Leasehold check - what you need to know

What is leasehold?

When you buy a leasehold, you own the property for the length of the lease. If it's a flat or maisonette, you own the property but not the building it's in or the ground/land it's built on. For leasehold houses, you usually own the property, but not the land it sits on.

How our leasehold check works

It is easy to use

1. Enter the postcode
2. Pick the right address from the list
3. We will tell you if it's leasehold or not

You can check any property, even if you don't own it. However, this service only works for homes sold since 1995.

What about houses?

Houses are usually freehold, but some can be leasehold. If you're not sure, you can use our freehold check service to find out.

Why leasehold matters

Understanding leasehold is important because:

• You will need to extend the lease when it ends
• There might be restrictions on what you can do with the property
• You will probably have to pay ground rent and service charges

First-time buyer?

If you're new to all this, it can seem confusing. But that's why we're here—to make buying your first property easier! Our leasehold check helps you understand exactly what you're buying. It's always good to know what you're getting into with such a big purchase. Some key pointers to look out for in a leasehold purchase:

• How long is left on the lease
• How much is the ground rent, and does it increase
• What are the service charges
• Are there any restrictions on using the property