Even up rights

Now that cohabiting couples are the nation’s fastest-growing type of family unit, it is timely to review the rights and responsibilities that living partnered-up with another person entails. Because the fact is, there are no rights.

The concept of common-law marriage is a myth. Too few people know that.

So we applaud the inquiry by the Commons Women and Equalities Committee into the legal changes needed if cohabiting is to be brought into line with marriage and civil partnership.

But we accept MPs are about to step into a legal minefield. Married couples enjoy 50-50 claims on property the instant they say “I do”.

There is no such landmark moment when two people just start living together.

The Law Commission recommends that couples should only have similar rights once they have been living together for five years – or just two if they have children together.

And that is as good a point as any for MPs should start their deliberations from.