If you’re buying property in the UK, you’ll need to know whether the purchase will be freehold or leasehold. You may have heard of these terms before, but what do they actually mean? This simple guide outlines everything you need to know about freehold vs. leasehold and how each one affects how you own your property.
Leasehold vs. freehold FAQs
What is freehold?
Buying a property freehold simply means that you own the building as well as the land it stands on. Freehold and leasehold are the two main forms of legally owning property in the UK.
What is leasehold?
A leasehold purchase means that you own the house/flat/relevant building, but you have to lease the land it stands on from the freeholder. The freeholder owns the land.
How do I know if a property is freehold?
To find out if a property is leasehold or freehold you can check the Land Registry website. Here, you can search by postcode and look at a copy of the building owner’s title. The title is a document that confirms whether the property is freehold or leasehold.
If you already owned the property and were asked to sign a lease during the purchase, then your property is leasehold.
Is freehold better than leasehold?
Freehold purchases are better than leasehold in terms of overall simplicity and complete ownership. Freehold properties tend to cost more upfront to purchase than leasehold, but leasehold properties often come with additional costs.
These costs may include maintenance fees, annual service charges, building insurance, and ground rent. Leaseholders may also have to get permission to do work on the property. The landowner might also put other restrictions in place, like not allowing pets or subletting.
The freeholder can choose to sell a property’s title while a leaseholder is living on it. Also, the new owner could increase the ground rent or add additional charges with little to no notice. Overall, when it comes to freehold vs. leasehold, owning a freehold property is simpler and less restrictive than a leasehold.
Are there benefits to owning a leasehold property?
There can be benefits to owning a leasehold property. These might include having access to communal facilities such as a gym or resident lounge within a development. A leasehold property within a development may also provide benefits such as concierge services or covered parking.
If work needs to be done on the property, the freeholder is responsible for arranging it. However, the leaseholder will often have to contribute towards the cost of the works.
What are the benefits of buying a freehold?
The main benefit of buying a freehold is that you own the land your property sits on. You don’t have to pay any additional charges or ground rent. You also don’t have to seek permission to make changes to the property.
Freehold properties are also easier to sell. The closer a lease is to expiring, the harder it is to sell a leasehold property. Mortgage rates also increase if the lease is under 70 years.
You can extend the lease on a property, but at a cost. Depending on the remaining time on the lease, extending can cost tens of thousands of pounds.
Does a freehold mean you own the land?
If you own the freehold, you own the property and the land it stands on. The title for the property will list you as the freeholder. You will have complete ownership over that land until you choose to sell it.
How long does a freehold last?
The freehold on a property lasts until the owner chooses to sell it. At the point of sale, the freehold then transfers to the new owner.
How long does a leasehold last?
Leaseholds last for a set number of years. Standard leasehold lengths are 90 or 120 years. However, leaseholds can last as long as 999 years.
As the length of the lease decreases, so does the value of the property. Short lease properties can rapidly drop in value. For example, a property with a 60-year lease is worth 10 per cent less than one with a 90-year lease.
What happens when a leasehold runs out?
When a leasehold expires, the ownership of the land and the property reverts to the freeholder. This means that the freeholder now owns the property.
If you have lived in a property for more than two years, you have the right to extend the lease by 90 years. However, you will have to pay for this extension. Extension fees can cost up to 20 per cent of your property’s value.
Can you turn a leasehold into a freehold?
In certain situations, you can turn a leasehold into a freehold. Leaseholders of flats can buy the freehold for their property with certain restrictions. These include:
The building needs to contain at least two apartmentsAt least 75% of the building is used for residential purposesAt least 75% of the flats are owned by leaseholders who own long leases of at least 21 yearsAt least half of the leaseholders want to buy a share of the freeholdIf there are only two flats in the building, both leaseholders must want to buy the freehold.
Once a group of leaseholders have purchased the freehold, they can set their own ground rents and service charges. However, they are then responsible for maintaining the building.
Can a freeholder refuse to sell the freehold to leaseholders?
Freeholders cannot refuse to sell the freehold to leaseholders of flats on the property, if they meet the listed requirements. It is a legal right for leaseholders to have the option to buy out the freehold if they meet these criteria.
What do leaseholders commonly dispute with freeholders?
Common disputes made by leaseholders against freeholders involve the cost of annual service charges. The HomeOwners Alliance says that 26% of all leaseholders in the UK feel that they are being overcharged by their freeholder.
Similarly, 23% of leaseholders complain that they have a lack of control over how and when major works are done. 18% experience problems when major works are carried out, such as excessive noise or disruption.
Freehold vs. leasehold: which is better?
The question of freehold vs. leasehold is not a straightforward one. Buying a freehold property is generally simpler and more flexible than a leasehold. However, most flats are leasehold properties.
If you are buying a leasehold, you must check how long is left on the lease. The value of a leasehold property is tied to the length of its remaining lease. The longer left on the lease, the better.
It’s also worth checking how much the ground rent and service charges are if buying a leasehold property. Also check whether you get access to any communal facilities or other benefits.
If you really don’t want to live in a leasehold property and you get on well with your neighbours, you might want to consider buying the freehold outright. Remember that you’ll need at least half the other leaseholders on board to do this. Buying a share of a freehold is the most common way to turn a leasehold into a freehold property.
If you need more advice on legal terms and issues around property purchases, our guides section has everything you need. We have guides on conveyancing, transfer of equity, ground rent and much more.
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