How friends buy together and escape the singles tax

On August 4, 2026, the Explosão Solar portal sheds light on the experience of two friends who joined forces to buy a property and dodge the so-called “singles tax”. The case, originally published on March 16, 2018, demonstrates how partnership can transform access to housing.

When singlehood makes housing more expensive

Leanne, after ending a relationship in her mid-twenties, saw her dream of buying a home in her hometown drift away because of high prices. Even though she earned a comfortable salary, the desired properties – with a garden and a parking space – were unaffordable for someone buying alone.

Sarah, a friend since school, was renting a shared room in Brighton and also wanted to move back to Kent, but feared she wouldn't climb the housing ladder with a flight attendant's salary.

Buying together as an alternative

When Sarah suggested buying together, Leanne “totally baulked”. After consulting a mortgage adviser, the two moved forward, stating that the measure helped avoid the “singles tax”.

Rent or mortgage costs, household bills and subscriptions cannot be split when you are alone, and the municipal tax is 25 % lower for a single person, but it is not half the amount of a couple.

How the partnership was structured

Before the acquisition, the friends set a minimum co-habitation period of two years, which later extended to four, and defined procedures in case one of them wanted to leave.

The mortgage payments were divided proportionally to their different salaries, and the agreement was recorded in a declaration of trust to ensure protection in the event of a sale.

Household bills were paid from a joint account, with Sarah, the “bill keeper”, monitoring the amounts to be transferred each month. In addition, they reduced expenses by sharing meals, as they had similar eating habits.

Benefits and financial results

According to the Homeowner's Alliance, buying with friends expands the deposit and budget, as well as splits costs. However, caution, financial transparency, separate legal advice and a formal contract are recommended.

Four years after moving in, Leanne and Sarah sold the house at a profit and used the accumulated equity to finance new individual acquisitions. Sarah says: "Neither of us would have been able to do what we've done without having the property that we had together," and she also highlights the freedom gained.

Leanne acknowledges that, without the partnership, she would have eventually achieved her goal, but later, and adds: "The hidden singles tax is that everything has to take so much longer for you to be in a position of affordability to do what you want to do."

Inspiration for new initiatives

The success of the two friends inspired their friend Philly to create Cucoon, an online platform that connects singles for joint purchases, aiming to “level the playing field” by reducing the singles tax in the housing sector.

Other practices are emerging, such as loan circles – a friend buys an expensive item and passes it on – and ride-sharing to split fuel costs.

Julia Pearson, from Hampshire, launched the site Just4One about nine years ago, after noticing extra charges on solo trips. The portal gathers transport options that do not include a single-person surcharge and offers saving tips, such as adding an extra driver to car insurance, as suggested by the RAC.

Julia also shares tools with friends and distributes plant cuttings, encouraging people to think about alternatives to individual consumption.

With information from BBC News.