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
- Maintenance arrangements – Is there a legal agreement for repairs, insurance, etc.?
- Mortgageability – Will your chosen lender finance it?
- 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?