Buying a flat: the full checklist
Buying a flat usually means buying leasehold, so the key checks are different from buying a freehold house. This checklist sticks to verifie
On this page
Buying a flat usually means buying leasehold, so the key checks are different from buying a freehold house. This checklist sticks to verified facts on what leasehold means, why lease length matters, what to look for on service charges, ground rent, cladding and EWS1, and where Building Safety Act protections may apply.
Leasehold basics: what you own
Leasehold means you own the property for a fixed period of time under a legal agreement called a lease, with the landlord, sometimes called the freeholder. Most flats are leasehold. Houses can be leasehold too, usually when bought through a shared ownership scheme.
Lease length: the 80-year rule
Lease length is a key check before you buy. When there are 80 years or less left on a lease, the cost of extending it increases significantly.
Service charges: what you pay for
Your lease should set out how the service charge is organised and what can be charged. Your landlord must give you this information, and it is a criminal offence if they do not.
Ground rent: rules and demands
Ground rent is a payment to your landlord that might be included in your lease. You do not have to pay it unless the landlord has sent a formal written demand, and unpaid ground rent can be recovered for up to 6 years.
Cladding and EWS1: what to check
An EWS1 form is not legally required when selling a property, but some lenders may still ask for one. On cladding costs, most leaseholders will not pay anything towards replacing or fixing unsafe cladding under leaseholder protections, including the Building Safety Fund, and a qualifying leaseholder completes a deed of certificate.
Building Safety Act protections
The Building Safety Act 2022 made it easier for building owners to make claims against those who built the building where remediation work is needed. Separately, most leaseholders are protected from paying towards the cost of replacing or fixing unsafe cladding, subject to the leaseholder protection rules.
Key facts
Source: GOV.UK - Cladding fire safety — Guidance checked August 2026
Source: GOV.UK, Leasehold property — Guidance checked August 2026
Source: GOV.UK - Extending your lease — Guidance checked August 2026
Source: GOV.UK - Leasehold service charges — Guidance checked August 2026
Find a solicitor for leasehold conveyancingFlat purchases need leasehold checks - compare SRA-regulated firms.Related guideContinue reading the lease extension 80 year rule guide.Related guideContinue reading the service charges explained guide.Related guideContinue reading the ews1 cladding explained guide.Find a solicitor for your purchaseCompare SRA-regulated firms for conveyancing and leasehold work.Browse all guidesReturn to the full guide index.
Sources
- GOV.UK - Cladding fire safety - Guidance checked August 2026
- GOV.UK, Leasehold property - Guidance checked August 2026
- GOV.UK - Extending your lease - Guidance checked August 2026
- GOV.UK - Leasehold service charges - Guidance checked August 2026
Keep reading
Buying agents explained: what they do, what they cost and whether you need one
A buying agent (also called a property finder) works for you, the buyer, not the seller. Here is what they do, what they typically charge and when the cost is justified.
The combined cost of buying and selling a house in 2026
Sell at £300,000 and buy at £350,000? Here is what that move actually costs - the verified Stamp Duty, the agent and legal fees, the survey, and the costs people forget.
Lease extension costs: what you pay and who pays what
A lease extension costs more than the premium. This guide covers the statutory costs you owe the landlord, the fees you pay your own advisers, what the law says is not payable, and the honest answer on typical totals - checked August 2026.
Help to Buy equity loan in 2026: England closed, Wales open until March 2027
The Help to Buy equity loan is closed to new applicants in England but still open in Wales until 31 March 2027. This dated reference sets out the current rules for both countries, checked against GOV.UK and GOV.WALES in August 2026.