I did this a while back but it was a completely different situation. We had moved in together after about 7-8 months of dating. I then transferred schools to a different state and he came with me. We lived together there for about 2 years and I had had enough. I loved him and vise versa but we just weren't right for each other. After months and months of arguing he agreed that we just weren't good together so it was mutual. I got a job in upstate New York and we agreed that he would continue to live in our house and be out when I got back. He took what was his, left what was mine and when I got back from the job I packed my stuff and left the house too (we were renting). We ended up living together for about 1.5 months while broken up.

It was actually not a terrible break up and I don't think there are any bad feelings on either side - although I obviously can't speak for his perspective. If you guys have open communication and a good friendship it should be possible to work through this in a mature manner. However, I have learned that you never really know a person's true colors until you break up with them. I thought my ex (a different one) was a good guy and we just weren't right for each other until I broke up with him and was called some of the dirtiest names I've ever heard in my life. Hopefully yours will end better than that.