If you're tenants in common, rather than joint tenants, then when one of you dies their share of the property will form part of their estate and will pass to whomever it was left to under the terms of the deceased partner's will (or, in the absence of a will, according to the laws on intestacy). That can be more complicated than if you're joint tenants where the surviving partner automatically becomes the owner of the entire property. (Things can get particularly messy if the partners are unmarried and there's no will).
If you're tenants in common then either of you can apply to a court for an 'order for sale', forcing the sale of the property. (If you're joint tenants it would be necessary to severe that tenancy, thus becoming tenants in common, before such a court order could be sought).