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

silvercar

If it helps, students were allowed to move home from university. 
I think as long as you are not moving back and for, it is easier to justify.

Grumpy_chap

I have a friend who is in a house share (HMO) and she moved from one HMO to another during coronavirus and just said that was a permitted house move.
In a way, what the OP wishes to do is essentially the same.
What would not be 'on' would be if the OP moved in with partner on Saturday, them moved in with parents on Monday, then partner on Tuesday, then ... you get the gist.

Jeremy535897

PLester said:

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!

If you are not worried about what the neighbours think, that makes a decision a little easier. The next question is how would each of you feel if you gave the other coronavirus? If you are both content with the risk (which obviously you can minimise by self isolating), you have guidance from the police, and you aren't worried about the court of social media (remember the case of Dominic Cummings), then go for it.

gettingtheresometime

Jeremy535897 said:

PLester said:

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!

If you are not worried about what the neighbours think, that makes a decision a little easier. The next question is how would each of you feel if you gave the other coronavirus? If you are both content with the risk (which obviously you can minimise by self isolating), you have guidance from the police, and you aren't worried about the court of social media (remember the case of Dominic Cummings), then go for it.

Actually this situation highlights the stupidity of trying to deal with something like this virus in a country the size of the UK & having effectively 4 different approaches.