LeaseholdExplained is an independent guide to leasehold property in England and Wales. We take the rules that govern millions of flats and houses, the ones written in dense legal language that most people never get to the bottom of, and we explain them in a way you can actually use.
Why this site exists
Leasehold is one of the most confusing parts of owning a home in this country. The lease itself is a long legal contract few people read in full. Service charges arrive without much explanation. Ground rent, lease extensions, building safety bills and the right to take over your own building are all governed by rules that feel deliberately hard to follow.
When you go looking for answers, what you find is usually one of two things. Official guidance written for lawyers, or law-firm pages that explain just enough to sell you their services. There was no single place that simply explained what each thing means and what you can do about it, in plain English, for free. That is the gap this site exists to fill.
What we do
We write clear, practical guides on the leasehold topics that matter most: lease extensions, service charges, ground rent, buying your freehold, the right to manage your building, building safety, and the reforms changing the law right now. Each guide sticks to one topic and answers the questions a real leaseholder actually asks.
We are not solicitors, and we do not act on your behalf or handle your case. What we do is help you understand your situation well enough to make good decisions and, where you need one, to brief a professional with confidence.
Who is behind it
LeaseholdExplained is written and reviewed by Max van der Heiden, who is an entrepreneur, property investor and landlord across many leasehold and freehold properties. Putting a real, accountable name to the work matters to us, because you deserve to know who is telling you how your home works.
How we keep it trustworthy
Independence comes first. We are not owned by a freeholder or a managing agent, and we are not a law firm chasing your business, so nothing here is shaded to suit anyone else’s interests.
Everything we publish is built on the original sources, which means the legislation itself, official GOV.UK guidance and decisions from the Property Chamber tribunal, and we link to them so you can check anything for yourself. You can read exactly how we work in our editorial standards and how we check our facts.
The site is funded by advertising, which is what keeps the guides free to read. Advertising never influences what we write, and you can read more in our advertising and disclosure page.
A word on what this site is not
The guides here are general information, not legal advice. Every leasehold situation has its own details, and only a qualified professional who knows yours can advise you properly. If you need formal advice, speak to a solicitor or a specialist such as the Leasehold Advisory Service (LEASE).
If you have spotted something we have got wrong, or you just want to get in touch, our contact page is the place to start.