HELP buying a house that is freehold subject to a 999 year lease!!!

Macy33

We are about to exchange contracts and have been informed by our solicitor that the house is freehold subject to a 999 year lease but the lease is unregistered?? The house was built in the 50s and it’s never been sold before. We have no idea what this means for us please tell me someone can help! 🙈

G_M

I assume it means you are buying both the freehold to the land, and the 999 year lease on the property.


If it's not been sold since the 50s, then naturally it's unregistered - the land registry had no computers in the 1950s. I think Bletchley Park was about the only place they existed...........

muhandis

Your solicitor should help explain it in layman's terms.

AFAIK, it might simply mean that there hasn’t been a transaction to trigger the requirement to register since it became compulsory for your local area. The requirement to register was brought in over a number of years and the date at which it became compulsory varies depending on where in the country you are.

da_rule

You need to confirm whether you are also purchasing the lease as you could end up (worst case scenario) buying the freehold to a property that you have no right to live in for 900+ years.