Nine industry bodies have joined forces to produce short, sharp consumer guides about leasehold. A mini-series of 6 freely available guides set out ‘who is who’ in leasehold ownership and explains the basics to buyers and owners of leasehold properties.

It is widely understood that many buyers and owners of leasehold properties are not clear how it all works and who is responsible for what. IRPM, in conjunction with other organisations and indeed Government, wanted to provide consumers with simple, practical information, so they can make informed decisions when buying and living in their leasehold homes. Each sheet comes with a helpful glossary of terms to help de-mystify the tenure. 

New buyers of leasehold properties are especially encouraged to download the guides. Estate agents should find them particularly useful to hand out to potential buyers, helping the agent to comply with the Consumer Protection Regulations, where they are required by law to provide ‘material information’ to buyers.

The six guides are:

• Your guide to leasehold
• What is a lease?
• Who’s who in a block of leasehold flats?
• The money – service charges and ground rent in leasehold homes
• Common misconceptions about leasehold
• Your leasehold home – making a complaint