Your Partner’s Property, Question by Question
What is protected, and how a jointly owned home is treated.
Will an IVA affect my partner's property?
Property in your partner's sole name is not affected. If your partner owns a home, or anything else, entirely in their own name, it is their asset, not yours, and your IVA has no claim on it. The arrangement only touches your assets and your share of anything you own jointly. So your partner's separate property is safe throughout your IVA.
What if we jointly own our home?
Only your share is considered, not your partner's. Where you own a home together, just your share of the equity is relevant to your IVA. Your partner's share is theirs and is protected. The equity is worked out on your portion alone, so a jointly owned home does not put your partner's interest at risk, only your own share is taken into account.
How is my share of the equity worked out?
Using a set formula on your portion. Your share of the equity is calculated as your proportion of 85% of the property's value, less the mortgage and any secured borrowing. Under the current 2025 rules this is assessed once at the start. If your share is under £10,000 the property is excluded; if it is more, your IVA simply runs a little longer instead of you releasing any equity.
Could my partner be forced to sell?
No. An IVA cannot force the sale of a jointly owned home, and certainly cannot touch a property in your partner's sole name. This is a key difference from bankruptcy. Your partner's home and their share of any joint home are not at risk of forced sale because of your IVA. The equity question is handled through the length of your arrangement, not by selling.
Does my partner have to pay anything?
No, not towards your property's equity. Your partner is not asked to contribute to your IVA or to buy out your share. Under the current rules, any equity you have is reflected by your IVA possibly running six years instead of five, rather than by raising money against the home. So your partner is not put under financial pressure by the equity side of your arrangement.
What about my partner's car, savings or possessions?
Anything solely theirs is untouched. Your partner's car, their savings, and possessions in their name are not part of your IVA and cannot be claimed for your debts. Only your own assets, and your share of jointly owned ones, are relevant. So the things your partner owns in their own right stay entirely with them, unaffected by your arrangement.
What if the property is only in my name?
Then it is treated as yours. If the home is in your sole name, it is your asset, and your equity is assessed under the usual rules, but an IVA never forces a sale. If your partner has a beneficial interest despite not being on the deeds, perhaps because they contributed to it, that can complicate matters, so it is worth getting advice on your specific situation.
Should I get advice?
Yes, especially with jointly owned property. How a home is owned, and how much equity you each have, can affect your IVA and your partner's peace of mind. A free, impartial adviser can explain exactly how your share would be treated and confirm your partner's interest is protected. It costs nothing, and clear advice removes a common source of worry for couples.
