Leasehold properties

If you’re looking for advice about leaseholds, our property solicitors are here to help. Leasehold is a particular type of property ownership that comes with its own unique legal rights and responsibilities. Many flats in the UK are sold on a leasehold basis but leasehold can apply to other properties too.

Importance of seeking legal advice

Leasehold is a specialist area of property law; it's a good idea to seek legal advice before entering into any leasehold agreements. Leases vary from one property to another depending on property prices or the value of the property, so it's important that you understand all of your legal rights when buying a leasehold property. 

Buying a leasehold property can be a good investment, but it's important to look into some aspects of lease properties if you are considering purchasing or selling a property with a lease agreement.

  1. Lease Term

    As leasehold property is only owned for a fixed number of years, it is essential to know about the lease terms and whether there are options for a short lease or a long lease so that you can apply for a lease extension before the lease ends.

  2. Ground Rent

    As a leaseholder, you may be required to pay the property's ground rent as well as any other service fees, such as building insurance, to the management company or landlords that may increase over time. With the new leasehold reform act 2022(Ground Rents), you might not need to pay the ground rent on your new long residential leasehold property; you need to check whether your lease will be covered by this new act, as it will only apply to leases granted on or after 30 June 2022.

  3. Leasehold restrictions

    It is important to check whether you are allowed to make some alterations to the leasehold house according to your needs or not; some landlords don't allow any alteration in the property, but not in all cases.

  4. Leasehold enfranchisement

    Considering leasehold enfranchisement would be a worthwhile option, as it will provide you options for buying the freehold properties or extending the lease that, gives you more control over the property.

Difference between Freehold and Leasehold

Leasehold Properties Freehold Properties
Ownership for a specific period of time Ownership for an unlimited period of time
Generally cheaper More expensive
May need to extend or enfranchise the property No need to renew or extend the right of ownership
Prior permission or approval is needed for any maintenance or alterations The owner can alter or improve the property
Leaseholder might need to pay ground rent or some service charges to the owner All responsibilities or expense related to property is on the freehold owner

 

Contact Us

At QualitySolicitors, our conveyancing solicitors advise on all the legal aspects of leasehold properties - whether you are planning to buy or sell a leasehold. We can also advise you on your rights and provide help if you're experiencing difficulties with a current leasehold property or leasehold enfranchisements.

Our friendly solicitors will explain the process clearly and answer any questions you may have. We offer a free initial assessment so that you can find out about our service, timescales and costs with no obligations. So for advice about leasehold property law, call us at 08082503516 or contact our experts today.

 



FAQs


The decision to buy a leasehold or a freehold property depends on your preferences and financial situation.

With a freehold, you own both the property and the land it sits on. This means you don’t have to pay ground rent and service charges to a landlord. You also have more freedom to renovate the property. However, leasehold properties can be more affordable with fewer maintenance responsibilities than freehold properties. With some leasehold properties, you might also have access to shared amenities such as a 24-hour concierge service.

It is important to weigh up the pros and cons of purchasing a leasehold property. Our specialist solicitors will be happy to advise you.

Your responsibilities as a leaseholder will be detailed in the lease agreement. It is very important to seek advice from a property solicitor who will help you to understand your rights and obligations before you sign.

The lease agreement will set out the ground rent and service charges you must pay. The agreement will also state your maintenance and repair responsibilities, whether you are allowed to sublet the property, keep pets, make alterations and much more.

Residential leases are usually granted for 99, 125 or 999 years. Please note that the length of a lease affects the value of a property. The longer the lease, the more valuable the property.

If a property has less than 80 years to run on a lease, you might consider extending it or negotiating the purchase price before you buy.

The value of a leasehold property is affected by the length of time remaining on a lease, the amount of service charge and ground rent payable, and the demand for property in the area.

It is very important to seek professional advice before purchasing a leasehold property to protect your long-term financial interests. Factors like ground rent, service charge and lease length can be negotiable.

A leasehold owner can sell their property, but there are some restrictions involved. The leasehold owner may need to obtain consent from the freehold owner. When a leasehold property is sold, the buyer takes over the remaining term of the lease.



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