What are the ways a couple can jointly own a property?

In the UK, there are two ways to jointly own a property with a partner or spouse – either as Joint Tenants or Tenants in Common.

As Joint Tenants the couple together own the entire property. If one person dies, the other automatically inherits the property. With a Joint Tenancy you cannot pass on your ownership of the property to others in your Will.

As Tenants in Common each person owns a specific share of the property, which can be an equal or unequal split. An unequal split could occur if one party invested more in the purchase of the property. If one person dies, their share of the property does not go to the other owner, but is passed to whoever they wish as specified in their Will. Joint ownership does not only occur within an intimate relationship; it can also occur between friends or family members.