freehold falts in UK

   

 

 

In the UK, most flats (apartments) are sold leasehold, meaning you own the property for a set number of years but not the land it stands on.
A freehold flat is much rarer — it means you own both the flat and a share (or all) of the building’s land outright.

Here’s the key context:

Why freehold flats are rare

• Legal complications – English & Welsh property law assumes that flats need shared maintenance responsibilities (roofs, walls, foundations). With freehold ownership, there’s no built-in legal mechanism for this, so lenders often see it as risky.

• Mortgage difficulty – Many banks refuse to give mortgages on freehold flats unless there’s a formal maintenance agreement (often via a deed of covenant).

• Common alternative – A “share of freehold” setup, where each flat owner has a lease but also jointly owns the building’s freehold through a company or trust.

Where you might find them

• In converted houses split into just two flats — one owner takes the upstairs flat freehold, the other takes the downstairs.

• In some very small purpose-built blocks where the freehold is divided.

• In Scotland, because of different property law, freehold-equivalent ownership (heritable title) for flats is more common.

Things to check if buying one

1. Maintenance arrangements – Is there a legal agreement for repairs, insurance, etc.?

2. Mortgageability – Will your chosen lender finance it?

3. Building safety & structure – Without a managing agent, all responsibility falls on the owners.

If you like, I can give you a short list of ways to find freehold flats in the UK and the traps to avoid when buying one. Would you like me to do that?