Moving in with a new partner is an exciting step, but introducing them into your children’s lives can sometimes be challenging. Everyone will react differently, and you may also need to navigate your relationship with your child’s other parent.

Planning ahead and being prepared can make the transition smoother for everyone. Our tips will help you manage some of the practical aspects of moving in together.

Helping your family adjust

Your new living arrangements

Your rights

Changing finances

Making a living together agreement

Once you and your new partner have decided to move in together, it’s important to have an open conversation with your children. They’ll likely want to understand what this change means and how things might be different. They’ll need time to get used to having a step-parent, and your partner will want to feel like a part of the family too.

Family Lives, a charity dedicated to supporting families, offers some helpful guidance for new stepfamilies:

• What to think about when you become a stepfamily
• How to build a good relationship with stepchildren
• Things to consider for stepfamilies moving in together

If you or your children are struggling to adjust, help is out there. You could try family counselling through Relate to talk openly about your feelings and move forward together.

 There’s no set amount of time you need to be together before moving in but it’s helpful to think about how much you share your lives, why you want to live together, and how your children might feel about having a new adult in the house. With the increased cost of living and higher rent prices, it can be tempting to move in with your partner to save money but it’s important to be sure you’re ready for that step.

Consider whether your new partner will move in with you, if you’ll move in with them, or if you’ll find a new place together. It’s important to think about how much space you need, what you can afford, how your children might feel about the move, and whether they can stay in the same school.

It’s also important to think about what rights you’ll have around things like finances, property and children if you live together.

If you’re renting, your housing rights will depend on the type of tenancy you or your partner has and who is on the tenancy agreement. If you move into a home your partner owns or buy a place together, your rights and responsibilities will depend on whether you’re on the title deeds. Whether you rent or own your home, your housing rights are stronger if you’re married or in a civil partnership. 

Advicenow has lots of information for couples moving in together, including details about your rights when living together.

Moving in with a new partner will also bring changes to your finances, and that can get a bit tricky.

It’s important to talk about how you’re going to divide your finances. You might want to discuss:

• How you’ll share the rent or mortgage, bills, and other expenses.
• Whether you’ll set up a joint account or keep your finances separate. One option is to have a joint account for shared bills but keep the rest of your money separate.
• Any debts you have, and how that will impact how you split costs.
• Your different attitudes to money. It’s normal for one person to be a spender and the other a saver, but it’s essential to talk things through and agree on a budget for each month.

MoneyHelper offers tips on how to talk to your partner about money.

You might want to consider creating a living together agreement (also called a cohabitation agreement). This document outlines what you and your partner own and share, helping you plan your finances. If things don’t work out, it can make untangling your situation easier.

While it might feel unromantic, it can protect both of you in the long run. It’s not legally binding unless you have it drafted by a solicitor, but courts generally follow it if it’s fair. Advicenow offers a guide to making a living together agreement, along with a template for what to include.