Your solicitor checks the title. They may not flag the ground rent doubling clause. Or the unexpired term. Or the major works liability. LEASE-iQ will.
Check my lease before I exchange →This guide is for information only. Not legal advice. Building Trust is a technology platform, not a law firm. Always take professional advice before acting on anything here.
Doubling clauses, RPI-linked increases, fixed rises. Some are now unenforceable under the Ground Rent Act 2022. But only for post-June 2022 leases. Older leases may still contain them.
Under 80 years: mortgage lenders may refuse and extension costs more under current law due to marriage value. Under 70 years: most lenders won't lend. Under 60 years: resale becomes very difficult. The LFRA 2024 abolishes marriage value but is not yet in force. Check before your survey.
Is there a Section 20 consultation in progress? Any major works planned? A roof replacement could mean a £20,000+ bill arriving six months after you exchange.
A block with no reserve fund has no buffer for unexpected repairs. All costs land immediately on leaseholders as a special levy.
Who owns the freehold? PE operator, council, or residents company? Freeholder type determines how well the building is run and how disputes are handled.
Can you sublet if your circumstances change? What consent is required? What fees apply? Under the Renters Rights Act 2025 your tenant may have new rights that interact with your head lease.
Retirement village leases contain terms that standard conveyancing often misses: deferred management charges (1 to 2% per year of ownership), event fees on resale, restricted resale through the operator, and service charges rising faster than inflation. These are legal. But you need to understand them before you sign.
LEASE-iQ costs less than an hour of your conveyancer's time. It takes 3 minutes. And it reads the clauses they might not flag.
Check my lease before exchange