Glossary
Freeholder
The person or company that owns the building outright. In a block of flats, the freeholder is responsible for the structure, roof, external walls, and communal areas under the terms of the leases.
Related terms
Service charge
Charges a leaseholder pays to the freeholder for shared services and maintenance. Disputes about service charges are separate from disrepair claims, but often arise alongside them.
Leaseholder
Someone who owns the right to live in a property for a fixed number of years (the 'lease') but not the building itself. The freeholder owns the building and has repair duties for the structure and communal areas under the lease.
Ground rent
An annual payment many leaseholders pay to their freeholder. Under the Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Act 2022, ground rent on most new residential leases is now capped at zero. Historic ground rents on older leases can still apply.
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By: Support for Tenants editorial team
Last updated:
Reviewed against current housing law for England and Wales as at 15 June 2026. Checked by our SRA-regulated panel solicitors. This is general information, not legal advice for your specific case. Any compensation figures or ranges shown are illustrative only and not guaranteed; every case is different.