AIBU to advise my daughter that she'd be daft to not put her name on house deeds?

@Derbee read again, they are buying a house together. They are both applying for the mortgage.

If she is paying half the mortgage and bills she should definitely be on the deeds. As you said, BFs deposit can be legally ring-fenced to be returned to him if they separate and sell the property, though some formula would have to be used to take account of the proportion that each has paid for.

It is very young to be buying jointly, though two years together must seem like a long time at their age. But the earlier people buy the better.

No unless it’s a joint mortgage.

no way will his parents allow this happen, there is no way unless they are really stupid and not on mumsnet

Marraige changes the scope as his marraige contract right trumps the banks right under any new loan agreement for the "family home"

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1983/19/enacted

When you were living unmarried and court could recognise a debt owed to your partner and allow him to register a charge ( a co-owner of the value)

Once the house is sold the bank get their share as they registered first (like a co-owner) then the partners court order is applied against the remaining value and you get the balance if there is any.

@User197634 of course if your daughter is paying half the mortgage, bills and maintenance of course she should be on the deeds. And the BFs deposit should be protected by a legal document. It's not that difficult. And it should the same if it was the other way around and your daughter had the deposit. Has she got any kind of deposit.

If she's on the loan, she's on the deed. Joint property means a mortgage in both names and property title.

If she's paying towards the mortgage then yes she should but he should have the deposit protected. Means if they split she would be entitled to half the value when it inevitably goes up.

Your DD isn’t buying a house, she just happens to be currently in a relationship with someone who is buying a house.

Without a deposit etc of her own, she’d be paying rent where she was living, without also having a share in the potential equity of the house she was renting.

Just because her current boyfriend is in a position to buy, it doesn’t mean her monthly budget of rent (which she’d pay anywhere) entitles her to be on the deeds of anyone’s property.

I would hope the boy’s parents would temper withhold the deposit when they hear his girlfriend’s mother is trying to ensure her daughter gets maximum benefit from it with minimal contribution. Beyond cheeky

@JudgeJ - what @soupyspoonsaid IS true.

Your daughter - as an adult - likely had to sign an Occupiers consent form of some sort, confirming she had no legal right to the property (in the event the mortgage company needed to repossess). She’s not on the mortgage.

In this instance, OP’s daughter WILL be on the mortgate - hence it’s standard practice e that the lender wants all mortgage parties to be owners of the property (so they can get it back if one or more of them default).

there are exceptions but they are specific and not standard.

if OPs daughter is not on the mortgage, then no, she should not be/doesn’t have to be on the deeds, but that’s a different situation.

Not true. When we changed our mortgage company our 18 year old daughter, still at school, had to formally agree to the change but was not placed on the deeds.

This! Protect his £60k of course but otherwise she’s a fool to not be on the deeds given the arrangement you describe!

Exactly and any money she pays 'towards the house' should be consider as rent rather than a financial interest in the house. Sounds like her boyfriend needs some good advice before he risks losing part of his home.3

A friend's DD was in a very similar position, and the way they did it was to put the mortgage and deeds only in the BF's name until they were married, at which point she was added to both

In the meantime she saved half what the mortgage cost in her name only, on the understanding that it would go into the joint pot on marriage, or become a nest egg for her to fall back on if the relationship had failed

It worked very well and now they share everything, but in OP's case it may be that the BF needs the DD's income to get the mortgage he wants, in which case I'd say no and revert to the above (and especially given their very young ages)

Please never give advice to vulnerable women.

His deposit can be ring fenced and protected but she needs to be on the deeds and mortgage too.

Yes, better to do it now. Otherwise the years will slip and she’ll find herself as a middle aged woman with nothing to her name.

Just see your extra information ...the mortgage company wouldn't permit her not to have a stake (because she has legal rughts in these circumstances)...the boyfriend is waving red flags though

If they are planning on a joint mortgage, afaik the mortgage company will require her name to be on the deeds. His deposit can be protected and ringfenced, but the house will be jointly owned in different proportions.

The conversation needs to be about her financial future and if she is contributing to such an extent that he is able to sustain a mortgage ..then this is not in her best interest if she isn't also buying property. Saving for a deposit and buying her own property really matter ...years past fast and she would have build nothing in this scenario if things go wrong.

It IS complicated if she's on the loan but not on the deeds

Joint mortgage sole owner is a thing however there is few mortgage companies that allow it

As a mortgage adviser I can tell you that most banks will insist if she’s in the mortgage she’s on the deeds.

if the mortgage is going in his name only she can’t go on the deeds but a contract can be drawn up to protect her

I would 100% be advising, joint mortgage both on deeds but with a contract that says should they spilt before any proceeds are spilt he is get his £60k back. I would then also encourage your daughter to save what she can so that if they move house in the future, she can put towards the deposit on the new house and he can get his 50% deposit back.

ideally they would have equal footing in deposit so depending on the house the price they could both put some in each. Also me and my now DH bought are first house when we were 20 & 22. Still together 20 years later

Her name on the mortgage - her name on the deeds. End of story.

If he is paying all of the deposit, all of the solicitors and moving fees, and does not require her salary to secure the mortgage then if he were my son I would advise him to buy just in his name BUT definitely not get her to pay for half of every single bill including the mortgage and maintenance.

If she is going to be on the mortgage then of course must be on the deeds too but then she should also be paying towards solicitors fees and at least have put some money down as a deposit. It is possible that the house goes down in value and they need to sell. In that case would it be his deposit that takes the hit or would she be able to buy herself out of that?

If he puts down £60K, the house costs £180K and they split the mortgage for £120K. They split and need to sell. House now only worth £165K. Where is this £15K coming from? From his deposit?

Sounds like they both need to think through a few scenarios and what is really fair and protects them both.

I’m confused. You can’t have a mortgage if you don’t own the property. So is he buying the house outright or will a mortgage just be in his name?

I see this all the time. Always the woman who gets screwed.

it does indicate, however, a) that he is not certain about their future or b) he is a dick and to be avoided. Not sure which.

OP, we know you say you mention youth and inexperience already, but please ask your DD, if she would be thinking of buying a house now, were it not for her BF desire and lump sum? I think this is worth her consideration before her love-brain takes over her executive decision making skills.

My suggestion on the Dos:
Do Ensure Legal Protection for Her Financial Contribution:
-Since your daughter will be sharing bills and contributing to the property in practical terms (even if her name isn't on the deeds), it's crucial that her financial contribution is formally recognised. She should have an official agreement in place (ideally a Cohabitation Agreement), which outlines her share of the property, bills, and any potential share of any future profit if they sell or split. If she's making a meaningful contribution, it should be legally recognised, even if her name isn't on the deeds.
Do Insist on Independent Legal Advice:
-Since this involves significant financial risk and potential legal complications, both your daughter and her boyfriend should seek independent legal advice. It's important that they both understand the long-term implications of their agreement. Your daughter should have her own solicitor to ensure that her interests are protected. An impartial lawyer can help her fully comprehend the consequences if things don't work out.
Do Consider Adding Her Name to the Deeds or at Least a Formal Financial Agreement:
-If your daughter plans to stay long-term in the house and make a substantial contribution, she should consider having her name added to the deeds (as a joint owner, even if it's on a different basis such as 50/50 or a specific share). This gives her legal ownership of the property, which secures her position in the event of a breakup. If adding her name isn't an option, a Trust Deed could be an alternative, which would legally outline her financial interest in the property.

Top 3 Don’ts:
Don’t Rely Solely on Informal Agreements:
-Avoid any verbal or informal agreements. If there is no legal documentation, she may have limited rights should they split. Without something in writing, her contributions could be overlooked, leaving her financially vulnerable if things don’t work out with her boyfriend.
Don’t Ignore the Potential for Unforeseen Risks:
-Your daughter might feel confident about the relationship now, but it's always wise to plan for the unexpected. Breakups happen, and if the property is only in her boyfriend’s name, she could face significant financial loss and legal hurdles if they separate. It’s better to be over-prepared than under-prepared.
Don’t Assume Everything Will Be Easy if They Split:
-Many people assume that when they split, they’ll be able to just divide assets. However, the law can be complicated, and if her name isn't on the deeds, claiming any financial stake in the property could be difficult. The property could be seen as his, and without clear legal documentation, she may not be entitled to any portion of the value, even if she contributed financially.

Additional Thoughts:
You’re absolutely right to be cautious. Relationships, particularly when large financial investments like buying a house are involved, can be tricky. Even if they’re in a loving relationship now, it’s important to protect your daughter’s financial future. Legal agreements may feel like something "over the top" now, but they can prevent far bigger problems down the road.
I’d also recommend her speaking to a financial advisor to consider the broader picture (e.g. tax implications, mortgage terms, etc.) since buying property has long-term financial implications.