In short de facto relationships where the parties' assets have appreciated significantly during the relationship, initial contributions should not automatically be valued only at the date of cohabitation; capital appreciation of initially contributed assets is not necessarily a 'fruit of the relationship' and the erosion principle has limited application in short relationships. The benefit of occupation of one party's property should be incorporated into the overall evaluation of contributions rather than treated as a separate notional rent adjustment. Where property is valued at the date of separation rather than hearing, interest should ordinarily be awarded from the date at which the entitlement is struck.
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