Unmarried couples who have chosen to live together could have to split their property 50/50 when they break up, under plans being put forward by MPs.
MPs want 3.4 million cohabiting couples to have the same financial rights as those who are married, reports The Mirror.
At present if people just live together - with no marriage or civil partnership - one person could end up with nothing when the relationship ends.
MPs on the Commons Women and Equalities Committee are looking into what legal mechanisms are needed to treat cohabiting couples the same as married ones.
Chair Caroline Nokes told the Sunday Mirror: “It is surprising they do not share the same legal rights as others given that cohabitation is now the fastest growing family unit.”
The MPs are looking at what regulations are in place for similar situations around the world.
At the minute in the UK if people living together break up all the money goes to one person if the home is in their sole name. And a cohabiting partner has no right to the lease of private or social rented homes if the other leaves or dies unless it is in both names, and no claim on the other’s pension.
When married couples divorce the needs of children take priority so their main carer may get more.
Juliet Harvey of campaign group Resolution said: “This is not to diminish the status of marriage, but to provide some legal rights to the millions of people currently cohabiting, many of whom incorrectly believe that they enjoy a mythical ‘common-law marriage’ status.”
One in five couples live together without getting hitched or being in civil partnerships.
