In 2023, Hannah Linsley, a freshman at Bournemouth University, met Michael Loven-Rogerson at a party. They hit it off immediately and were practically inseparable.
As the new school year approached, they decided to rent a two-bedroom apartment together, planning to move in during 9/2024. But just a month before getting the keys, Michael unexpectedly initiated a breakup.
They contacted the real estate agent to cancel the lease, but were told it was impossible. To get out of the contract, one of them had to find a replacement tenant. However, neither Hannah nor Michael wanted to be the one to leave. They were forced to live together for a year after their split.
"Breaking up is never easy, but this time it came with the added challenge of cohabitation," said 22-year-old Hannah.
Despite the difficult breakup, they remained civil, continuing to have dinner, shop, and attend parties together. To avoid complications, they established a ground rule: they were free to see other people but couldn't bring anyone back to the apartment. "We would occasionally see each other at the club, dance together, and then each go back to our own rooms," Hannah said.
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Hannah Linsley and Michael Loven-Rogerson on vacation together before their breakup. Photo: Hannah Linsley/SWNS |
Hannah Linsley and Michael Loven-Rogerson on vacation together before their breakup. Photo: Hannah Linsley/SWNS
The close proximity blurred emotional boundaries. In 3/2025, Michael suggested getting back together, but Hannah declined to focus on her dissertation.
When she later suggested "giving it a try" after graduation, Michael was hesitant. "He said we were soulmates, but I think if we were soulmates, we wouldn't have broken up in the first place," Hannah shared.
Hannah's friends weren't fond of Michael, but she still found living with him more pleasant than sharing a six-person dorm with a perpetually messy kitchen. The two continued to communicate comfortably and even jokingly "matched" each other on dating apps.
This coming September, Hannah will be moving to Portsmouth to start a job as a behavioral support worker. Michael, 23, plans to move into a new apartment with a classmate after finishing his final year of school.
Many couples, like Hannah and Michael, continue to live together for a period after breaking up. This phenomenon, known as living together apart (LTA), is increasingly common. A 2022 survey in the UK found that 34% of people had experienced this situation, mostly lasting from one month to a year, with some cases extending beyond five years.
In Australia, due to the high cost of living, 17% of people live with their ex-partners because they can't afford separate housing, with 33% of those being Gen Z.
In the US, a unique trend is on the rise: divorced couples living together with their exes and new partners, forming "blended" families to save money and share childcare responsibilities.
Nhat Minh (Metro)
