What happens if your relationship breaks down?
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 citizen’s advice Adviceguide for detailed information.
If you are experiencing violence or abusive behaviour, see our pages on domestic abuse or ring the LiveFearFree helpline on 0808 8010 800 – a free, confidential 24hour helpline run by Welsh Women’s Aid, 7 days a week.
For information on counselling and mediation, see our pages about avoiding homelessness – mediation, counselling and support.
If you are unsure about anything, contact a solicitor specialising in family law. Alternatively, call Shelter Cymru’s expert housing advice helpline on 0345 075 5005. You could also email our housing advice team, or, if you prefer, visit advice near you to find a local Shelter Cymru advice surgery where you can talk to someone in person. In some areas you may also be able to speak to our Shelter Cymru Live advisers online, by live chat and by webcam.
Other pages in families and relationships
Civil partnerships
Relationship breakdown
Living with family
Renting long term solutions
Home ownership long term solutions
Domestic abuse
Death in the household
Phone an adviser
If you have a housing problem, call our expert housing advice helpline
0345 075 5005
Email an adviser
If you have a non-urgent problem and would like to speak to an advisor
email us
Things to think about
This page will help you think about some of the decisions you’ll have to make when you split up with a partner
Staying in the home
You can only stay in the home if you have a legal right to do so. Your legal rights depend on your relationship status
Rights to the home
Your rights differ according to whether you are a joint or sole tenant/owner, and your relationship status
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
Occupation orders
If you want the right to return to, stay in or exclude someone else from the home, you may be able to apply to court for an occupation order.
Leaving the home
If you’re thinking about leaving your home, it’s important to work out where you’re going first and also whether you need to protect your interest in your home in case you wish to return.
We are sorry that we cannot provide this information in Welsh, however if you would like to speak to an adviser in Welsh please contact 0345 075 5005.
This page was last updated on: June 3, 2017
Shelter Cymru acknowledges the support of Shelter in allowing us to adapt their content. The information contained on this site is updated and maintained by Shelter Cymru and only gives general guidance on the law in Wales. It should not be regarded or relied upon as a complete or authoritative statement of the law.
