Moving to girlfriend's house "permanently" during lockdown...would this be legal??

Jeremy535897

You can visit, but that means 2m apart, not inside etc. It doesn't mean you can move in. As OP wants to follow the rules, it would be sensible to wait to see what easing of the rules comes about on 6 July.

diggingdude

What part of Wales? In the part I work in you wouldn't be welcomed but that's largely due to the media telling everyone they are about to die and the nearest hospitals often being more than 2 hours away

gettingtheresometime

Tbh nobody is patrolling the borders between England & Wales, nobody cares about the 5 mile rule so I'm with the just bloody move camp

bradders1983

gettingtheresometime said:

Tbh nobody is patrolling the borders between England & Wales, nobody cares about the 5 mile rule so I'm with the just bloody move camp

This. I wont type any more as it will get removed.

welshbabe88

Well Police still stop people in our part of Wales - they had cars on Friday.
Well done to the OP for being so conscientious.  After seeing the dreadful scenes on TV its heartening to see someone behaving responsibly.
As you have been isolating at your parents - which you could call your temporary base after coming back from abroad, I do not think it so bad for you to drive to move in with your girlfriend - providing you stay isolated once there.  There is no risk of you bringing infection.  Are her parents happy about it?
As you want to do things 'right' - why not ring 101 and ask for approval - you can always say you were only temporary with your parents and that its not working out etc.  that way you could get an email to allow you safe passage in case the Police did stop you.

PLester

Hi all. Thanks very much for the responses, I really appreciate them. Our reading of the rules was in line with Jeremy i.e. that households were effectively "fixed" at the point of lockdown. But given people are able to switch their household if it is via a purchase or rental agreement, one could argue that moving into an existing household is no different? Even though it's informal, the effect would be the same as me paying her parents rent. I don't know if this is deemed as different though because a rental property actually becomes my main residence whereas I would not be "legally" moving to my girlfriend's place.

I may well call 101 as you suggest, welshbabe. 

Jeremy535897

PLester said:

Hi all. Thanks very much for the responses, I really appreciate them. Our reading of the rules was in line with Jeremy i.e. that households were effectively "fixed" at the point of lockdown. But given people are able to switch their household if it is via a purchase or rental agreement, one could argue that moving into an existing household is no different? Even though it's informal, the effect would be the same as me paying her parents rent. I don't know if this is deemed as different though because a rental property actually becomes my main residence whereas I would not be "legally" moving to my girlfriend's place.

I may well call 101 as you suggest, welshbabe. 

I'm not sure how much help they will be, and I would wait until after 6 July because it may help if the local rule is removed. It is one less issue.

I am clear in my mind that the moving houses exception deals with the same people moving from one house to another, not with a person moving from one household (with parents) to another (with girlfriend). That is why the news presents stories of people like yourself who can't live with their boyfriend or girlfriend. If the local rule goes, and the bubble concept extends to Wales, then you would be able to form a bubble with your girlfriend and the 2m rule, staying over etc would not apply, as detailed in the Wales Online article I quoted.

PLester

Jeremy535897 said:

PLester said:

Hi all. Thanks very much for the responses, I really appreciate them. Our reading of the rules was in line with Jeremy i.e. that households were effectively "fixed" at the point of lockdown. But given people are able to switch their household if it is via a purchase or rental agreement, one could argue that moving into an existing household is no different? Even though it's informal, the effect would be the same as me paying her parents rent. I don't know if this is deemed as different though because a rental property actually becomes my main residence whereas I would not be "legally" moving to my girlfriend's place.

I may well call 101 as you suggest, welshbabe. 

I'm not sure how much help they will be, and I would wait until after 6 July because it may help if the local rule is removed. It is one less issue.

I am clear in my mind that the moving houses exception deals with the same people moving from one house to another, not with a person moving from one household (with parents) to another (with girlfriend). That is why the news presents stories of people like yourself who can't live with their boyfriend or girlfriend. If the local rule goes, and the bubble concept extends to Wales, then you would be able to form a bubble with your girlfriend and the 2m rule, staying over etc would not apply, as detailed in the Wales Online article I quoted.

I felt this might be the case Jeremy. Although the BBC had confirmed that "Many people would be planning to move in with a partner, or rent a home with new housemates, who are currently in different households. Clearly, that means members of two households getting together, but the government says it is permitted." when the house move rules came in, in England.

I have seen articles referring to couples not being able to go back and forth between households but it seems to be more of a grey area re: moving permanently.

On 101, the policeman in the Powys Control Room said that whilst it was a grey area, he would treat it as I was temporarily staying and isolating at my parents' house and would now be moving permanently back to my girlfriend's house. So he said it was permissible. I suppose this is similar to the way in which some people temporarily moved in with their family at the start of lockdown, and are now free to move back "home", as confirmed by the cabinet in the Huffington Post. 

Jeremy535897

PLester said:

Jeremy535897 said:

PLester said:

Hi all. Thanks very much for the responses, I really appreciate them. Our reading of the rules was in line with Jeremy i.e. that households were effectively "fixed" at the point of lockdown. But given people are able to switch their household if it is via a purchase or rental agreement, one could argue that moving into an existing household is no different? Even though it's informal, the effect would be the same as me paying her parents rent. I don't know if this is deemed as different though because a rental property actually becomes my main residence whereas I would not be "legally" moving to my girlfriend's place.

I may well call 101 as you suggest, welshbabe. 

I'm not sure how much help they will be, and I would wait until after 6 July because it may help if the local rule is removed. It is one less issue.

I am clear in my mind that the moving houses exception deals with the same people moving from one house to another, not with a person moving from one household (with parents) to another (with girlfriend). That is why the news presents stories of people like yourself who can't live with their boyfriend or girlfriend. If the local rule goes, and the bubble concept extends to Wales, then you would be able to form a bubble with your girlfriend and the 2m rule, staying over etc would not apply, as detailed in the Wales Online article I quoted.

I felt this might be the case Jeremy. Although the BBC had confirmed that "Many people would be planning to move in with a partner, or rent a home with new housemates, who are currently in different households. Clearly, that means members of two households getting together, but the government says it is permitted." when the house move rules came in, in England.

I have seen articles referring to couples not being able to go back and forth between households but it seems to be more of a grey area re: moving permanently.

On 101, the policeman in the Powys Control Room said that whilst it was a grey area, he would treat it as I was temporarily staying and isolating at my parents' house and would now be moving permanently back to my girlfriend's house. So he said it was permissible. I suppose this is similar to the way in which some people temporarily moved in with their family at the start of lockdown, and are now free to move back "home", as confirmed by the cabinet in the Huffington Post. 

It is some comfort that one policeman thinks it is OK, because you have to be prepared for someone to mention you moving back in with your girlfriend to the police.

PLester

YJeremy535897 said:

PLester said:

Jeremy535897 said:

PLester said:

Hi all. Thanks very much for the responses, I really appreciate them. Our reading of the rules was in line with Jeremy i.e. that households were effectively "fixed" at the point of lockdown. But given people are able to switch their household if it is via a purchase or rental agreement, one could argue that moving into an existing household is no different? Even though it's informal, the effect would be the same as me paying her parents rent. I don't know if this is deemed as different though because a rental property actually becomes my main residence whereas I would not be "legally" moving to my girlfriend's place.

I may well call 101 as you suggest, welshbabe. 

I'm not sure how much help they will be, and I would wait until after 6 July because it may help if the local rule is removed. It is one less issue.

I am clear in my mind that the moving houses exception deals with the same people moving from one house to another, not with a person moving from one household (with parents) to another (with girlfriend). That is why the news presents stories of people like yourself who can't live with their boyfriend or girlfriend. If the local rule goes, and the bubble concept extends to Wales, then you would be able to form a bubble with your girlfriend and the 2m rule, staying over etc would not apply, as detailed in the Wales Online article I quoted.

I felt this might be the case Jeremy. Although the BBC had confirmed that "Many people would be planning to move in with a partner, or rent a home with new housemates, who are currently in different households. Clearly, that means members of two households getting together, but the government says it is permitted." when the house move rules came in, in England.

I have seen articles referring to couples not being able to go back and forth between households but it seems to be more of a grey area re: moving permanently.

On 101, the policeman in the Powys Control Room said that whilst it was a grey area, he would treat it as I was temporarily staying and isolating at my parents' house and would now be moving permanently back to my girlfriend's house. So he said it was permissible. I suppose this is similar to the way in which some people temporarily moved in with their family at the start of lockdown, and are now free to move back "home", as confirmed by the cabinet in the Huffington Post. 

It is some comfort that one policeman thinks it is OK, because you have to be prepared for someone to mention you moving back in with your girlfriend to the police.

Yes, absolutely. I've taken the name of the policeman and his control room. I feel like there is not one definitive answer to be honest with you, but on balance of this Welsh policeman confirming it's OK, and the fact he said I can quote him if anyone was to stop me, I should probably just accept it as being reasonable to go ahead and move I guess...

It's not really a case of worrying what people think or if I get "caught" either; it's just a case of wanting to act with integrity. Given the case numbers are similar to that of the time at which I could have moved to my girlfriend's at the start of lockdown (if circumstances allowed), that gives me some logical justification for making the move I think. Although I still have doubts and feel bad in some way, as if the rules do not allow an informal house move!