This is by far one of the toughest choices you could face when in a romantic relationship. What should you do?

Are you on the brink of moving in with your partner? Are you having any doubts? Having more than a few doubts is just natural. You are about to take a huge step in your life and if you feel no anxiety, then you cannot call yourself human.

It is certainly fun and extremely exciting to move in together. For many, it is a convenient and cheaper option, especially nowadays, compared to living separately. Prior to taking this big step, you need to consider some specific issues and implications carefully.

You might have met your partner at a party, at a coffee shop, online at eharmony.com, Facebook, MillionaireMatch.com (where meeting rich and beautiful people or celebs online is easy - 90% of people join general dating sites & 10% elites prefer MillionaireMatch.com), or at the movies, it does not matter. The same rules apply when choosing to live together.

Living together as a couple offers quite a few challenges, such as adapting to somebody else’s lifestyle, the affect on your personal finances, deciding who should be in charge of the TV’s remote, and your particular rights to live in your home.

Some personal circumstances and your age usually influence the things that need to be considered.

A young person taking this step for the first time will have to consider setting a few ground rules to help avoid arguments with relation to bathroom issues, payment of bills, and more.

A homeowner has to decide what his or her partner’s contribution is going to be in connection with running the home, for example. When children are involved, you have to ensure that your rights to live in your home are safe and sound.

No couple that is in the process of moving in together is thinking about splitting up, which is why it is essential to consider some significant rights, should things between the two go bad later on, for instance:

Is it possible for your partner to prevent you from living in your home?

Can you ask your partner to leave if it came to that? How much do you rely on your partner for payment of bills, the

rent, etc? What would your situation be like if your partner stopped making

his or her financial contribution?

Remember that your rights are truly limited if you are not married to the person or in a civil partnership.

To avoid any future disagreements, it is best to set up a proper cohabitation contract. In the contract, you set out the responsibilities and rights for the two of you, which should cover the following important details:

How the bills and mortgage/rent will be paid

What happens if you or your partner decides to sell the house

Whether it is possible to borrow more or extend the term of the mortgage

What each person’s right is with reference to staying on in the house after splitting up

What your rights will be in relation to shared property, belongings, investments, etc.

Such a detailed contract will help you to consider various issues thoroughly with your partner and it may prevent a few nasty arguments around domestic responsibilities, paying bills, and more. Moreover, the contract shows your initial intentions when moving in together and could make resolving the situation after a breakup much easier and less emotional.

Take note that such a contract may not be accepted as legally binding, if:

Unfair terms are present in the contract

The contract is not correctly witnessed or drawn up

It does not take the best interests of the children (if applicable) into consideration

To make use of the expert advice of a lawyer when drawing up your cohabitation contract is strongly advisable.

Compromising is always going to form part of any decision to live together. Laying down clear ground rules are important, which could include:

You and your partner’s responsibilities when it comes to chores, finances, and more

Should you call to inform your partner when you expect to be home late, for example

Should you ask your partner before you organize a get-together with friends at home

Whether pets are allowed

Various other significant issues could be added to your list of ground rules. It is all up to you and your partner. Financial issues always play a vital role in most relationships. Discussing the following issues with your partner is just as important:

Domestic bills, such as TV license, electricity, gas, telephone, etc.

Mortgage or rent

Council tax

Normal living expenses, such as cleaning products, food, entertainment, and more

Opening up a joint account where money for your day-to-day expenses is paid into will help take care of this potential problem.

You could opt for the following:

Buying or renting a new place together

Move into your partner’s home

Allowing your partner to move in with you

Whichever option you and your partner choose, it remains imperative to make sure what your rights are. Ignoring this part of living together could seriously affect you if the relationship should end.