Welsh councils see highest number of homelessness applications tied to relationship breakdowns

OVER RECENT decades, relationships in the UK have transformed, with fewer marriages and more couples choosing to live together without legal formalities. As a result, cohabitation is now one of the fastest-growing family structures, rising by 144% between 1996 and 2021, and now accounting for 17.7% of all families in the UK. However, many feel that legal protections have not kept pace with this shift.

Unlike married couples or those in civil partnerships, those living together often have limited rights over property, finances and housing, leaving many vulnerable at the point of separation.

To assess the real-world impact of these legal gaps ahead of expected cohabitation reform discussions this spring, a new study by family law firm Rayden Solicitors analysed data from 2020 to 2025 across 91 local authorities in England and Wales, examining the scale of homelessness applications where ‘relationship breakdown’ was recorded as a primary cause.

Welsh councils with the highest number of homelessness applications due to relationship breakdown (2020–2025):

Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council recorded the highest total over the period, with 2,712 applications. This was followed by Cardiff Council (1,667) and Newport City Council (1,619). 

Carmarthenshire County Council (1,480) and Pembrokeshire County Council (1,433) also recorded relatively high levels, suggesting that both urban and more rural authorities are affected, though the scale of pressure is most pronounced in a small number of higher-volume councils.

Welsh councils with the largest increase in homelessness applications due to relationship breakdown (2020–2025):

In Wales, the Vale of Glamorgan Council recorded the largest increase in homelessness applications due to relationship breakdown over the five-year period, rising by 142.9%.

This was followed by Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council (+114.3%) and Caerphilly County Borough Council (+81.5%), both of which more than doubled their application levels over the period. Isle of Anglesey (+35.5%) and Pembrokeshire (+35.4%) also saw notable increases.

Overall, Wales ranks as the region with the second-highest number of homelessness applications due to relationship breakdown (2020-2025):

Lehna Gardiner, Partner at Rayden Solicitors, explained: “Under the current law, cohabitees have limited rights compared to those who are married.

“When married couples divorce, they have significant legal protection within the family law framework. The parties’ and children’s needs are prioritised and the principles of equality and fairness are applied.

“If a spouse were to pass away, then the living spouse has automatic rights to inheritance, pension and insurance, among others.

“For cohabiting couples, these principles unfortunately do not apply. This specifically leaves the financially weaker party in a vulnerable position in the event of a break-up.

“Often, these are women who have focused less on their careers in order to look after children. Cohabiting couples cannot rely on the family law framework and have no financial responsibility to one another on separation.”

There are certain steps that cohabiting couples can take to help protect themselves:

1. If couples are purchasing a property together, make sure it is legally owned in a way that reflects the parties’ intentions
2. Enter into a cohabitation agreement dealing with the parties’ intentions regarding joint property, finances and arrangements for children
3. Ensure wills are up-to-date