HomeSituationsPersonal & familyShared property
TN/SIT/05
Edition 2027 · effective 1 January 2027
Personal & family · Shared property
Several people own one asset. Each has a different plan for it.
Jointly owned homes, land or holiday properties often outlive the agreement that created them. A Neutral can help co-owners decide whether to keep, sell, buy out or restructure, on fair numbers.
§ 01What it looks like
Recognise it early. The earliest moment is the cheapest.
What you notice first
Small, and easy to explain away.
- One co-owner pays the costs and the others use the property
- Someone wants to sell and the others refuse
- Nobody agrees what the property is worth
- The original agreement is missing or silent
What waiting can cost
Usually more than the original issue.
- The asset and its value
- Family and friendship ties
- Tax and legal costs of a forced sale
§ 02The Neutral route
Usually: Neutral Evaluation.
An independent valuation or evaluation removes the argument about the number, so co-owners can decide what to do.
Neutral Evaluation
You decide. The evaluator advises.
Also used · Binding only if the parties sign an agreementMediation
The parties decide. The mediator never imposes.
§ 03The steps
What a good process looks like.
- Agree an independent valuationBefore anything else01
- List the realistic options: keep, sell, buy out, rentThe moment independence enters02
- Mediate the choiceWhere the work is done03
- Write a co-ownership agreement for the futureSo it holds04
§ 04Prepare and avoid
What to bring. What to leave out.
(Bring)
01
Title documents and any agreement
02
History of costs paid by each owner
03
Each owner’s preferred outcome
04
Any mortgage or tax considerations
(Avoid)
✕
Changing locks or occupying the property unilaterally
✕
Using two competing valuations as weapons
§ 05Your version
Every situation is different. Describe yours.
§ 06Related