What right is commonly associated with joint tenancy that distinguishes it from tenancy in common?

The right of survivorship is a key characteristic that distinguishes joint tenancy from tenancy in common. In a joint tenancy arrangement, when one co-owner (or joint tenant) dies, their interest in the property automatically passes to the surviving joint tenants, rather than being transferred according to the deceased's will or the laws of intestate succession. This means that the remaining joint tenants retain full ownership of the property without the need for probate or other legal processes typical in transferring ownership after death.

This automatic transfer of ownership upon the death of a joint tenant is what creates a cohesive and unified ownership structure among joint tenants, as they all have equal rights in the enjoyment and control of the property during their lifetimes. This aspect is fundamentally different from tenancy in common, where each tenant may own a separate and distinct share of the property, and upon their death, their share is passed on to their heirs or according to a will.

In contrast, while the other options—leasing property, transferring ownership, and partitioning property—may apply in various ownership structures, they do not capture the unique feature that joint tenancy offers.