Money expert Martin Lewis has warned unmarried couples living together that they could be kicked out of their home if they do not have a will. Speaking on his BBC podcast, Lewis explained that under UK law, unmarried partners have no automatic inheritance rights, regardless of how long they have been together.
Lewis stated: “For unmarried couples… in law it basically means diddly squat. You may have been together for decades, everybody may know you’re a couple, you may have 35 children, in law it means diddly squat.” He emphasised that without a will, a surviving partner could lose the house they shared, even if it was owned by the deceased.
To protect their partner, Lewis advised unmarried couples to either make a will, enter into a contract, or formalise their relationship through civil partnership or marriage. He noted that October is Free Wills Month in parts of the UK, offering those aged 55 and over the chance to have a simple will written or updated by a participating solicitor at no cost, with an optional donation to Age UK.
