What is the difference between leasehold, freehold and common hold?

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Leasehold

Leasehold properties are mainly apartments who have an agreement in place with the Freeholder which allows the occupant to reside at the property for an extended period of time. Leaseholders will contribute to the service charge for the upkeep of the communal areas accessible and may pay a ground rent charge for the land the property is located on. Since 30th June 2022 there is no ground rent chargeable on new residential leases . This impacts leaseholders buying new properties or formally extending their existing leases.

Freehold

A freehold property is usually a house that the owner owns the property and the land it is built on. They have the right to live at the property for as long as they please. Freehold properties pay a service charge for the communal upkeep of the estate but do not pay ground rent as they own the land in which the property is located.

Commonhold

A commonhold property refers to an apartment which does not have a lease and the owner has a freehold interest over the block. The block will have a ‘commonhold association’ which each owner is entitled to be a part of and they are responsible for making sure the communal areas are maintained by all who own a property within the block. A commonhold property will still pay a service charge for the estate to be maintained by the Freeholder/management company.