Why this matters
Service charges are rising, buyers report mortgage problems and official figures show the cost of missing fire protection. To understand your own position, start with the lease and the building's records.
Market research
Hamptons reported that 37% of flats in England and Wales had a service charge above 1% of value in its 2025 Service Charge Index. It also reported a 55.6% increase in average charges over ten years, compared with 39.8% CPI growth.
Leaseholder survey
A November 2024 National Leasehold Campaign survey reported that 24% of respondents said their first mortgage application had been refused. It also reported that 62% had lost a sale because a buyer could not obtain a mortgage.
Official fire statistics
MHCLG reported that fires where no smoke alarm was present accounted for 24% of dwelling fires and 31% of dwelling fire-related fatalities in England in the year ending March 2025.
Read the numbers carefully
Shows patterns in prices and charges across the flats studied.
Shows the problems reported by people who answered a campaign survey.
Shows what public data records across England.
The lease, records and current facts still decide the question in front of you.
Tell me what is happening. If you do not know what a lease is or cannot find yours, say that. I will route you to the right next step without guessing what the document says.
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