Mortgage Jargon Tenure

Milton Rodrigues
Updated on 11 March, 2026
Mortgage Jargon Tenure
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Tenure

Tenure is a term used for the type of the ownership of the property. There are two major forms of ownership involved – freehold and leasehold. This determines the extent of your ownership of the house you live in.

 

Freehold Tenure

Freehold is the Property ownership type where you own property and the land it is built on. This type of ownership has no time limit or restriction you can own the property. Most of the houses are freehold. But saying that some of the houses are leasehold.

This type of property is preferred by home buyer than leasehold property. A common example is a semi-detached house can be freehold whereas block of flats is a leasehold as the flat owner do not own the land hence here, people have ownership rights to the flats for a specific period of time.

 

Leasehold Tenure

Leasehold properties are where the land on which property stand does not belong to property owner. For example, flats are leasehold. leasehold property involves a land owner or a freeholder providing the ownership of the property to an individual on a long lease. Here, the freeholder is also known as the landlord.  The landlord gives their property on a lease for a specific number of years to leaseholders. Flats are leasehold properties, and the leaseholder owns the property but not a land. These leases are often given for a longer period of time, ideally ranging from 99 to 125 years which can be extended.

What Is Property Tenure And Why Does It Matter For Your Mortgage?

Tenure is a term used for the type of the ownership of the property. There are two major forms of ownership involved – freehold and leasehold. This determines the extent of your ownership of the house you live in. The type of tenure can change the owners property rights and their legal obligation about property.

Most common tenure in UK are Freehold and Leasehold under which most of the properties are own. The type of ownership can affect property market value and demand. Most mortgage lenders are offer mortgages on both properties but freehold properties are preferred over leasehold by homebuyers and lenders.

 

FAQs:

 

What Are The Disadvantages Of Leasehold?

Some of the underlying issue with leaseholds home owner faces are
Ground rents can be increasing over the time but now a days they are cap by government.
Expensive service charges is the most expensive part of the leasehold property which keep increasing over the time with the maintenance of the building .
Limited control over work can be done and there are restrictions in place with leasehold properties.
Lease extension cost can be significantly high if the lease term is below 80 years.

 

What Is Tenure Leasehold In The UK?

You only own a leasehold property for a fixed period of time. You’ll have a legal agreement with the landlord (sometimes known as the ‘freeholder’) called a ‘lease’. This tells you how many years you’ll own the property. Usually lease term is extended during the ownership of the property .

 

Which Is Better Leasehold Or Freehold?

Most home buyers prefer freehold properties for complete ownership. However, those who cannot afford freehold houses or properties central of city may opt for properties with leasehold tenure.

 

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