In plain EnglishA legal route through which qualifying leaseholders may buy the freehold of their building together.Read the qualifying criteria
Buy the freehold together, with the legal steps in the right order.
First check the building and the group. Then agree the money, advisers and future ownership before anyone serves the In plain EnglishThe formal notice that starts a collective enfranchisement claim. Its contents and timing matter, so specialist review is needed before it is served.Read the notice guidance.
View the supporting illustration
How it works
From a shared idea to owning and running the freehold.
The legal notice sits in the middle of the job, not at the beginning. Build the group, evidence, funding and professional team first.
- 01Agree the goal
Decide what the group wants to change and compare the other control routes.
- 02Check the building
Confirm the flats, commercial space, titles, structure and possible exceptions.
- 03Prepare the group
Confirm participants, funding, advisers and the future ownership vehicle.
- 04Run the claim
Value the interests, serve a checked notice and track every response and date.
- 05Complete and govern
Receive the title, money and records, then start running the freehold.
Check the building
Work out whether this building and group may use the current route.
Do not use a reform headline as the eligibility test. Check the law in force for this building and this group.
Define exactly what could be bought
Use the titles, plans, structure and shared services to identify the whole building or qualifying part.
Check the legal counts
The current route requires at least two flats, at least two-thirds held by In plain EnglishA leaseholder whose lease meets the legal conditions for the route being considered. The exact test depends on the route and current law.Read the qualifying criteria and participation from at least half the flats. Both flats must participate in a two-flat building.
Measure the non-residential area
Current LEASE guidance retains the 75% residential test. The planned reduction to 50% is not yet the live rule.
Check whether an exception applies
A converted building with four or fewer flats may fall within the resident-landlord exception when its detailed ownership and occupation conditions are met.
Prepare the group
Get the people, money and advisers ready before a notice is served.
The group needs decisions it can keep using after completion, not only enough names to start a claim.
Agree who joins, who pays and who will own
Record participants, funding, decisions and how non-participating interests will be handled.
Choose the In plain EnglishThe person or company named to acquire the freehold for the participating leaseholders.Read the enfranchisement guidance and set its governance before it takes title.
Value the interests and check the notice
Use a specialist valuer before putting a premium figure into the initial notice.
Have the property, parties, interests, price and dates checked before the notice is served.
Track the response, then prepare to run the freehold
Keep the counter-notice, valuation positions, evidence and statutory dates in one record.
Plan the transfer of insurance, service-charge money, contracts, arrears, consents and company records.
2024 Act status
Some reform is live. The new valuation system is not.
The two-year ownership rule was removed for individual claims
That change does not remove the collective-building and participation tests on this page.
The 990-year term and marriage-value changes await commencement
The government’s September 2026 update says the new process still requires corrections to the 2024 Act and further regulations.
Valuation rates are under consultation
The consultation on future deferment and capitalisation rates closes on 21 October 2026. The proposed rates are not the current valuation rules.
Compare acting now with waiting
Use current valuation advice, lease terms, deadlines, group readiness and the uncertainty of future commencement. Do not promise that waiting will be cheaper.
Sources for this page
Check the law and official guidance.
Current qualifying-leaseholder, participation, floor-space, self-contained-building and exemption guidance.
↗Independent guidanceIs collective enfranchisement right for you?LEASE guidance comparing collective enfranchisement with other management and acquisition routes.
↗Current reform statusEnfranchisement valuation ratesGovernment consultation updated 7 September 2026; the new process still requires further legislation.
↗Tribunal routeEnfranchisement guidance T542Current First-tier Tribunal guidance on applications, evidence, directions, hearing and fees.
↗Prepared by Adam Street, founder of building trust. Eligibility and reform sources reviewed 9 October 2026. Apply the governing documents, building facts and current law to the case in front of you.
