What key feature differentiates joint tenancy from tenants in common?

The key feature that differentiates joint tenancy from tenants in common is the rights of survivorship. In a joint tenancy, when one owner dies, their interest in the property automatically passes to the surviving joint tenants, rather than being transferred to the deceased owner's heirs or estate. This mechanism means that as long as at least one joint tenant remains alive, they maintain ownership of the entire property.

In contrast, tenants in common do not have this right of survivorship. When a tenant in common dies, their ownership interest is inherited by their heirs, which can lead to multiple owners of the same property unless care is taken to manage those interests. This fundamental difference in how property is transferred upon death is what uniquely characterizes joint tenancy compared to tenants in common.