The Supreme Court has now ruled in the 2010 case of Kernott v Jones in which the respective shares of a property bought by a couple who cohabited and then split up had to be decided.
The Court of Appeal had awarded Leonard Kernott 50 per cent of the value of the house in which he lived. The Supreme Court overturned that decision and instead awarded him 10 per cent.
The award means the amount he will recover from the sale of the property will be dwarfed by his legal costs.
If you are considering cohabiting with someone else or buying a property together, your legal rights can be protected by signing a simple legal agreement. Contact us for advice.