Joint Tenants vs. Tenants in Common – What’s the Difference?
- Anna Kmiec
- Mar 22
- 2 min read
If you own a property with someone else, did you know there are two ways you can legally hold it? You can be joint tenants or tenants in common—and understanding the difference can have a big impact on your future plans!
First things first—this has nothing to do with renting! In this case, ‘tenancy’ simply means ownership.
🔹 Joint Tenancy – "All for One"
With joint tenancy, both owners own 100% of the property together—there are no separate shares.
This means:
✅ You both have equal rights to the whole property.
✅ If the property is sold, the proceeds are split equally.
✅ When one owner passes away, the other automatically inherits the entire property. This happens regardless of what their Will says.
Because of this automatic transfer, a joint tenant cannot leave their share of the home to someone else in their Will.
🔹 Tenants in Common – "Your Share, Your Rules"
With tenancy in common, each owner holds a distinct share of the property.
This can be:
✔️ Equal (e.g., 50/50)
✔️ Unequal (e.g., 70/30 if one person contributed more to the purchase)
This setup is great for:
✅ Couples or friends buying together with different contributions.
✅ People who want to leave their share to someone other than their co-owner—like children from a previous relationship.
✅ Protecting your share using trusts in your Will.
🔍 Not Sure How You Own Your Property?
If your property is registered, your Will Writer can check for you. And if you need to switch from joint tenants to tenants in common, it’s a simple process! This involves completing a Notice of Severance and notifying the Land Registry.
💡 Why does this matter?
Because how you own your property affects who inherits it, how it's protected, and your future financial planning.
Got questions? We’re happy to help! 😊
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📞 Call us: 01926 897077
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