Top Issues with Jointly-Owned Real Estate: Survey of 107 People Who Experienced Problems

AlbaLink Co., Ltd. (headquartered in Koto City, Tokyo; CEO: Kenji Kawata) conducted an awareness survey titled 'Survey on Difficulties with Jointly-Owned Real Estate' targeting 107 individuals who have experience owning real estate under joint ownership, and ranked the results.

Full details are published on Wakeari Property Buyout Pro. (https://wakearipro.com/jointly-owned-real-estate/)

It is common for married couples or siblings to jointly own real estate at the time of marriage or inheritance. While this may seem like an equal and rational choice, it can unexpectedly lead to disputes.

This time, Wakeari Property Buyout Pro, operated by AlbaLink Co., Ltd. (https://albalink.co.jp/), conducted a questionnaire survey of 107 people who have owned jointly-titled real estate, asking about their difficulties.

<<Conditions for Use of Survey Results>>

1. When using this information, clearly state the source as 'Wakeari Property Buyout Pro - Selling Accident Properties and Vacant Houses'.

2. If used on a website, include the following links as the source:

URL:

https://wakearipro.com/jointly-owned-real-estate/

https://wakearipro.com/

【Survey Overview】

Target: Individuals with experience owning jointly-titled real estate

Survey Period: June 2–12, 2026

Survey Organization: In-house survey

Method: Internet-based voluntary responses

Valid Responses: 107 (60 women, 47 men)

Respondent Age Groups: 20s: 16.8%, 30s: 29.0%, 40s: 25.2%, 50s: 18.7%, 60+: 10.3%

【Survey Summary】

- Top difficulty with jointly-owned real estate: 'Disagreement among co-owners'

- Most common consultation source when facing issues: 'Real estate company'

- Best preventive measure against disputes: 'Avoid joint ownership'

Top Issue: Disagreement Among Co-Owners

The top issue, 'Disagreement among co-owners,' was reported by 43.9% of respondents. Around 20% cited 'Handling during divorce' (20.6%) and 'Burden sharing of maintenance costs' (18.7%).

Following these, 'Complexity of procedures' (4.7%) and 'Communication with co-owners' (3.7%) ranked fourth and fifth, respectively.

Many difficulties arise from misalignment in opinions and policies among co-owners, such as disagreements over maintenance cost sharing. This is because critical decisions cannot be made unilaterally under joint ownership.

Even after reaching an agreement, actual procedures require all owners' cooperation, making the process cumbersome.

<1st: Disagreement Among Co-Owners>

- Co-owners disagreed on the timing and price of selling the property, leading to prolonged discussions (Female, 20s)

- Disagreement among siblings over whether to sell the property vacant or with the old house still standing (Female, 30s)

- After inheriting the family home jointly with siblings, I wanted to sell, but others wanted to keep it for sentimental reasons, causing conflict (Male, 40s)

Most issues relate to decision-making around selling—whether to sell, when, and how. Real estate is a major asset, and emotional attachments, especially to a family home, make consensus difficult. This often leads to stress and time-consuming negotiations.

<2nd: Handling During Divorce>

- Currently struggling with how to handle a jointly-owned condominium during divorce proceedings (Female, 30s)

- In the middle of divorce negotiations; land and building are jointly owned, making it hard to decide next steps. The mortgage is under my name, but I lost my job, making payments difficult (Male, 40s)

- Sold the apartment during divorce, but it was at a loss, leading to disputes over cost sharing (Female, 50s)

When purchasing a home with a joint loan, the property becomes jointly owned by the couple. While this increases borrowing capacity, it also complicates matters during divorce.

First, it must be decided whether to sell or if one party will continue living there. If one stays, handling the mortgage payments from the non-resident becomes difficult. Even if sold, disputes may arise over profit or loss distribution.

Given the emotional nature of divorce, calm discussions are often hard to maintain.

<3rd: Burden Sharing of Maintenance Costs>

- Disagreed over who should pay for fixed asset tax, repair costs, fire insurance, and grass cutting (Male, 20s)

- Needed repairs due to aging, but couldn't agree on cost sharing, delaying work (Female, 40s)

- Argue every year over who pays the fixed asset tax (Female, 50s)

Owning real estate incurs ongoing costs like fixed asset tax and repair expenses.

Under joint ownership, disagreements over cost sharing are common. Different approaches exist—based on usage ratio, ownership share, or emotional attachment (e.g., the one wanting to keep the house pays).

Disputes over cost sharing can delay necessary repairs, accelerating property deterioration. Annual arguments indicate that differing opinions on maintenance costs create ongoing stress.

<4th: Complexity of Procedures>

- My spouse and I jointly own property. Fixed asset tax bills come separately, but we pay from one account, making payment inconvenient (Female, 30s)

- When trying to file taxes via e-Tax, I couldn't figure out how to allocate expenses proportionally because the blue return form doesn’t support joint ownership (Female, 50s)

- Administrative procedures during sale are cumbersome (Female, 60+)

With jointly-owned property, multiple parties must jointly handle contracts, tax payments, and other procedures. Tasks that could be done individually under sole ownership become complex when multiple people are involved.

Additionally, some systems and forms are not fully adapted to joint ownership, adding complexity. Even without interpersonal conflict, the administrative burden of joint ownership can become a daily source of stress.

<5th: Communication with Co-Owners>

- Difficulty contacting co-owners when trying to sell or rent out the property, delaying procedures (Female, 20s)

- Couldn't contact a relative who co-owns the property, causing issues during name change procedures (Female, 50s)

With jointly-owned real estate, difficulties in contacting other co-owners can arise. Without communication, discussions and procedures cannot progress.