Buying the freehold of a leasehold house
Introduction
If you own a leasehold house, you might qualify for the legal right to buy the freehold at a price calculated by one of two statutory formulas. You just need to meet a few conditions. Buying the freehold using this right is called enfranchisement.
The process of enfranchisement can be time consuming and often takes a year or more from start to finish.
You could try negotiating with the freeholder informally first. You should have a written agreement with them on what legal and other costs you should pay. If you cannot agree on the price and terms informally you can then use enfranchisement (provided you qualify).
If you have a leasehold house with a short lease, buying the freehold is usually a better option than extending the lease. This may change, as the extension period is set to increase from 50 years to 990 years as part of the government’s planned leasehold reforms.
What’s included in the sale?
Enfranchisement gives you the right to the freehold of the house and any “premises” that come with the freehold.
Premises can include:
- garage
- outbuilding
- garden
- yard
Although premises are usually included in the freehold you are not legally required to take them on.
The landlord might ask to:
- keep certain premises if selling them would cause them hardship or inconvenience
- attach premises to the sale if keeping them would cause them hardship or inconvenience
You may have to honour their request if they serve you a ‘notice in reply’. If you cannot agree, you can ask a court to settle the matter.
- Last updated:
- 17 December 2025
- Next review:
- 17 December 2027