Buying Second Home with Partner

[PropertyQs]

Hello, I wonder if anyone could help with the below situation.

My partner owns the flat in which we are both currently living (I do not own a flat/house). However we want to move and buy a house together in the next year or so.

If possible we would also like to keep his flat in order to use it as a rental property.

We understand that this would mean we’d pay higher stamp duty on the house purchase as it would be a second home for him. We understand the only real way to avoid this would be for me to buy the house/have the mortgage in my own name solely (with us both still contributing to the deposit and standard stamp duty charge).

Is it possible to record this situation in an enforceable agreement so that, if we ever did split up, the agreement would state that the house is to be sold and the proceeds split between us?

Separately, are we correct that this is the only way to avoid the higher stamp duty charge on a second property or is there a way to have the house/mortgage in both of our names?

thank you!

[dslippy]

Be very careful.
Tricks to avoid tax should never be promised to work.
To the extent that you secure the arrangement behind the scenes, to that additional extent it risks being seen through by Inland Revenue.

Also bear in mind that once you start tying your life in knots to avoid tax, it becomes more and more difficult and expensive to stop.

[DE DOGS]

Advice is don't do it TAX is one thing you don't mess with penalties are severe.