Moving in together can be tough. Even if a relationship is otherwise perfect, living together can add a whole new layer of stress. This stress often leads to couples breaking up.
But, what if your partner wants to move out but still stay together? While this isn’t a great sign for the relationship, it may be what needs to happen for the relationship to continue. Below we’ll be breaking down why this may happen, and what you can do about it.
Why does your partner want to move out?
Start by considering where your partner’s coming from. The fact that they want to stay together likely means they’re still invested in the relationship. Still, there are plenty of reasons why they may want to move out.
You moved in together too fast
If you moved in together after a couple of months of dating, things might have moved a bit too fast. You might have both gotten caught up in the excitement of a new relationship and decided to pull the trigger. After a bit of time, they may have realized that they want to take things a bit slower.
You moved in together for the wrong reasons
The most common reasons people move in together are:
- Convenience/financial reasons
- They’re testing the relationship
- They genuinely want to spend more time together
It appears that couples who move in together for this third reason are more likely to be happy in the long run. Consider why you moved in together, and if it was for the first 2 options, that may be why things aren’t working out.
They’re not used to living with another person
Finally, consider whether your partner was living on their own before moving in with you. They may have gotten used to the freedom of living on their own and want to enjoy that for a little bit longer. Sleep may also be an issue here, with your partner not wanting to sleep together every night.
What to do next
Bring up how you feel about the issue to your partner. Do you want to keep living together or not? Do you see living together as a necessary part of the relationship? Accept that living together is inevitable for most relationships. So, this isn’t a great sign for the future.
Bring these points up with your partner and try to come to a compromise. You could try living together for a while longer and work on your communication. If you moved in together too soon, living apart might be the best thing for your relationship.
Be honest with yourself and your partner during this conversation. Unfortunately, you may need to accept that this is the right time to end things and move on.
If your partner wants to move out, it doesn’t necessarily mean your relationship is over. There are any number of reasons why they may want to live on their own that you can work through together.
Still, accept that this may be a sign of some deeper issues in your relationship. The only way to figure things out is to communicate with your partner.
