I always thought that I’d be with my boyfriend forever. But five years into our relationship, he broke up with me. He didn’t love me anymore was the bottom line. It was a crushing and unexpected rejection. To make matters worse, we’d just renewed the contract on our rented London flat. There was no moving out for at least four months unless we paid unaffordable cancellation fees and a big percentage of the upcoming rent. Essentially, the apartment that we’d skipped around while celebrating our next step together became our prison cell.

What ensued was a soft breakup that meant ongoing contact and a sense that you’re still in a relationship despite it ending. We were no longer together, but our living situation meant that we were still physically in each other’s presence and fully in contact with one another. There’s no dramatic shift in your life, which makes it incredibly difficult to detach from your ex-partner. With that attachment still in place, we continued to cling to one another, remaining in contact for a while after we finally did move out. It feels like you’re very slowly and painfully being prised apart.

We’re far from the only separated couple to be faced with such a mentally testing scenario. A third of homeowners continue to cohabit with their ex-partner after they separate, according to a recent study by Zoopla. In addition, more than a third (35%) of women in a couple are financially dependent on their partner, while the same can be said for just 11% of men, according to YouGov. It means in periods of separation, women are more likely to be unable to move out, due to financial difficulties, compared to men. Unfortunately, this situation is only expected to worsen as the housing crisis and rising cost of living applies pressure to relationships and budgets.