Freehold flats

23 September 2025

A freehold flat is a type of property ownership where you own the flat outright, including the land it’s built on, rather than just having a lease for a set number of years. However, freehold flats are extremely rare and unusual, especially in countries like the UK. This is because flats are normally sold as leasehold, while freehold usually applies to houses.

Here’s a clear breakdown:

🏢 What is a Freehold Flat?

A freehold flat means:

You own the property and the land beneath it completely.
There is no lease, so you don’t pay ground rent or deal with lease extensions.
You are fully responsible for the building’s maintenance, unless there’s a shared agreement with other owners.

⚖️ Why Freehold Flats Are Rare

Flats are stacked on top of each other, so multiple people share structural elements like:

Roof
Walls
Staircases
Foundations

If each flat were completely freehold, legal and practical issues arise, such as:

Who repairs the roof if it leaks?
Who is responsible for insurance and common areas?
How to enforce maintenance standards if one owner refuses to pay?

Because of these complications, most flats are instead:

Leasehold – you own your flat for a set period (e.g., 99–999 years) but not the land.
The freehold is usually owned by a landlord or management company, or sometimes collectively by all the flat owners through a company structure.

🗝️ Typical Alternatives to Freehold Flats

If you like the idea of a freehold but want a flat-like arrangement, consider these:

1. Share of Freehold

Common in the UK.
Each flat owner owns the lease to their flat plus a share of the freehold through a company or jointly.
This gives you more control over building management and costs.
Still technically a leasehold, but with no ground rent and usually 999-year leases.

2. Commonhold

Introduced in England and Wales in 2002 as an alternative to leasehold.
Each flat owner owns their flat outright (similar to freehold) and shares responsibility for common areas through a commonhold association.
Very rare so far but becoming more popular due to leasehold reform discussions.

💰 Pros & Cons of Freehold Flats

ProsConsFull ownership – no lease expiry.Extremely rare and hard to mortgage.No ground rent or lease extension costs.Legal complexity around shared areas.Greater independence and control.Harder to sell due to rarity and legal uncertainty.No landlord involvement.Owners must self-manage everything.