Administration charge
What it means
A charge linked to an individual lease event, such as consent, information or an alleged breach.
Why it matters
It is different from the ordinary service charge. Different rules may apply.
Plain English
Leasehold glossary
Short explanations for people reading a lease or dealing with a shared-building problem. Your own lease may define a word differently, so open the definition and clause in the signed document before relying on this shorthand.
38 terms shown
Reading legal English in a second language?
Back to the problemsUse one term at a time. Read the short meaning first. Then ask LEASE-iQ® to show the exact clause and page. Do not rely on an automatic translation for a final legal decision.
Alteration
What it means
A physical change to the flat or another part of the property.
Why it matters
The lease may treat structural and non-structural work differently.
Apportionment
What it means
The method used to divide a building cost between flats.
Why it matters
Look for a percentage, fraction or another method in the lease.
Assignment
What it means
The transfer of an existing lease from one leaseholder to another.
Why it matters
This commonly happens when a flat is sold.
Clause
What it means
A numbered or labelled part of a legal document.
Why it matters
A useful answer should identify the exact clause, not only summarise the document.
Collective enfranchisement
What it means
A legal route through which qualifying leaseholders may buy the freehold together.
Why it matters
It depends on building-wide facts and current law, not one lease alone.
Common parts
What it means
Areas used by more than one home, such as stairs, halls, roofs or shared pipes.
Why it matters
Responsibility may depend on how the lease defines the building and common parts.
Commonhold
What it means
A form of ownership where each unit is freehold and shared parts are managed by a commonhold association.
Why it matters
There is still a binding rulebook between the unit owners and the building organisation.
Consent
What it means
Permission needed before doing something controlled by the lease.
Why it matters
The wording determines who gives permission and what conditions may apply.
Covenant
What it means
A binding promise in the lease to do something, pay something or not do something.
Why it matters
Always ask who made the promise and who can enforce it.
Deed of variation
What it means
A formal document that changes specified terms of an existing lease.
Why it matters
Read it with the original lease because the two documents work together.
Demand
What it means
A request for payment.
Why it matters
A demand does not by itself answer whether the charge is authorised, reasonable or correctly issued.
Demise or demised premises
What it means
The flat, space or other property granted by the lease.
Why it matters
It helps show whether a roof, loft, pipe, window or structure is inside or outside the flat.
Easement or right
What it means
A right connected with property, such as access or using pipes through another area.
Why it matters
A right to use something is not always the same as owning or repairing it.
Effective date
What it means
The date from which a document or legal rule applies.
Why it matters
The signing date, start date and effective date may not be the same.
First-tier Tribunal
What it means
A specialist tribunal that decides certain residential property disputes.
Why it matters
Its powers, procedure and costs depend on the type of application.
Freeholder
What it means
The person or organisation that owns the freehold interest.
Why it matters
The freeholder is not always the immediate landlord under a particular lease.
Ground rent
What it means
Rent reserved by the lease.
Why it matters
It is separate from payment for services, works or consent.
Headlease
What it means
A lease that sits above another lease and below the freehold or another superior interest.
Why it matters
It can change which party owes a duty or can enforce a promise.
In force
What it means
A legal provision that currently has legal effect for the relevant place and date.
Why it matters
A reform may have been passed but not yet brought into force.
Landlord or lessor
What it means
The party holding the landlord's interest under the lease.
Why it matters
Check the document and title structure rather than assuming this is always the freeholder.
Lease
What it means
A contract granting the right to use a property for a stated period, subject to rights, promises and payments.
Why it matters
Your signed lease and later variations are the starting point for most questions.
Lease extension
What it means
A process that increases the length of a lease and may change rent or other terms.
Why it matters
The route, price and current legal rules need separate professional checks.
Leaseholder, lessee or tenant
What it means
The person or organisation holding the leasehold interest.
Why it matters
These words can describe the same role in a long residential lease.
Licence
What it means
A formal permission, often used for alterations, subletting or another controlled act.
Why it matters
It may include conditions, costs and evidence requirements.
Managing agent
What it means
A person or business appointed to carry out agreed management work for another party.
Why it matters
The agent's authority comes from its appointment and the governing documents.
Premium
What it means
A capital payment for acquiring or changing a property right.
Why it matters
It is not automatically the same as an administration fee, legal fee or service charge.
Qualified covenant
What it means
A promise not to do something without consent.
Why it matters
The exact words and current law determine how a consent request must be handled.
Qualifying works
What it means
A statutory term used in the service-charge consultation rules.
Why it matters
Do not decide it from the everyday meaning of major works alone.
Reservation
What it means
A right or interest kept back for the landlord or another party when the lease was granted.
Why it matters
It may limit the space or rights included in the demise.
Reserve or sinking fund
What it means
Money collected for future building expenditure when the lease permits it.
Why it matters
The lease authority, purpose and records should be checked separately.
Resident Management Company or RMC
What it means
A company given management functions through leases or related documents.
Why it matters
Its precise authority depends on the documents, not its name alone.
Right to Manage or RTM
What it means
A statutory route allowing a qualifying company to take over specified management functions.
Why it matters
It is different from buying the freehold.
Schedule
What it means
A structured part of a lease, often near the back, containing rights, promises or service-charge detail.
Why it matters
Important wording may sit in a schedule rather than the main numbered clauses.
Section 20
What it means
The common name for statutory consultation requirements applying to certain works and long-term agreements.
Why it matters
The type of cost, thresholds and any tribunal dispensation must be checked.
Service charge
What it means
A payment under a lease for specified services, works, insurance or management costs.
Why it matters
Lease authority, demand procedure, evidence and actual reasonableness are separate questions.
Term
What it means
The length of time granted by the lease.
Why it matters
The term start date may differ from the date the lease was signed.
Unexpired term
What it means
The time left before the lease term ends.
Why it matters
It must be calculated from verified dates and an explicit as-at date.
