some information about welfare benefits and other rights if you have dependent children.

If you are experiencing violence or abusive behaviour, you may have more options open to you. If you are unsure about anything, use our Advice Services Directory to find a local advice centre, or use the Community Legal Advice Directory to find a local solicitor specialising in family law.

Short-term issues

When you first split up with someone, you will have to decide whether you want to stay in the home or find somewhere else. What you are able to do will depend on whether you have anywhere else to stay, your rights to the home, and your financial situation. Read more 

Rights to the home

Whether you decide to stay in the home will depend partly on what rights you have to it. Your rights differ according to whether you are a joint or sole tenant, and your relationship status. Read more 

Rights to return to the home

If you want to stay in or return to the home, you should think about protecting any interests you might have in it. What you can do depends on what rights you have to the home. Read more 

Occupation orders

This page is a guide to how the courts might be able to decide what happens to the home in the short-term. The orders it can make will depend on your rights and individual circumstances. Read more 

Options for homeowners

These pages explain the long-term solutions available when one or both partners own the home. The options you have when you're splitting up with a partner will be based on the rights you both have to your home, and other issues such as finances and whether you have children. Read more 

Options for tenants

These pages explain how to resolve what happens to your rented home in the long-term, following the breakdown of a relationship. Read more