Extend your flat's lease or buy the freehold

This guide is for leaseholders of flats in England or Wales whose lease is getting shorter, who are struggling to sell or remortgage, or who want to buy the freehold with their neighbours. A short lease loses value every year, and the cost of extending rises sharply once fewer than 80 years remain, so timing and process really matter. You will learn what you can do now, which parts of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 are actually in force as at October 2026, and how to avoid the costly traps in the statutory process. By the end you will know your route, your budget and your deadlines, with letters and a tracker ready to use. This is general information, not legal advice: use a specialist solicitor and valuer for the claim itself.

What is inside

• Full step-by-step method9 detailed steps with decision points
• Ready-to-use templatesLetter asking the freeholder for an informal offer and information · Brief and questions for your valuer · Section 42 deadline tracker
• Timed action plan7 stages from “Week 1” to “Once terms are agreed or decided”
• Costly mistakes to avoid4 traps and what to do instead
• Complete checklist12 items to tick off
• Insider tips and fixes4 tips and 4 common problems solved

Step by step

1. Find out exactly how many years are left

   Download the title register and the lease for your flat from HM Land Registry and note the start date and length of the term; the end date, not the number on your sale paperwork, is what counts. Work out the unexpired years from today and check the ground rent and any clauses that make it rise. If you have more than about 85 years left, you are not in a hurry but should plan. If you have 80–85 years, act now: the premium is valued on the date your formal notice is served, and once the lease drops below 80 years you must also pay half of the 'marriage value', which can add a lot to the price. If you have fewer than 80 years, every year you wait usually adds cost, and below roughly 70 years many buyers struggle to get a mortgage. Ask your lender or a broker what minimum unexpired term they accept, because this differs between lenders.