Nine Million Brits Trapped With Their Ex

·         Four months is the average amount of time spent living under the same roof as an ex-partner

·         More than 20 million household items damaged in the wake of a breakup

·         These ‘accidents’ do not come cheap, costing £4.5 billion across the country

·         Over two million people believe their partner stole an item from them when they eventually moved out

New research1 from Direct Line Home Insurance reveals nine million Brits have had to continue living with an ex-partner following a breakup. On average, ex-partners must stay living together for four months before they can afford to, or are contractually able to, move to a new home. However, one in 10 (one million) have continued living with their ex for over ten months. One in 25 people who have broken up with their partner (four per cent, or 340,000 people2) are still living with their ex, prohibited from being able to afford to move out as mortgage and rental payments are often based on two incomes. 

Those in their late 30s and 40s are most likely to be trapped living with their ex, with four million people being forced to live with an ex-partner after a relationship had ended, compared to 2.6 million (16 per cent) 18-34-year olds.

The leading cause for the delay in moving out after a relationship is the time it takes to organise somewhere else to live, cited by over a quarter (28 per cent) of individuals who have lived with their ex. Finance is another key problem for one in six (16 per cent) ex-couples, who said it was because neither partner could afford to buy the other out or because they couldn’t afford to live on their own (16 per cent). One in seven (13 per cent) stayed living together because they had children and thought it would be best for them to live within the family home.

However, even remaining living together can be costly especially when breakups are not amicable. Over two fifths (42 per cent) of those who lived with an ex, some 3.7 million people, said an item was broken in the time following the breakup. In total, more than 20 million household items in the UK have been damaged in the wake of a breakup.

Portable technology items such as iPads and laptops have taken the brunt of the damage, with more than 2.5 million items affected, followed by furniture (2.4 million items) and tableware such as plates, cups and bowls (2.4 million items). The item which receives the greatest amount of deliberate damage is furniture, which a fifth (20 per cent) of those who lived with an ex admitting to purposefully damaging.   

Table one: Number of items damaged while people remain living with an ex following a breakup

Item Percentage of people who said this item had been damaged while living with an ex Equivalent number of items damaged  Average cost of damage per incident 
portable technology e.g. iPad, laptop 29% 2.5 million £234
Tableware 28% 2.4 million £180
Games console  26% 2.3 million £236
Clothing  26% 2.3 million £220
Large electrical item (TV, lights, music systems etc.) 25% 2.2. million £238
Kitchen appliances  24% 2.1 million £240 
Accessories (handbag, wallet etc.) 21% 1.9 million £219
                                                          Overall Figure  20.7 million £4.5 billion.

These so-called accidents don’t come cheap, costing exes £218 on average to repair or replace the item, a total bill of £4.5 billion across the UK. The most expensive items to repair or replace are portable technology items and kitchen appliances, each costing £240 per item.

More than half (52 per cent) of adults who had an item damaged when living with an ex after breaking up suspected that their ex-partner stopped treating their property as carefully as they had done before. Living in this acrimonious environment seems to bring out the worst in people, as many believe their partner stole an item of theirs after the relationship ended. Over two million people (57 per cent) believe their partner stole an item of theirs when they moved out, while 42 per cent admitted that they stole something of their exes. 

Dan Simson, Head of Home Insurance at Direct Line, commented: “For many, it would be extremely difficult to carry on living with an ex after breaking up. Unfortunately, while people may have good intentions about keeping things amicable at home, it seems it is often not realistic and can result in an uncomfortable living environment.

“Both parties should try and continue treating the property with care and respect as if they also own the property, mistreating it could result in a lower value and if renting it, could result in a deposit not being returned. It’s worth checking what you are covered for in your contents insurance policy too, in case items are damaged or broken unintentionally*.”

- ENDS –

*We expect our customers to take due care and caution with their home and their belongings. It’s important to remember that your contents insurance won’t cover any loss or damage caused, or allowed to be caused, by a deliberate, wilful or malicious act by you or anyone who normally lives with you. Our accidental damage cover requires that the damage is sudden and unintentional, and happens unexpectedly, or it won’t be covered.  

Notes to Editors

1        Research conducted by Opinium among a nationally representative sample of 2,003 adults between 16th – 19th July 2019

2    This should be seen as indicative only due to small base sizes

For further information please contact:

Chelsey Wheeler
PR manager

Direct Line Group

Tel: 01651 832 095

Email: [email protected]

Samantha Stewart

Citigate Dewe Rogerson

[email protected]

0207 025 6497

Direct Line

Started in 1985, Direct Line became the first UK insurance company to use the telephone as its main channel of communication. It provides motor, home, travel and pet insurance cover direct to customers by phone or on-line.

Direct Line general insurance policies are underwritten by U K Insurance Limited, Registered office: The Wharf, Neville Street, Leeds LS1 4AZ. Registered in England and Wales No 1179980. U K Insurance Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.

Direct Line and UK Insurance limited are both part of Direct Line Insurance Group plc.

Customers can find out more about Direct Line products or get a quote by calling 0345 246 3761 or visiting www.directline.com/home-cover