“Whether it’s taking your relationship to the next level and making it official, moving in together or getting married, knowing when the time is right can be tricky,” acknowledges Annabelle Knight, a sex and relationships expert with LoveHoney.

“The answer to these questions largely lies in not only how you feel about one another, but also your visions for the future – not just for what you want to achieve as an individual, but for what you want for your relationship as well.”

As Knight suggests, the first thing to consider is the level of trust in the relationship. “Trust is a key component of any happy and healthy relationship. It’s also something that isn’t earned overnight. If you and your partner can, hand on heart, say that you trust one another then it may be time to progress your relationship,” she explains.

Intimacy, security and support are also important indicators of whether a relationship is strong enough to progress sustainably. “If you can wholeheartedly tick these things off, and know that your partner can do the same, then maybe it’s time to speak to them about taking your relationship to the next level,” Knight adds.

So now you’ve assessed your relationship fairly, how do you go about bringing up a potentially awkward conversation?

“What are we now?”: how to navigate speaking to your partner about relationship progression