Who owns what when you buy a home together
5 min read
Ownership of a shared home follows what is registered in the title deed and what you can document — not who feels they contributed most.
In short
- The title deed is the starting point: registered shares decide ownership.
- A 50/50 registration means 50/50 ownership, even if the deposit was uneven.
- Document the source of the deposit before completion, not afterwards.
- Mortgage liability and ownership share are two different things.
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The deed decides — unless you agree otherwise
When you buy together, the ownership shares registered at completion become the legal baseline. If you register 50/50 but one partner paid the entire deposit, the law will generally still treat you as equal owners.
You can deviate from that baseline, but only with clear evidence: registered unequal shares, or a written agreement signed at the time explaining the arrangement.
Uneven deposits
Uneven deposits are the most common source of conflict. There are three workable approaches, and all of them need to be written down.
- Register unequal ownership shares that mirror the deposit split.
- Register 50/50 but record the larger deposit as a loan to be repaid first on sale.
- Register 50/50 and treat the difference as a gift — explicitly, in writing.
Mortgage liability is not ownership
Both partners are usually jointly liable to the bank for the full mortgage, regardless of ownership shares. That means the bank can pursue either of you for the whole amount.
Being jointly liable does not by itself give you a larger ownership share — and owning a larger share does not release the other partner from the debt.
Furniture, cars and everything else
For movable property, the person who paid is normally the owner. Keep receipts for anything significant, and note in your agreement which items are jointly owned.
Items bought from a joint account are usually treated as jointly owned unless you have agreed something different.
Frequently asked questions
We registered 50/50 but I paid the whole deposit. Can I get it back?
Only if you can document that this was the intention — for example a written agreement recording the deposit as a loan. Without documentation, the registered share usually governs.
Can we change the ownership shares later?
Yes, but transferring a share is a formal transaction that may trigger tax, fees and lender consent. Get it right at purchase where possible.
Land registration and property tax rules differ by country. Confirm the local procedure before registering unequal shares.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules differ between countries — consult a local professional for your situation.
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