Moving your partner into your rented home
Your partner can move into your tenancy if your tenancy agreement allows it.
Tell your landlord they're moving in. You’ll need your landlord's permission if you want to add them to the tenancy agreement.
Before your partner moves in, discuss how you'll split rent and bills, and check if it will affect any benefits you get.
Check our advice on your housing rights if you break up or experience domestic abuse.
Check your tenancy agreement
Your tenancy agreement should say:
who is allowed to live with you in the property
if you need permission for someone to move in
If the tenancy agreement does not say, your partner can usually move in as long as it will not cause overcrowding.
Tell your landlord your partner is moving in
It’s important to tell them in writing so that both of your rights are protected.
Use our letter template to notify your landlord.
If you rent from the council or a housing association, they may ask you to fill in a form to declare that your partner is moving in.
Letter template: tell your landlord that your partner is moving in
Subject: Notice of new resident at <your address>
To <your landlord, letting agent, council or housing association>
I’m writing to tell you that my partner <name> will start living with me at <your address> on <date>. This will be their <main home / only home> from this date.
<Name> has given me consent to provide you with their contact information, which is <your partner's phone number or email address>.
Please respond in writing to confirm you have received this.
Thank you,
<your first and last name>
<contact number>
You can also send the letter as an email attachment or through the post:
If you’re married or in a civil partnership
Your partner will have rights in the home after they move in, even if they're not on the tenancy agreement:
you cannot end the tenancy without their permission, unless you apply for a court order
they can take on responsibilities related to the tenancy, like paying rent and reporting repairs
they can take over the tenancy if you die
These rights apply to most types of tenancy, as long as the landlord knows that your partner lives there.
If you're not married or in a civil partnership, your partner usually will not have rights to stay in the home, unless they apply for a court order.
Check how living together affects your costs
Talk to your partner about how you'll split rent and bills before they move in.
Rent and bills
If your partner is not on the tenancy agreement, they're not legally responsible for paying any rent. They can agree to contribute, but if they stop paying, you'll need to cover the full amount.
You're responsible for paying household bills if your name is on the bill. Your partner could agree to put some bills in their name.
Council tax
Tell the council tax department your partner is moving in. You'll only be eligible for a single person discount if your partner is exempt, for example if they're a full-time student. Check our advice on council tax reductions and discounts.
Otherwise, you'll both be equally responsible for paying the council tax. This means if one of you stops paying, the other will have to pay the full amount.
If you get any benefits
Living together usually changes the amount of benefits you get. To check how your benefits will be affected:
Tell the DWP or the council when your partner moves in to make sure you're getting the right benefits.
Adding your partner to your tenancy agreement
If you're both on the tenancy agreement, it's called a joint tenancy. You'll both have an equal right to stay there, and you're both responsible for the full rent. This means if one of you stops paying, the other will have to pay the full amount.
You need your landlord’s permission to add your partner to the tenancy agreement. The rules depend on your tenancy type.
Council or housing association tenancies
Your partner can become a joint tenant after they’ve lived with you for 12 months. The 12 months only starts from when you told the council or housing association that they were living there.
Write to the council or housing association and ask them to add your partner to the tenancy. They can only refuse if they have a good reason.
If you become joint tenants, either of you can end your part of the tenancy with 4 weeks’ notice in writing. This does not affect the other person’s right to stay in the home.
Private tenancies
You can ask your landlord or letting agency to add your partner to the tenancy at any time.
This will usually mean that you start a new private residential tenancy. You can negotiate with your landlord on the terms of the new tenancy.
If you become joint tenants, neither of you can end the tenancy without the other’s permission.
If one of you wants to move out and the other wants to stay, you’ll need your landlord’s permission to pass the tenancy to the other person. This is called assigning the tenancy.
If you move out without ending or assigning the tenancy, you'll still be responsible for paying the rent.
Check our advice on ending a tenancy.
Last updated: 28 November 2024
Housing laws differ between Scotland and England.
This content applies to Scotland only.