diff --git a/src/app/entity-groups/research-entities/metadata-representations/person/person-item-metadata-list-element.component.ts b/src/app/entity-groups/research-entities/metadata-representations/person/person-item-metadata-list-element.component.ts
index f3d0a28fda..b571348122 100644
--- a/src/app/entity-groups/research-entities/metadata-representations/person/person-item-metadata-list-element.component.ts
+++ b/src/app/entity-groups/research-entities/metadata-representations/person/person-item-metadata-list-element.component.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { Component } from '@angular/core';
+import { Component, OnInit } from '@angular/core';
 import { metadataRepresentationComponent } from '../../../../shared/metadata-representation/metadata-representation.decorator';
 import { MetadataRepresentationType } from '../../../../core/shared/metadata-representation/metadata-representation.model';
 import { ItemMetadataRepresentationListElementComponent } from '../../../../shared/object-list/metadata-representation-list-element/item/item-metadata-representation-list-element.component';
@@ -11,5 +11,8 @@ import { ItemMetadataRepresentationListElementComponent } from '../../../../shar
 /**
  * The component for displaying an item of the type Person as a metadata field
  */
-export class PersonItemMetadataListElementComponent extends ItemMetadataRepresentationListElementComponent {
+export class PersonItemMetadataListElementComponent extends ItemMetadataRepresentationListElementComponent implements OnInit {
+  ngOnInit(): void {
+    console.log('this.metadataRepresentation', this.metadataRepresentation);
+  }
 }
diff --git a/src/app/shared/form/builder/ds-dynamic-form-ui/ds-dynamic-form-control-container.component.html b/src/app/shared/form/builder/ds-dynamic-form-ui/ds-dynamic-form-control-container.component.html
index 64f8315575..d2a1996a60 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/form/builder/ds-dynamic-form-ui/ds-dynamic-form-control-container.component.html
+++ b/src/app/shared/form/builder/ds-dynamic-form-ui/ds-dynamic-form-control-container.component.html
@@ -54,8 +54,8 @@
 
     <div *ngIf="hasRelationLookup" class="mt-3">
         <ul class="list-unstyled" cdkDropList (cdkDropListDropped)="moveSelection($event)">
-            <ds-existing-metadata-list-element cdkDrag [cdkDragData]="relationship" *ngFor="let relationship of relationships; trackBy: trackRelationship"
-                                               [relationship]="relationship"
+            <ds-existing-metadata-list-element cdkDrag [cdkDragData]="relationship" *ngFor="let reorderable of reorderables; trackBy: trackReorderable"
+                                               [reoRel]="reorderable"
                                                [submissionItem]="item"
                                                [listId]="listId"
                                                [metadataFields]="model.metadataFields"
diff --git a/src/app/shared/form/builder/ds-dynamic-form-ui/ds-dynamic-form-control-container.component.ts b/src/app/shared/form/builder/ds-dynamic-form-ui/ds-dynamic-form-control-container.component.ts
index f34287fd48..8032cd606a 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/form/builder/ds-dynamic-form-ui/ds-dynamic-form-control-container.component.ts
+++ b/src/app/shared/form/builder/ds-dynamic-form-ui/ds-dynamic-form-control-container.component.ts
@@ -50,6 +50,10 @@ import {
   DynamicNGBootstrapTimePickerComponent
 } from '@ng-dynamic-forms/ui-ng-bootstrap';
 import { TranslateService } from '@ngx-translate/core';
+import {
+  Reorderable,
+  ReorderableRelationship
+} from './existing-metadata-list-element/existing-metadata-list-element.component';
 
 import { DYNAMIC_FORM_CONTROL_TYPE_TYPEAHEAD } from './models/typeahead/dynamic-typeahead.model';
 import { DYNAMIC_FORM_CONTROL_TYPE_SCROLLABLE_DROPDOWN } from './models/scrollable-dropdown/dynamic-scrollable-dropdown.model';
@@ -176,15 +180,14 @@ export class DsDynamicFormControlContainerComponent extends DynamicFormControlCo
   @Input() hasErrorMessaging = false;
   @Input() layout = null as DynamicFormLayout;
   @Input() model: any;
-  relationships$: Observable<Relationship[]>;
-  relationships: Relationship[];
+  reorderables$: Observable<ReorderableRelationship[]>;
+  reorderables: ReorderableRelationship[];
   hasRelationLookup: boolean;
   modalRef: NgbModalRef;
   item: Item;
   listId: string;
   searchConfig: string;
 
-
   /**
    * List of subscriptions to unsubscribe from
    */
@@ -223,6 +226,7 @@ export class DsDynamicFormControlContainerComponent extends DynamicFormControlCo
 
   ngOnInit(): void {
     this.hasRelationLookup = hasValue(this.model.relationship);
+    this.reorderables = [];
     if (this.hasRelationLookup) {
       this.listId = 'list-' + this.model.relationship.relationshipType;
       const item$ = this.submissionObjectService
@@ -238,7 +242,7 @@ export class DsDynamicFormControlContainerComponent extends DynamicFormControlCo
         );
 
       this.subs.push(item$.subscribe((item) => this.item = item));
-      this.relationships$ = item$.pipe(
+      this.reorderables$ = item$.pipe(
         switchMap((item) => this.relationService.getItemRelationshipsByLabel(item, this.model.relationship.relationshipType)
           .pipe(
             getAllSucceededRemoteData(),
@@ -251,28 +255,24 @@ export class DsDynamicFormControlContainerComponent extends DynamicFormControlCo
                   relationship.leftItem.pipe(
                     getSucceededRemoteData(),
                     getRemoteDataPayload(),
-                    map((item: Item) => {
-                      return { relationship, left: item.uuid === this.item.uuid }
+                    map((leftItem: Item) => {
+                      return new ReorderableRelationship(relationship, leftItem.uuid !== this.item.uuid)
                     }),
                   )
                 ))),
-            map((relationships: { relationship: Relationship, left: boolean }[]) =>
-              relationships
-                .sort((
-                  a: { relationship: Relationship, left: boolean },
-                  b: { relationship: Relationship, left: boolean }
-                ) => {
-                  const placeA: number = a.left ? a.relationship.leftPlace : a.relationship.rightPlace;
-                  const placeB: number = b.left ? b.relationship.leftPlace : b.relationship.rightPlace;
-                  return Math.sign(placeA - placeB);
-                })
-                .map((relationship) => relationship.relationship)
-            )
+                map((relationships: ReorderableRelationship[]) =>
+                  relationships
+                    .sort((a: Reorderable, b: Reorderable) => {
+                      return Math.sign(a.getPlace() - b.getPlace());
+                    })
+                )
           )
         )
       );
 
-      this.relationships$.subscribe((rels) => this.relationships = rels);
+      this.subs.push(this.reorderables$.subscribe((rs) => {
+        this.reorderables = rs
+      }));
 
       this.relationService.getRelatedItemsByLabel(this.item, this.model.relationship.relationshipType).pipe(
         map((items: RemoteData<PaginatedList<Item>>) => items.payload.page.map((item) => Object.assign(new ItemSearchResult(), { indexableObject: item }))),
@@ -334,27 +334,18 @@ export class DsDynamicFormControlContainerComponent extends DynamicFormControlCo
     modalComp.item = this.item;
   }
 
-
   moveSelection(event: CdkDragDrop<Relationship>) {
-    moveItemInArray(this.relationships, event.previousIndex, event.currentIndex);
+    moveItemInArray(this.reorderables, event.previousIndex, event.currentIndex);
     this.zone.runOutsideAngular(() => {
       observableCombineLatest(
-        this.relationships.map((relationship: Relationship, index: number) =>
-          relationship.leftItem.pipe(
-            getSucceededRemoteData(),
-            getRemoteDataPayload(),
-            map((item: Item) => {
-              const left: boolean = item.uuid === this.item.uuid;
-              if (left) {
-                return { relationship, left: item.uuid === this.item.uuid, oldIndex: relationship.leftPlace, newIndex: index }
-              } else {
-                return { relationship, left: item.uuid === this.item.uuid, oldIndex: relationship.rightPlace, newIndex: index }
-              }
-            }),
-          )
+        this.reorderables.map((reo: Reorderable, index: number) => {
+            reo.oldIndex = reo.getPlace();
+            reo.newIndex = index;
+            return reo;
+          }
         )
       ).pipe(
-        switchMap((relationships: { relationship: Relationship, left: boolean, oldIndex: number, newIndex: number }[]) =>
+        switchMap((relationships: Array<{ relationship: Relationship, left: boolean, oldIndex: number, newIndex: number }>) =>
           observableCombineLatest(relationships.map((rel: { relationship: Relationship, left: boolean, oldIndex: number, newIndex: number }) => {
               if (rel.oldIndex !== rel.newIndex) {
                 return this.relationshipService.updatePlace(rel.relationship, rel.newIndex, rel.left);
@@ -381,7 +372,7 @@ export class DsDynamicFormControlContainerComponent extends DynamicFormControlCo
   /**
    * Prevent unnecessary rerendering so fields don't lose focus
    */
-  trackRelationship(index, relationship: Relationship) {
-    return hasValue(relationship) ? relationship.id : undefined;
+  trackReorderable(index, reorderable: Reorderable) {
+    return hasValue(reorderable) ? reorderable.getId() : undefined;
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/app/shared/form/builder/ds-dynamic-form-ui/existing-metadata-list-element/existing-metadata-list-element.component.html b/src/app/shared/form/builder/ds-dynamic-form-ui/existing-metadata-list-element/existing-metadata-list-element.component.html
index ebda014e19..960dd78767 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/form/builder/ds-dynamic-form-ui/existing-metadata-list-element/existing-metadata-list-element.component.html
+++ b/src/app/shared/form/builder/ds-dynamic-form-ui/existing-metadata-list-element/existing-metadata-list-element.component.html
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-<li *ngIf="metadataRepresentation$ | async">
+<li *ngIf="metadataRepresentation">
     <button type="button" class="close float-left" aria-label="Move button" cdkDragHandle>
         <i aria-hidden="true" class="fas fa-arrows-alt fa-xs"></i>
     </button>
@@ -6,6 +6,6 @@
         <span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
     </button>
     <span class="d-inline-block align-middle ml-1">
-              <ds-metadata-representation-loader [mdRepresentation]="metadataRepresentation$ | async"></ds-metadata-representation-loader>
+              <ds-metadata-representation-loader [mdRepresentation]="metadataRepresentation"></ds-metadata-representation-loader>
           </span>
 </li>
diff --git a/src/app/shared/form/builder/ds-dynamic-form-ui/existing-metadata-list-element/existing-metadata-list-element.component.ts b/src/app/shared/form/builder/ds-dynamic-form-ui/existing-metadata-list-element/existing-metadata-list-element.component.ts
index 4551a0a7d1..d31e9380a8 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/form/builder/ds-dynamic-form-ui/existing-metadata-list-element/existing-metadata-list-element.component.ts
+++ b/src/app/shared/form/builder/ds-dynamic-form-ui/existing-metadata-list-element/existing-metadata-list-element.component.ts
@@ -1,10 +1,16 @@
-import { Component, Input, OnChanges, OnInit } from '@angular/core';
+import { Component, Input, OnChanges, OnDestroy, OnInit } from '@angular/core';
 import { Item } from '../../../../../core/shared/item.model';
-import { getRemoteDataPayload, getSucceededRemoteData } from '../../../../../core/shared/operators';
+import { MetadataRepresentation } from '../../../../../core/shared/metadata-representation/metadata-representation.model';
+import {
+  getAllSucceededRemoteData,
+  getRemoteDataPayload,
+  getSucceededRemoteData
+} from '../../../../../core/shared/operators';
 import { hasValue, isNotEmpty } from '../../../../empty.util';
-import { filter, map, take } from 'rxjs/operators';
+import { of as observableOf, Subscription } from 'rxjs';
+import { filter, map } from 'rxjs/operators';
 import { Relationship } from '../../../../../core/shared/item-relationships/relationship.model';
-import { combineLatest as observableCombineLatest } from 'rxjs';
+import { combineLatest as observableCombineLatest, of } from 'rxjs';
 import { MetadataValue } from '../../../../../core/shared/metadata.models';
 import { ItemMetadataRepresentation } from '../../../../../core/shared/metadata-representation/item/item-metadata-representation.model';
 import { RelationshipOptions } from '../../models/relationship-options.model';
@@ -14,19 +20,55 @@ import { Store } from '@ngrx/store';
 import { AppState } from '../../../../../app.reducer';
 import { ItemSearchResult } from '../../../../object-collection/shared/item-search-result.model';
 
+export abstract class Reorderable {
+  constructor(public oldIndex?: number, public newIndex?: number) {
+  }
+
+  abstract getId(): string;
+  abstract getPlace(): number;
+}
+
+export class ReorderableRelationship extends Reorderable {
+  relationship: Relationship;
+  useLeftItem: boolean;
+
+  constructor(relationship: Relationship, useLeftItem: boolean, oldIndex?: number, newIndex?: number) {
+    super(oldIndex, newIndex);
+    this.relationship = relationship;
+    this.useLeftItem = useLeftItem;
+  }
+
+  getId(): string {
+    return this.relationship.id;
+  }
+
+  getPlace(): number {
+    if (this.useLeftItem) {
+      return this.relationship.rightPlace
+    } else {
+      return this.relationship.leftPlace
+    }
+  }
+}
+
 @Component({
   selector: 'ds-existing-metadata-list-element',
   templateUrl: './existing-metadata-list-element.component.html',
   styleUrls: ['./existing-metadata-list-element.component.scss']
 })
-export class ExistingMetadataListElementComponent implements OnChanges {
+export class ExistingMetadataListElementComponent implements OnInit, OnChanges, OnDestroy {
   @Input() listId: string;
   @Input() submissionItem: Item;
-  @Input() relationship: Relationship;
+  @Input() reoRel: ReorderableRelationship;
   @Input() metadataFields: string[];
   @Input() relationshipOptions: RelationshipOptions;
-  metadataRepresentation$;
-  relatedItem$;
+  metadataRepresentation: MetadataRepresentation;
+  relatedItem: Item;
+
+  /**
+   * List of subscriptions to unsubscribe from
+   */
+  private subs: Subscription[] = [];
 
   constructor(
     private selectableListService: SelectableListService,
@@ -34,49 +76,44 @@ export class ExistingMetadataListElementComponent implements OnChanges {
   ) {
   }
 
+  ngOnInit(): void {
+    console.log('reoRel', this.reoRel);
+  }
+
   ngOnChanges() {
-    const leftItem$ = this.relationship.leftItem.pipe(
-      getSucceededRemoteData(),
+    const item$ = this.reoRel.useLeftItem ?
+      this.reoRel.relationship.leftItem : this.reoRel.relationship.rightItem;
+
+    this.subs.push(item$.pipe(
+      getAllSucceededRemoteData(),
       getRemoteDataPayload(),
       filter((item: Item) => hasValue(item) && isNotEmpty(item.uuid))
-    );
+    ).subscribe((item: Item) => {
+      this.relatedItem = item;
 
-    const rightItem$ = this.relationship.rightItem.pipe(
-      getSucceededRemoteData(),
-      getRemoteDataPayload(),
-      filter((item: Item) => hasValue(item) && isNotEmpty(item.uuid))
-    );
-
-    this.relatedItem$ = observableCombineLatest(
-      leftItem$,
-      rightItem$,
-    ).pipe(
-      map((items: Item[]) =>
-        items.find((item) => item.uuid !== this.submissionItem.uuid)
-      )
-    );
-
-    this.metadataRepresentation$ = this.relatedItem$.pipe(
-      map((relatedItem: Item) => {
-        console.log(relatedItem);
-          const relationMD: MetadataValue = this.submissionItem.firstMetadata(this.relationshipOptions.metadataField, { value: relatedItem.uuid });
-          console.log(relationMD);
-          if (hasValue(relationMD)) {
-            const metadataRepresentationMD: MetadataValue = this.submissionItem.firstMetadata(this.metadataFields, { authority: relationMD.authority });
-            return Object.assign(
-              new ItemMetadataRepresentation(metadataRepresentationMD),
-              relatedItem
-            )
-          }
-        }
-      )
-    );
+      const relationMD: MetadataValue = this.submissionItem.firstMetadata(this.relationshipOptions.metadataField, { value: this.relatedItem.uuid });
+      if (hasValue(relationMD)) {
+        const metadataRepresentationMD: MetadataValue = this.submissionItem.firstMetadata(this.metadataFields, { authority: relationMD.authority });
+        this.metadataRepresentation =  Object.assign(
+          new ItemMetadataRepresentation(metadataRepresentationMD),
+          this.relatedItem
+        )
+      }
+    }));
   }
 
   removeSelection() {
-    this.relatedItem$.pipe(take(1)).subscribe((relatedItem: Item) => {
-      this.selectableListService.deselectSingle(this.listId, Object.assign(new ItemSearchResult(), { indexableObject: relatedItem }));
-      this.store.dispatch(new RemoveRelationshipAction(this.submissionItem, relatedItem, this.relationshipOptions.relationshipType))
-    })
+    this.selectableListService.deselectSingle(this.listId, Object.assign(new ItemSearchResult(), { indexableObject: this.relatedItem }));
+    this.store.dispatch(new RemoveRelationshipAction(this.submissionItem, this.relatedItem, this.relationshipOptions.relationshipType))
   }
+
+  /**
+   * Unsubscribe from all subscriptions
+   */
+  ngOnDestroy(): void {
+    this.subs
+      .filter((sub) => hasValue(sub))
+      .forEach((sub) => sub.unsubscribe());
+  }
+
 }