Couples admit to moving in together sooner than planned
Many Brits are feeling forced to move in with their significant others sooner than anticipated, due to practicality rather than emotion, according to new research from Confused.com.
The findings from the leading price comparison site reveal that nearly half (49%) of couples admit that they moved in with their other half a lot sooner than they planned. However, it seems that everything might not be perfect behind closed doors, with love not always cited as the driving force behind couples choosing to live together. The research reveals that in fact, nearly a quarter (24%) of Brits felt forced to live with their other half.
The research highlights that couples are being pragmatic when it comes to reasons why they should live together - they appear to be thinking with their head, instead of their heart. With more than one in five (21%) people admitting to having moved in with their partner due to financial reasons.
And with the house prices rising, 7% of couples admitted that they moved in together as they couldn’t afford to buy separately, and nearly one in 10 (9%) said they wanted to save money to buy their own property. Some Brits (3%) even blamed peer pressure for choosing to live with their partners, as they admitted that all their friends were already living with their other halves.
Albeit for financial or emotional reasons, the findings highlight that 84% of Brits are currently living with their partner. Surprisingly, 6% of couples moved in together within the first month of being together.
However, it appears that young people are rushing in feet first and taking the decision to live together sooner rather than later. Brits aged 25-34 appear to be the most eager to buy a home with their other half, with nearly one in 10 (8%) young couples waiting less than six months before moving in together.
On average it typically takes 3.33 years for couples to buy a home together. However, the older generation seem to be bucking the trend and are a little more reluctant to take the property plunge. In fact, 13% of Brits over the age of 55 admitted that it took them over 10 years to buy a house with their significant other.
Gareth Lane, Head of Home Insurance at Confused.com says: “The research clearly shows that living together is a popular choice for many couples, with practicality seeming to be a key driving force behind the decision. Many people appear to be moving in with their partners sooner than they anticipated to help with the costs of living and future financial plans.
“If people do decide to live together they must think of all the financial implications. It is important to anyone who rents or buys a property to ensure they take out adequate home insurance cover.
“If a couple is living together they need to give a realistic evaluation of their belongings. Moving in together could provide a good opportunity for you and your partner to review what belongings you have, to ensure you are adequately covered by your home insurance, just in case the worst was to happen.”