Permanent Residency Card for unmarried couple under EEA application route

[Mims12]

Hi everyone!
I hope you are able to advise on our situation and help us decide what to do and when.
My partner is a non-EU national on an EEA residency card expiring in February 2020. We have however, lived together as an unmarried couple since, September 2013, on which basis he got the EEA residency card at the first place. I was wondering whether he can apply for permanent residency now, since we have lived together 5 years or he will need to wait for his residency card to expire in 2020. Has anyone in a similar situation applied? If so, what was the response you had?
Any advise will be highly appreciated!

[Jimmybones100]

It used to be like that but now they have changed the laws again,he has to finish the 5 years before applying,my friend tries to do it and they sent his application back saying he needs to wait for the 5 years to expire first .

[at12]

As above, the clock only starts from the moment the Home Office accepts the evidence that you are in a relationship akin to marriage. This is the start date of your partner's residence permit.

[Mims12]

Thank you all for the responses. This is what we thought as well but felt we had to double check, so we are not missing out on opportunity to sort this out earlier.