Leaseholders and freeholders have legal rights and responsibilities. This section outlines the most important issues and explains how disputes can be settled.
Virtually all flat owners are leaseholders, even if they also own a share of the freehold. It doesn't matter whether the flat is purpose built or in a conversion. You will probably also be a leaseholder if you buy through a shared ownership scheme. Some new houses are leasehold, particularly if they are in a development that is still being built but older leasehold houses are unusual.
