>> I often see mention of Freehold and Leasehold in English properties.
>> All sounds rather complicated!
>> Is Leasehold common?
It's more or less universal for flats as it's the means by which common obligations to maintain etc. are managed and enforced. There was an attempt to replace it a few years ago by a concept called Commonhold but I don't think it took off. How does that work in Scotland?
Leasehold for houses is, or rather was, uncommon. Tended to be a regional thing. South Wales for example had a lot of it and it was a matter of considerable controversy and activism in some locales. Same in some areas of London. The Leasehold Reform Act 1967 provided a means by which leaseholders could buy the freehold but it could be expensive if the landlord wanted to 'go the distance' with appeals which ultimately went to the Lands Tribunal - effectively a court with lawyers and experts needed.
In England it's made a bit of a comeback recently with big developers selling houses leasehold with ground rents that my double every few years. As well as the ground rents there are management fees and charges for permission to extend/alter. Basically a goldmine for the developer to sell on. There are now problems where these houses are effectively unmortgageable and unsaleable. Government is supposed to be acting but progress is slow.
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