Cohabitation (avoliitto)

In a cohabiting relationship (avoliitto) there is no automatic split of property. If you break up, each keeps their own property and the home is divided by who owns it. This is a big difference from marriage: a cohabiting partner has no legal right to half of the shared home, even if you have lived together for years.

Protect both partners’ contributions with two records. Write the ownership shares into the deed of sale according to how much each of you pays of the deposit, the loan repayments, and the renovation. If one puts in 60 percent and the other 40 percent, record it that way. Do not split it automatically in half just because you live together.

Also make a cohabitation agreement (avoliittosopimus) that sets out how the home and shared property are divided if you part. The agreement brings clarity to a situation where one has paid more or done work on the home. Without an agreement, a cohabiting partner can claim only a limited compensation, and getting it is not certain.

If you want joint ownership to be equal, make sure both of you are listed as owners in the deed of sale and both are on the loan. Simply living together or paying the bills does not give you ownership if your name is not on the papers.