Freehold Ownership
Outright ownership of building and land
Freehold means owning a property and the land under it outright, with no landlord and no lease to extend. HM Land Registry keeps the freehold title, and any conditions attached to it, for England and Wales. Freehold applies in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Scotland has no freehold and leasehold split, and homes there are simply owned outright.
What This Means
Nobody can charge you ground rent, and no freeholder's consent is needed to redecorate or alter the inside. Every repair is yours to pay for, with no service charge fund to spread the cost. Freehold is not unconditional: covenants, rights of way and planning rules can still limit what you build. Many newer estates also charge an annual fee towards unadopted roads and shared green space. This is one of the few things on this report that lenders and insurers price directly: most lenders will not mortgage a freehold flat.
Practical Advice
- Ask your conveyancer to check the title for restrictive covenants, rights of way and any estate management charges.
- Ask the agent in writing what the annual estate or management fee is, and what it pays for.
- Ask your broker to confirm your lender will lend on this property if it is a flat rather than a house.
- Ask your surveyor to price the repairs listed in the survey, so you can budget for them yourself.
Additional Information
The property search linked here covers England and Wales only. Registers of Scotland holds Scottish titles, and Land & Property Services holds those for Northern Ireland.