How long must we have lived together to be covered by the equal-sharing rules? The equal-sharing rules apply to your marriage, civil union or de facto relationship only if you have lived together for at least three years.

Can my ex sell the house without my permission?

You can only sell the house without consent from your spouse (this includes civil partnerships) if they are not joint owners. This means you can sell, rent out or re-mortgage the property, do pretty much anything with the property that you want, without having to have your spouses permission.