A basic guide to leaseholder rights and responsibilities
Responsibilities
Your responsibilities (“obligations”) as a leaseholder are set out in the lease itself. Always check your lease carefully so you understand your responsibilities. Not following them can result in fines, enforcement action or, in extreme cases, a landlord asking a court to legally end your lease. This is known as "forfeiture of the lease" and it can lead to you losing your home.
Repairs and maintenance
Flats
If you own a leasehold flat, usually:
- you are responsible for work to the inside of your home
- you are responsible for preventing damage to your property and keeping it in good condition
- the landlord is responsible for the outside of the building, the structure such as walls and the roof, shared areas and pipes and wiring that serve the whole building
Houses
If you own a leasehold house, you are usually responsible for all repairs and maintenance, including the outside and structure of the house.
More detail on repairs
Find out more about leasholder repairs and maintenance, including:
- whose responsible for a repair and how it's paid for
- requesting repairs
- resolving repair-related disputes and historic neglect
Buildings insurance (flats only)
Usually, the landlord arranges the buildings insurance and recovers the cost through your service charge.
There can be exceptions, for example, if there are only 2 flats in the building the lease might allow the leaseholders to arrange the insurance themselves. However, the general rule is always check your lease. If it does not give leaseholders the right to arrange the buildings insurance, then only the landlord can do so.
You have the right to ask for details of the buildings insurance so you can find out what is covered and how it’s arranged and paid for.
Find out more: a leaseholder's guide to buildings insurance
Home contents insurance (for flats)
Buildings insurance covers things like the structure and communal areas. It will not cover your personal belongings. Your landlord will not insure your flat in case of damage. You are responsible for arranging home contents insurance for your flat.
It is a good idea to insure your own flat and belongings, for example, against leaks or fire. You can ask for details of what exactly is and is not covered by the buildings insurance to help you decide what level of home contents insurance you need.
Check your lease for any rules about home contents insurance because in some leases it is a requirement that you have it.
Your responsibilities can change
Your responsibilities as a leaseholder can change if the way the building is owned or managed changes. Here are some of the most common situations.
You take on the right to manage (flats only)
The landlord (freeholder) still owns the building, but leaseholders take over management decisions. For example, you might have to:
- arrange repairs and maintenance
- take control of service charges and how money is spent
- organise the day-to-day management of the building
You buy the freehold
The landlord (freeholder) no longer owns the building and leaseholders take over. You might have to do things like:
- repairs and maintenance
- collect service charges from other leaseholders
- arrange buildings insurance
You sublet or rent out your flat
In effect, you become a landlord as well as a leaseholder.
- You must make sure your tenants follow all rules in the lease.
- You are responsible for any nuisance or damage a tenant causes.
- You are responsible if your tenants break the rules of your lease.
- Last updated:
- 22 December 2025
- Next review:
- 22 December 2027
Related content
An introduction to leasehold and the key things to be aware of if you live in a leasehold property.
Topic - Leasehold essentials