Older people may consider severance of tenancy as a means of providing a nest egg for their loved ones.

Under English law most homes are owned under joint tenancy agreements, which means the property is owned by both partners.

A severance of tenancy procedure means that while both partners still own the property, its value is divided into two distinct halves.

This means that if a partner were to die, the surviving partner could put the share of the property into trust.

This could provide a much-needed nest egg for young relatives.