Cohabitation agreement

Property & tenancy

This editable Word agreement is for two partners who live together without being married. It helps record ownership, household contributions, shared expenses, debts, and plans for separation or a partner’s death. You receive a fill-in document with practical tables and prompts. Have an attorney check the completed agreement before signing.

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What's in the template

Cohabitation Agreement

Have an attorney check this completed agreement before signing, especially the arrangements for a partner’s death. This document records your intentions. It may not control rights held by a landlord, creditor, co-owner or another person.

Parties and purpose

We are partners who live together without being married. We record our arrangements for our home, property, household costs, debts, separation and the death of either partner.

Partner One full name	[full name]
Partner One contact details	[address, phone or email]
Partner Two full name	[full name]
Partner Two contact details	[address, phone or email]
Date we began living together	[date]
Date this agreement starts	[date]

Our home

Home address	[full address]
Home arrangement	[rented, owned by Partner One, owned by Partner Two, jointly owned, or other]
Landlord, owner or co-owner, if applicable	[name and contact details]
Lease or ownership record kept at	[location or file description]

Our payment arrangements do not, by themselves, record ownership of the home. We will record separately any agreed contribution toward the home and the ownership share, if any.

Property each of us already owns

We will list significant belongings, savings and other property, including items brought into the home. We will keep receipts, account records or other proof with this agreement.

Property or account	Owner or owners	Agreed share or contribution	Record or proof kept
[item or account]	[name or names]	[share or contribution]	[receipt, statement or other record]
[item or account]	[name or names]	[share or contribution]	[receipt, statement or other record]
[item or account]	[name or names]	[share or contribution]	[receipt, statement or other record]

Property we acquire together

For significant items we buy together, we will record ownership, each person’s contribution and how we want to handle the item if we separate or either of us dies.

Item	Owner or agreed shares	Contribution by each person	Plan if we separate or either dies
[item]	[name or agreed shares]	[amount or contribution]	[agreed arrangement]
[item]	[name or agreed shares]	[amount or contribution]	[agreed arrangement]

Household costs

Amounts are in rand unless we record another currency. We will review these arrangements if our income, home or household needs change.

Cost	Who pays	Amount or agreed method	Payment arrangement
Rent or home loan	[name or names]	[amount in rand or agreed share]	[method and payment date]
Municipal services	[name or names]	[amount in rand or agreed share]	[method and payment date]
Groceries and household supplies	[name or names]	[amount in rand or agreed share]	[method and payment date]
Other: [describe]	[name or names]	[amount in rand or agreed share]	[method and payment date]

Accounts, savings and debts

Each person remains responsible between us for debts in their own name, unless we record a different contribution or repayment arrangement below. An arrangement between us does not release a person named on an account or debt from obligations to a creditor unless that creditor agrees. We will not use another person’s credit or take on a shared debt without recording our agreement.

Account, debt, savings or stokvel arrangement	Name or names on it	Agreed contribution or repayment	Record or proof
[account, debt, savings or arrangement]	[name or names]	[amount or agreed method]	[statement or other record]
[account, debt, savings or arrangement]	[name or names]	[amount or agreed method]	[statement or other record]

If we separate

We will try to agree in writing on a practical move-out arrangement, shared costs and the handling of property. We will record what we agree below.

Notice or move-out arrangement	[arrangement]
Who may remain in the home, and on what terms	[arrangement]
How jointly owned property will be valued, sold or bought out	[arrangement]
How shared costs and debts will be paid or settled between us	[arrangement]
How we will record and resolve a disagreement	[arrangement, such as a written discussion or help from a mediator]

If either of us dies

We will complete these fields to record our intentions for shared property, debts and the home. We understand this agreement alone may not control property managed by a landlord, co-owner, creditor or another person. We will get an attorney’s advice and obtain any consent needed for the arrangements we choose.

Person to contact about the deceased partner’s affairs, if known	[name and contact details, or not known]
How jointly owned property should be identified and valued	[agreed method]
Our intended arrangement for shared property, including any sale or buy-out	[arrangement]
How shared costs and debts should be handled between us after a death	[arrangement]
Whether the surviving partner intends to continue living in the home, and for how long or until what event	[arrangement]
Who will pay rent, the home loan, municipal services and other costs during that occupation	[arrangement]
Landlord, owner, co-owner or other person whose consent may be needed, and where consent is recorded	[name, contact details and consent record, or not applicable]
Alternative arrangement if the survivor cannot remain in the home	[arrangement]

Keep this agreement consistent with each person’s will, ownership records and any lease or credit arrangements. Ask an attorney to review the death arrangements and any separate documents needed.

Other matters and changes

If matters involving children, maintenance, tax or a business arise, we will get separate advice. We may change this agreement by recording the change in writing and signing it together. We will keep the signed version and supporting records together.

Signatures

We have read this agreement, discussed its terms and had the opportunity to get independent advice before signing.

Place of signing	[place]
Date of signing	[date]

Partner One

Partner Two

Witness for Partner One

Witness for Partner Two

How to fill it in

Enter the parties Fill in both partners’ names and contact details. Add the dates you began living together and want the agreement to start.
Describe the home Enter the address and state whether it is rented or owned. Identify the landlord or owner, and note where the lease or ownership record is kept.
List existing property Use the first property table for significant belongings, savings and other property. Record each owner, any agreed share or contribution, and the proof you keep.
Record shared purchases For items bought together, state the owners or agreed shares and each person’s contribution. Explain what you want to happen if you separate or either partner dies.
Set out costs and debts Complete the household costs table, then list relevant accounts, debts and savings, including a stokvel if applicable. Record any repayment arrangement, while remembering that a creditor must agree before its obligations change.
Plan for separation Write down the move-out plan and how you want to handle shared property, costs and disagreements. Make the arrangements specific enough for both partners to follow.
Complete the death arrangements and sign Record how you want shared property and debts handled, and whether the survivor intends to remain in the home. Have an attorney check the completed agreement and related records before both partners sign.

Tips before you send it

Keep ownership separate from household contributions. A payment toward rent or a home loan does not, by itself, record an agreed ownership share.
Describe valuable belongings clearly and keep receipts, account statements or other proof with the agreement.
For each shared debt, record whose name is on the account and who will contribute to repayment. Your arrangement between yourselves does not release either person from creditor obligations without the creditor’s agreement.
Make the death plan practical: state how shared property and debts should be handled, what the survivor’s intended home arrangement is, who pays ongoing costs, and what happens if the survivor cannot remain.
Check that the home arrangements fit the lease or ownership records, and obtain any needed consent. Have an attorney review how the death arrangements fit with each person’s will.
Replace every bracketed field that applies. Write “not applicable” where a section does not apply, rather than leaving uncertainty.

Questions & answers

Does this agreement change what I owe a creditor?

No. The payment plan records what the partners agree between themselves. It does not release a person named on an account or debt from obligations to a creditor unless that creditor agrees.

What happens to shared property if one partner dies?

Use the death section to record how you want jointly owned property identified, valued and handled. Ask an attorney to check that plan alongside your ownership records and wills.

Can the surviving partner stay in the home after the other partner dies?

The agreement lets you record the survivor’s intended occupation plan, including costs and an alternative if they cannot stay. Check the lease or ownership arrangements, obtain any needed consent, and have an attorney review the plan.

Does paying household costs give me a share of my partner’s property?

The agreement records ownership separately from household payments. If you intend a contribution to create an agreed share, write that arrangement clearly and ask an attorney to review it.

Can we change the agreement later?

The document provides for changes recorded in writing and signed by both partners. Ask an attorney to review significant changes before relying on them.