Cohabiting couples entitled to property rights

UNMARRIED cohabiting couples may now apply for maintenance, property, pension or inheritance rights if the relationship ends, under new civil partnership laws.

The changes under the Civil Partnership & Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 were outlined by Treoir, the National Federation of Services for Unmarried Parents and their children.

In order to qualify they must have been living together for five years, or two years if they have a child together.