How Parents Can Help Their Children Buy Without Going on the Deeds

Liam Drummond
4 days ago
3 min read

Making home ownership possible without co-owning the property

Getting onto the property ladder has never been easy, and for many young buyers in today’s market, a bit of help from family makes all the difference.

But what if you want to help your child buy a home without owning part of it yourself? That is where a Joint Borrower Sole Proprietor mortgage (JBSP) can be an innovative solution.

Let’s look at how it works, why it is different from gifting money, and how it might just be the bridge that helps your family finally buy that first home.

Why parents want to help but avoid co-ownership

Plenty of parents are happy to support their children financially, but going on the deeds of a property can bring its own challenges. For example,

You could face an extra stamp duty surcharge if you already own your own home.
It can complicate inheritance planning later on
You might not want to appear as a co-owner for tax or mortgage reasons

That is why JBSP mortgages are becoming increasingly popular; they let you help without the downsides of co-ownership.

So, how does a JBSP mortgage actually work

With a Joint Borrower Sole Proprietor mortgage, you and your child both go on the mortgage application, but only your child’s name goes on the property title.

That means your income can be included when the lender calculates affordability, helping them borrow more, while you stay off the deeds, so you are not classed as a homeowner for tax purposes.

You will both be jointly responsible for the mortgage payments, but only your child will legally own the home.

It is a simple structure that gives your child a financial boost while keeping the ownership in their name alone.

How does it compare to gifting a deposit

Many families go down the gifted deposit route, and that is still a great option for some. The difference is that a gifted deposit is a lump sum of money that does not need to be repaid, whereas a JBSP mortgage is more about ongoing support through shared responsibility for the mortgage itself.

A gifted deposit helps reduce how much your child needs to borrow, while a JBSP increases how much they can borrow in the first place. Sometimes, families use both together, a partial gift and a joint mortgage arrangement.

Common reasons parents choose JBSP

From what I see at Drummonds Finance Group, parents usually consider JBSP mortgages when,

Their child’s income alone is not enough for the home they want
They do not want to pay extra stamp duty by being on the deeds
They prefer to keep ownership straightforward for inheritance reasons
They would like the flexibility to step away from the mortgage in future

It is a good balance between financial support and keeping things simple legally.

What lenders look for

Not every lender offers JBSP mortgages, and those that do have slightly different rules. Typically, they will want to see that,

Everyone on the application has a good credit history
The supporting borrower can afford to help if needed
The property will be occupied by the main borrower (your child)

They may also look at the age of the supporting borrower, since the mortgage term cannot usually go past retirement age.

The good news is that we know which lenders are most flexible and how to package these cases properly, which is half the battle.

What happens later on

A JBSP mortgage does not have to be forever. Once your child’s income increases, or their circumstances change, they can usually remortgage into their own name and remove you from the loan.

That is part of what makes JBSP so attractive; it is a stepping stone, not a lifetime commitment.

The practical benefits

Boosts affordability: lets your child borrow more without adding a second owner
Avoids extra stamp duty: since you are not named on the property
Keeps things simple: one legal owner, one main home
Flexible exit: can be changed later when finances improve

It is a family-friendly mortgage solution that keeps things neat and future-proof.

Why is it worth getting advice early

Because JBSP mortgages involve multiple people, it is important to get the structure right from the start. The lender choice, ownership setup, and term length all matter, and having an experienced broker makes the difference between approval and frustration.

At Drummonds Finance Group, we have helped many families across Oxfordshire and the UK arrange Joint Borrower Sole Proprietor mortgages that suit everyone involved. We explain how it works, check affordability with different lenders, and guide you through the paperwork from start to finish.

No pressure, no jargon, just clear, honest advice that makes buying together easier.