Leasehold question builder

24 questions

The lease itself

Lease length drives what the property is worth, what it costs to fix, and whether a lender will touch it.

Exactly how many years are left on the lease today, and can I see the lease itself rather than a summary?
Has the lease ever been extended, and if so when and on what terms?
Is there a formal or informal offer to extend, and what would it cost?

Service charge and what it buys

The published figure is often last year’s. What matters is the trend and what is excluded.

What was the service charge in each of the last three years, and what drove any increase?
Can I see the last three years of certified accounts and the current budget?
What does the charge cover, and what is billed separately — heating, water, buildings insurance, lifts?
Is there a reserve or sinking fund, what is in it, and what is it earmarked for?
Are any leaseholders in arrears, and does that fall on the rest?

Ground rent

A rising ground rent can make a flat unmortgageable, and the rules have changed more than once.

What is the ground rent now, and exactly how does the lease say it changes over time?
Is the review linked to inflation, doubling, or a fixed step, and on what dates?
Has the freeholder offered a deed of variation, and has any lender raised the ground rent as an issue?

Major works

A major-works bill lands after completion and falls on whoever owns the flat then.

Is any major work planned, quoted or consulted on — roof, windows, lifts, cladding, external redecoration?
Have I seen every Section 20 consultation notice issued in the last five years?
Has any leaseholder been invoiced for major works that are not yet complete?
For buildings over eleven metres, is there an EWS1 or a building-safety assessment, and what did it find?

Who runs the building

The managing agent decides how quickly anything gets fixed, and how much it costs.

Who is the freeholder, and who is the managing agent?
How long has the agent been in place, and how are they appointed?
What is the process and typical time for a repair?
Have leaseholders ever tried to take over management, and what happened?

Restrictions in the lease

These are the clauses people discover after they move in.

What does the lease say about subletting, short lets and lodgers?
Are pets permitted, and does that need written consent?
What consent is needed for alterations, and has any past work been done without it?
Are there restrictions on flooring, working from home, or parking?
What fees does the freeholder or agent charge on sale, for a licence, or for consent?

Ticks are kept in this browser only — nothing is sent to us. These are questions to ask, not legal advice; your conveyancer answers them properly once you have the lease and the management pack.