Home  /  Insights  /  Residential Property Services in London
Residential Property Services in London  

Jointly Owned Property When Someone Dies Without a Will

How you own it matters more than the will.

Jointly Owned Property When Someone Dies Without a Will Residential Property Services in London

Updated October 2026 · Fraser Bond

Inheritance · Intestacy

Joint ownership and intestacy

Jointtenants
Tenantsin common
Intestacyrules
Unmarriedpartners at risk
In short: If you own a home as joint tenants, the survivor automatically inherits the deceased's share, will or no will. If you own as tenants in common, the deceased's share passes under their will, or under the intestacy rules if there isn't one, which favour a spouse or civil partner and children. Unmarried partners don't inherit under intestacy, so a partner who owns as tenants in common could lose the home share to the deceased's family, though they may claim under the Inheritance Act 1975. Check how you hold the title and make wills.

Frequently asked questions

Does my partner get my share automatically?

Only if you're joint tenants.

What if we're not married?

Make wills; intestacy won't protect your partner.

Need a valuation?

Talk to our team or get a free valuation.

Speak to our teamGet a free valuation

Related guides

Next step

You are one message away from an answer.

If you have a question

Send it to us and get a straight answer.

Describe the property and the problem. We will tell you what we would do, what it should cost, and if we are not the right people, who is.

  • Replies the same working day
  • The person who answers is the person who handles it
  • No fee, and no obligation to instruct us
If you are looking for a property

See everything we are instructed on.

Sales and lettings across Prime Central London and the wider UK, with the same team behind every listing.

  • Residential and commercial in one search
  • Filter by borough, budget and size
  • Register once and we will send matches first