Buying with someone else
Joint tenants own everything together; tenants in common own set shares. It matters if you split up or one of you dies.
As joint tenants, if one owner dies the other automatically owns it all. As tenants in common, each share passes under your will, and shares can be unequal (for example 70/30 if one paid more deposit).
A declaration of trust records who paid what and what happens on a sale. It's cheap to do when buying and can prevent costly disputes.
What to check
- Joint tenants or tenants in common?
- Who's paying what deposit?
- Do you both have wills?
Who can help
Your conveyancing solicitor.
Official sources
Checked 5 November 2026. General information for England and Wales, not legal advice.