Leasehold checks before buying a flat
A lease is a time-limited property interest. Check the remaining term, annual charges, future major works and every restriction before exchange.
Years remaining
Mortgage lenders become less willing around 80 years remaining, and extension costs can rise sharply at that point.
- Lender attention years remaining
- 80
How this was counted
Postcode district. government buyer guidance on a common lender and extension-cost threshold.
Ground rent
Qualifying new leases granted from 2022-06-30 usually carry a peppercorn ground rent worth £0. An older or assigned lease can still contain a payable and escalating rent.
- New lease cutoff
- 2022-06-30
- Peppercorn value gbp
- 0
How this was counted
Postcode district. usual ground-rent treatment for qualifying new leases.
Service charges and works
Government guidance gives consultation thresholds of £250 for planned work and £100 a year for services lasting more than 12 months. Read recent accounts, budgets and major-works notices together.
- Long term service per year gbp
- 100
- Planned work gbp
- 250
- Service term months
- 12
How this was counted
Postcode district. consultation thresholds stated in government guidance.
Sources and method
- GOV.UK Buying or owning a leasehold home. guidance verified 2026-08-03. Retrieved 2026-08-03.
- GOV.UK Leasehold property: service charges and other expenses. live guidance verified 2026-08-03. Retrieved 2026-08-03.
For an address-specific desk check, Property Diligence’s paid report adds the more detailed property-level information available from public sources.