The interest rate rise will put further pressure on first-time buyers’ finances, as we report on page 4. Young couples may find themselves having to delay wedded bliss in order to become smug homeowners. But couples who buy together do not always stay together and disputes over who has paid off more of the mortgage can get ugly when it all falls apart. A visit to www.oneplusone.org.uk/marriedornot (for basic tips) and the very comprehensive www.advicenow.org.uk would be worthwhile. Click on the “living together” tab on Advicenow for useful information on “living together agreements”, wills, money and children. There is also a section on separating; should it all go pear-shaped there is a handy checklist — a constructive way of channelling your anger.

All this may have put you off moving in with your loved one altogether. Help is close at hand, however: www.propertyfriends.co.uk aims to bring together those who want to co-buy but who don’t have anyone to do it with. It is similar to online dating. You create a profile by answering 40 questions about yourself — from the sort of property you’d like to buy and the size of your deposit to “how would your friends describe you in three words”. About 200 members (mostly in London) have signed up. The website also has sections on mortgages, legal matters and insurance (the website is free — the company makes money from selling mortgage products). And if you are nervous about choosing your co-buyer on a virtual profile alone you can join a speed networking session organised by the website.

If you want to go it alone, be wary of overstretching yourself. With inflation rearing up who knows how this might affect house prices? A warning must therefore come with www.ahuja.tv, which suggests that first-time buyers borrow on credit cards to put down a deposit or take mortgages that exceed the value of the property they buy. Such “clever” tips may help certain people get onto the property ladder, but could end up putting others in a highly precarious situation should property values dip.

Got a great website? E-mail lucia.adams@timesonline.co.uk

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