How long does it take to sell a leasehold property?

The conveyancing process for a leasehold typically takes 10-12 weeks after accepting an offer, slightly longer than the average for a freehold property. This extended timeline is due to additional paperwork and the involvement of the freeholder or management company.

How do I extend the lease on my property?

As a leaseholder, you have rights when it comes to extending your lease. It’s called Statutory Lease Extension and gives you a formal process to follow. You can extend you lease outside of the legislation if both parties agree. Here are the key steps to extending your lease: You’ll want to hire a specialist surveyor to calculate the value of the lease extension. You’ll then need to serve your freeholder a Section 42 Notice. This is a formal document that outlines your offer to extend the lease. They’ll have two months to respond – either accepting, rejecting, or negotiating your proposal. If they counter-offer and you don’t accept, you might enter a period of back-and-forth negotiations, which could last weeks or even months. Every case is unique. Once you finalise and agree on that premium cost, you’ll hand things over to a solicitor to manage the legal lease extension paperwork. Then you’ll pay the premium fee. And finally, the lease will be officially extended for the agreed term.

What happens at the end of a lease?

Earlier we talked about why it’s so important not to let the leasehold term dwindle too low before taking action. And there’s a really good reason. If your leasehold fully expires (reaches 0 years) and you haven’t extended or renewed it beforehand, the entire property and land (if relevant) revert to a freehold, and ownership goes back to the freeholder. Even if you paid off your mortgage years ago and have no outstanding loans in place, letting that lease fully run out means you no longer have any legal claim to continue living there or retaining ownership. It’s a worst-case scenario that you really want to avoid by staying on top of the lease term and renewing or extending it through the proper channels before it ever gets down to those critical final years or months.

Can I sell a leasehold with a short lease?

Yes, you can sell a leasehold with a short lease (under 80 years), but it presents some challenges: Many mortgage lenders won't provide loans for properties with leases under 80 years The property's value decreases substantially as the lease shortens Buyers may struggle to secure financing, limiting your market to cash buyers You might need to accept a lower selling price Consider extending the lease before selling to maximize your property's value and appeal to more buyers.

What happens if my freeholder is unresponsive during the sale process?

If your freeholder is unresponsive, it can delay the sale. In this case, you may need to seek legal advice. If your freeholder does not respond, you may be able to act through tribunal. They are under no obligation to respond, which can make sales near impossible if you run into this issue

How do you sell a leasehold property?

Everything you need to know about the specific requirements and steps involved in selling a leasehold property.

Last updated 24 Dec 2025

Key takeaways

Leasehold means you own the right to live in a property for a set period, rather than owning it outright

Properties with less than 80 years remaining on the lease can be harder to sell and may affect mortgage options

Selling a leasehold requires additional documentation including the lease agreement and management pack

Freeholder consent may be needed to sell, and they'll charge for providing necessary information

The process typically takes longer than selling a freehold due to extra paperwork and checks

Key steps to selling a leasehold

Selling a leasehold property involves a few extra steps compared to a freehold sale, but don't worry – we'll guide you through the leasehold sale process step by step. Here's a comprehensive overview of how to sell a leasehold property:

Get approval: First up, you might need to get approval from the freeholder or their management agent for the lease transfer. Expect to pay some admin fees for the freeholder to complete the LPE1 form.
Gather key documents: Before marketing the property, gather all critical leasehold documents. This includes the lease agreement, recent ground rent statements, and service charge accounts – essential documents for selling a leasehold flat.
Find an estate agent: Contact a few of them and get a few valuations before choosing your preferred option.
Check your lease term: Check the remaining lease term carefully. If it's getting short (especially under 80 years), consider extending the lease before selling, as this can significantly impact the property's value and saleability.
Choose an experienced conveyancer or solicitor who specialises in transferring ownership of a leasehold property and understands the unique complexities of leasehold transactions.
Hit the market: Market your property and secure an offer. Once the property is under offer, the formal sale process begins.
Be responsive: When you find a buyer, be prepared to respond to queries and provide a comprehensive leasehold management pack alongside standard seller's forms. The freeholder of your lease will charge for this documentation.
Exchange contracts, making the property transaction legally binding.
Complete: Reach completion day, when the sale is finalised, keys are released, and the buyer becomes the new legal owner.

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Complete guide on how to sell your property here

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How do you sell a leasehold property?

Everything you need to know about the specific requirements and steps involved in selling a leasehold property.

Key steps to selling a leasehold

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