Navigating love and property: how to safeguard your finances in co-ownership

A legally binding agreement that clearly sets out how the property and finances will be handled during the relationship – and if it ends – is critical. While South Africans are certainly not waiting for a spouse before buying a house, married and cohabiting couples account for around 30% of allproperty transactions,according to property data. “There are many advantages to applying for a bond with your partner.

In addition to the emotional security of owning a home together, there is the advantage of combined incomes. A dual income means there is a better likelihood of securing a larger bond. “Buying with a partner also means sharing costs of deposits, repayments and levies.

This makes home ownership more affordable,” says Bradd Bendall, BetterBond’s national head of sales. According to Lightstone data, between January and October 2025, residential property bought by non-natural persons – including companies and trusts – made up 17% of transactions, marginally up on 16% in 2024. But there were fewerfirst-time buyers(FTBs) (37% of all transactions down from 40% in 2024), and they paid significantly less, on average, for their property (R1.05m to R1.9m).

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Most buyers were aged between 30 and 45, and they spent on average just under R1.4m on a property. Younger buyers (18-30) spent just under R1.2m, while the 60 – 90 age band spent the most, on average, at R1.8m. Love is in the air, and nothing says commitment quite like buying a home with your partner or spouse.

If your plan this Valentine’s Day is to seal the deal with the keys to a new home, it’s important to understand the pros and cons of co-owning a property, says Bendall. However, joint ownership does also come with some risks for both married and unmarried couples. Property ownership is not based on relationship status or emotional commitment, according to South African law.

Instead, it is based on what is recorded on the title deed, explains Bendall. “If both partners’ names appear on the title deed, they are legally recognised as co-owners regardless of who contributed more financially.” This applies to everyone, whether they are married or not. Married couples benefit from legal protection when it comes to property ownership, although this depends on the type of marriage, explains Bendall.

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