If you live in a leasehold flat then Right to Manage and Right to Enfranchise may allow you to buy the freehold for the property.

Can I buy the freehold for my leasehold flat?

Before you can do this, the block of flats you live in must meet certain criteria. These are: 

  • At least two thirds of the residents in the block must be leaseholders
  • At least 50% of the residents must be willing to take part in the action
  • At lease 75% of dwellings must be residential
  • If there are only two flats in the block, both residents must be leaseholders. 

As this is a legal process we would advise you to get independent legal advice to assist you through the process. 

Can I manage my own building?

The Right to Manage was introduced by the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002. 

It allows leaseholders within a block of flats to take over the management responsibilities for the property from the landlord.  It does this by transferring the responsibilities and decision making from the landlord to a Right to Manage Company created by the leaseholders.

The Right to Manage is only able to be exercised by leaseholders of flats.  It does not extend to houses.

The following criteria must be met for you to do this: 

  • At least two thirds of the flats must be let to qualifying tenants
  • The property can be part commercial, however, the non-residential part must not exceed 25% of the total floor space
  • The Right to Manage does not apply where the premises fall within the Resident Landlord Exemption
  • The Right to Manage can only be exercised by a Right to Manage Company
  • The Right to Manage Company must have a sufficient number of qualifying tenants
  • The minimum requirement for the number of qualifying tenants must be equal to at least half the total number of flats in the building.

As this is a legal process we would advise you to get independent legal advice to assist you through the process.