What is a Leasehold House?
After the government introduced the Help to Buy Scheme in Manchester, many home builders opted to start selling newly built houses on a leasehold basis instead of a freehold one. Some people were wondering, though, what exactly is a leasehold house?
In simple terms, you own the property, but the freeholder owns the land on which the property’s built. These leases tend to span hundreds of years, usually beyond the lifetime of the original holder of the lease.
Speak to a mortgage advisor – It’s free!
It’s free to speak with a mortgage advisor in Manchester. Simply book a date and time that best suits you!
What’s The Catch With Leasehold Houses?
The catch with Leaseholds is that you only own the property and not the land. Meaning you may have to pay ground rent, various service fees, and at the end of your term, if the lease hasn’t been extended, the freeholder can choose to back control of the property if left unchallenged.
Regarding the end of the lease and the service charges, you should always have the right to extend your lease if that’s what you would like to do and challenge any fee changes, though, for more clarity, we consider speaking to a Conveyancing Solicitor, as it’s their job to cover the legalities of properties.
Some of the fees can fluctuate, too, as and when the leasehold management company wants to change it, so it’s always worth making sure a Conveyancing Solicitor reads over your agreement carefully and precisely to ensure it is fair and not too much.
Do I own the property? – Can I still obtain a Mortgage on it?
You own the property for the length of your lease term. As explained before, the freeholder may be able to take their property back at the end of a period if you don’t renew, but if your term gets taken out over the course of a few hundred years, that property is pretty much yours for the rest of your life, unless of course, you sell it.
One area that may require some consideration ahead of time is planning to make any home extensions or improvements. Whilst this may not always be the case with every freeholder, the majority will want you to seek permission for any changes on the land they own.
The process of obtaining a mortgage on a leasehold is an interesting one. You will find that not all lenders will accept this kind of deal. However, those who do usually will only get it if your term is at least 60 years. The reason for this is down to their ability to resale in the event of repossession.
If your term is shorter than 60 years, you most likely will have to discuss the possibilities of renewing the lease on the property with the freeholder, along with a legal representative.
Land-Banking Freeholders
There has been a particular issue with freeholding for some time and still ongoing, a practice known in the industry as “land-banking”. Referring to some freeholders holding onto land, whether they have a finished property or not and despite the need for more homes in the UK, purely because the market has changed and they’re waiting for a chance to make more money.
As you would expect, this kind of practice is not precisely well-received across the nation, many seeing it as unfair and leading people to request that the government abolish leasehold altogether, as a means of future-proofing against such a thing.
Along with the service fees involved, the need for renovation permissions and ground rent, it’s no surprise that leasehold housing can often seem like a bad deal; however, if handled correctly, it could still be an option that works out for you and your circumstances.
Get in Touch For Leasehold Mortgage Advice
If you are looking at leasehold houses and debating whether to buy one, you should prioritise speaking to your Conveyancing Solicitor regarding the lease and other legalities involved.
It’s straightforward to get carried away with the joys you may feel when buying a home, but you also need to realise that this is a significant investment decision that you need to put much time into thinking about if you would like to get started on a leasehold house mortgage, please get in touch.
Date Last Edited: November 11, 2024
