Tier 4 > Non-EEA Residence card (durable relationship) > ILR

[brianlp518]

Background: I'm a US citizen with a Swedish partner of almost 5 years. Met in the US, followed her to the UK to be in the same PhD program.

Interviewed and accepted to UK PhD program: Jan 2010
Entered UK to start joint bank account with EEA partner in UK: 09 Feb 2010 (expired 31 May 2014)
Left back to the US to get student visa: 10 Feb 2010
Tier 4 visa obtained: 11 May 2010 (expires 31 May 2014)
Entered UK for PhD program living with partner: 20 May 2010
Residence Card in durable relationship with EEA exercising treaty rights: 03 Mar 2014

Opposite sex partner and I are looking to buy a house, but I need Indefinite Leave to Remain to be on the mortgage. Quickest way to get ILR?

Would it be possible to get a permanent residence card from the 10 Feb 2010 date as this is when we first got a joint bank account and lived together? A lot of literature points to 5 years from the Residence Card date, but some also points to living together in the UK for 5 years, which could be dated to either 09 Feb 2010 or 20 May 2010.

Could really use your help?