Buying a house with a partner is a big step — here’s when to do it

Is there ever a right time? (Picture: Shutterstock/shisu_ka) First kiss. First holiday. First home. Buying a house with your significant other is often compared to marriage as one of the biggest commitments a couple can make together. It’s no surprise then that many wonder when exactly is the right time to take the plunge. According to a 2026 survey from Barratt Homes, 49% of Brits think couples should wait at least one to two years before buying together — and only 12% think it’s acceptable within the first year of dating. One TikTok creator, @charljadehome, 25, recently revealed she’s bought a home with her partner of 10 months. It sparked quite a debate online, with viewers divided over whether their decision was romantic, or a little naïve. ‘There’s no right time, but this one surely isn’t,’ commented @username.bn. While user @user19836263721 added: ‘As an estate agent — hell no.’ But others were quick to congratulate the pair. Ready to start your homebuying journey? You can access completely fee-free mortgage advice with London & Country (L&C) Mortgages, a partner of Metro. Customers benefit from: – Award winning service from the UK’s leading mortgage broker – Expert advisors on hand 7 days a week – Access to 1000s of mortgage deals from across the market Unlike many mortgage brokers, L&C won’t charge you a fee for their advice. Find out how much you could borrow online Mortgage service provided by London & Country Mortgages (L&C), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (registered number: 143002). The FCA does not regulate most Buy to Let mortgages. Your home or property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. ‘Girl, when you know you know!! We put an offer in on a house after 4 months together, moved in at 8 months, and have been living here now for nearly a year and a half! Best thing we ever did,’ gushed @dorrington9789. Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. So, is there ever really a ‘perfect’ time to move in with your partner? Metro asked the experts. Many on TikTok were enthusiastic, but some said 10 months is too soon (Picture: Shutterstock / Monkey Business Images) What do the experts say? For Sophie Graham, personal finance expert at Sunny, this decision shouldn’t be based on how long you’ve been together, but if you’re prepared to ask each other in-depth money questions. ‘Before buying together, you should both have a clear picture of each other’s finances,’ Sophie tells Metro. ‘This includes income, savings, debts, credit history and regular spending. ‘It’s also important to talk about how you’ll split the deposit, mortgage payments and household bills, particularly if one person is contributing more than the other.’ Moving in together can be exciting, but a home purchase is a huge commitment (Picture: Shutterstock / Ivanko80) And you need to get past any awkwardness. ‘It’s worth discussing the less comfortable “what ifs” too,’ adds Sophie. ‘Buying a home is a major financial commitment, so couples should understand what would happen if circumstances changed or the relationship ended. ‘Agreeing on how the property will be owned and getting the right legal arrangements in place can help protect both people.’ As well as figuring out how you’ll both pay for your home, Vix Leyton, consumer expert at thinkmoney, reccomends discussing what you’d do with any disposable income left over. ‘Talk about how much breathing room you both want after the mortgage is paid,’ she tells Metro. ‘Ask yourself: “Do you want to keep a healthy emergency fund, keep saving every month and still afford holidays and a social life, or are you both comfortable putting more of your income into the house?” Make sure you cover your legal and financial bases, together and separately (Picture: Shutterstock / G-Stock Studio) ‘The mortgage payment is only one part of home ownership, and there will always be something that needs repairing at the least convenient possible moment,’ she explains. Vix also warns not to make sweeping statements. Both parties need to be really clear about their intentions. ””We could do the place up,” can mean very different things to different people,’ Vix adds. ‘One person’s idea of a fixer-upper is a new kitchen and a lick of paint. The other’s is bare floorboards, rewiring and six months of living next to a skip.’ ‘Have the emergency conversation too. What happens if one person loses their job, becomes ill, takes parental leave or needs to reduce their hours? ‘How many months of mortgage payments could you cover between you? Buying at the absolute ceiling of what you can afford can leave very little room for real life to happen,’ she warns. What about my legal rights? When buying a property with two or more co-owners, a Deed of Trust or cohabitation agreement is crucial, Adrian MacDiarmid, Head of Mortgage Relations at Barratt Homes, explains to Metro. ‘A Deed of Trust is a legal document that records who owns what share of a property and how sale proceeds should be divided. They can be useful where owners have contributed different amounts to the deposit or mortgage payments.’ Is it right for our relationship? It’s not just bank balances that need to be healthy — your relationship needs to be in good shape too. ‘Is 10 months into a relationship too soon to be buying a house together? My gut response is to say, “Hell yeah it is!”’ Jonathan Eddie, a counsellor and psychotherapist tells Metro. ‘Just 10 months in, for most of us, puts us squarely in that early “honeymoon” phase, where we easily experience attraction, sexual desire, excitement and infatuation. ‘This stage will not last (nor should it), and it’s during the next stage where we really discover whether we’re compatible as long-term partners.’ Jonathan explains that ‘inevitable annoyances,’ like leaving the toilet seat up, are guaranteed to pop up, so advises trying to try renting for a year or two first, before buying. On the other hand, Relationship Coach Kate Mansfield says: ‘Ten months is not automatically reckless, just as five years is not automatically wise. ‘What matters is whether the couple has gathered enough real-life evidence about one another, not simply whether they have accumulated enough time on the calendar.’ While Kate similarly warns about the ‘high-intensity’ honeymoon phase, she does not advise a timeline but rather bases her judgements on the type of couple. ‘If a couple meets later in life, for example, they may be more secure in themselves and aligned on the practicalities’, she explains. But she adds that other couples ‘can be together for years while avoiding every difficult conversation.’ Am I ready to buy with my partner? Kate outlines the key questions to ask each other before purchasing a home. ‘The right relationship will not be threatened by sensible questions. If you cannot discuss an exit plan, unequal contributions or financial risk before buying, you are not ready to buy together,’ the relationship coach says. What is our individual income, savings, debt, credit history and spending habits? Who is contributing what to the deposit, mortgage, bills and repairs? What are our expectations regarding marriage, kids, careers and location? How will ownership be structured? What happens if one person wants to sell? What if one person loses income? What happens if the relationship ends? Have you handled conflict, stress, and disappointment as a couple? And was it done respectfully? Do you have a story you’d like to share? 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