In the Press

Inside the ‘national scandal’ of leasehold properties

Over 75 per cent of apartments in Hampstead are leasehold, whilst investors are cashing in by buying up freeholds in new builds throughout the capital. Here’s what you need to know about owning a leasehold property in north London.

Published
Format Online
Read time 1 min read

New data reports that the UK’s rate of homeownership has fallen from 72% in 2003, to just 64.5% in 2014.

Excluding leasehold properties not legally owned by owner-occupiers, the true rate is actually 58.9%, which is only 0.9% higher than in 1981.

Reflecting on what’s being dubbed as a ‘national scandal’, Black Brick Founder and Managing Partner, Camilla Dell shared her thoughts for a new piece in Ham & High Property this week:

“Never rely on an estate agents estimate on what a lease extension might cost you,” she advised. “Make sure to ask estate agents what the length of the lease is. It’s the estate agents job to accurately state this, along with the service charge and ground rent on the sales particulars,”.

Read more in the full article here.