Buying your first home as an unmarried couple? Here's what to know

Buying a home with your partner is a huge milestone. Exciting, significant, and for a lot of couples the first time you've needed to think seriously about how you share money and other things you own.

At Purplebricks, we understand the importance of this and that's exactly why we have amicable - online specialists in helping couples navigate important life decisions - on side to help.

There's a handful of things worth understanding before you complete. Here's a run down from amicable.

Quick fact

Unmarried couples in England and Wales don't automatically get the same legal position as married couples. Many people assume "common law marriage" gives long-term partners protection – it doesn't exist in UK law. A useful thing to know when you're making big joint decisions.

The two main ownership options

When you buy together, your conveyancer will ask you to choose how the property is registered. Two main options in England and Wales:

Joint tenants. Both of you own the whole property together in equal shares. If one of you were to die, the other automatically inherits. Most common setup for married couples, and plenty of unmarried couples choose it too.

Tenants in common. You each own a defined share of the property. Shares can be equal or unequal, which is useful if you're putting in different deposits. Your share can be passed on in a will rather than automatically going to the other partner.

Your conveyancer will walk you through which fits best. Either way, getting your head around it early means both of you understand the setup before anything's signed.

Deposits and contributions

Most couples don't contribute the same. Family help, savings built up over time, or equity from a previous home often means one partner is putting in more. This is really common. The important thing is agreeing how you handle it.

Worth talking about:

• How the deposit is being split and what each of you is contributing
• How ongoing mortgage payments will be shared
• How bills, maintenance and improvements are handled
• What you'd both like to happen if one of your financial situations changed

There's no single right approach. The point is that you agree something that makes sense to both of you and that you both properly understand.

Cohabitation agreement vs deed of trust

You might have come across deeds of trust already. A deed of trust sits on the property itself and records who owns what share – useful but quite narrow. A cohabitation agreement is broader, covering money, bills, savings and day-to-day life as well as the property. Many couples end up using both, especially when deposits are unequal.

Why many unmarried couples put things in writing

A cohabitation agreement (also called a living together agreement) is a written record of how you'll manage money, the home and day-to-day life together. Drafted by legal experts, it can cover as much or as little as you'd like – deposits, property ownership, bills, savings, joint plans.

Plenty of couples put one in place when they buy, because they want both of them to feel clear about how things work from day one. Buying a home is already a natural moment to get all of that agreed.

How amicable works with you

Our Cohabitation Agreement Service is £800 per couple, including VAT. Designed around warm, couple-first support. We work with both of you, together.

Book a free 15-minute consultation

When to put yours in place

Buying is one of the most natural moments. You're already making big joint decisions, you're already talking about money and the paperwork is flowing.

Couples commonly sort theirs:

• Alongside the mortgage and conveyancing process
• Before exchange, so both of you feel clear going in
• Shortly after completion, once you've moved in and settled

Whichever works for your timeline, getting it going sooner means you're not thinking about it on top of everything else.

Still working out what you'd include?

Not every couple is ready to jump straight to a written agreement. Some want to talk things through first and get clearer on what they'd cover.

That's where amicable's Living Together Planning Session comes in. A 60-minute joint session with a Specialist, designed to help you talk through the big areas and walk away with a clear plan. £210 per couple, including VAT. You can go on to a written agreement afterwards, or leave it there.

Move in knowing where you both stand

Buying your first home as an unmarried couple is a big moment and it deserves to feel like one. A bit of clarity about how things work between you means you can move in focused on the exciting part, not the paperwork.

Book a free 15-minute consultation with amicable

A warm, no-pressure chat about what would work best for you both.