What is a Tenancy in Common?

A Tenancy in Common is characterized by shared ownership among two or more individuals, where each owner holds an undivided interest in the property. This means that each tenant-in-common has the right to use and occupy the entire property regardless of the percentage of ownership they hold. Importantly, there is no right of survivorship in a Tenancy in Common; when one owner passes away, their share can be passed on to their heirs rather than automatically going to the other co-owners.

This structure allows for flexibility in ownership percentages, meaning that one person can own a larger share than another while both have equal rights to the entire property. This form of ownership can be particularly advantageous for friends or family members who wish to co-invest in a property but want to maintain the ability to leave their ownership stake to whomever they choose.

In contrast, other options describe different forms of ownership, such as ownership by a married couple or complete ownership by a single person, which do not reflect the shared, undivided nature of Tenancy in Common. Joint ownership with sharing rights may seem similar but typically refers to Joint Tenancy, which includes a right of survivorship feature that is absent in Tenancy in Common.