My leaseholder glossary

Leaseholder 

As a leaseholder, you own the inside of your home and the things inside it, like cupboards and sinks. But you don’t own the walls, roof, or shared areas like hallways or gardens. 

Lease

The lease explains what the building and nearby areas include, and gives details about your home. It gives you the right to live in part of the building for a set amount of time—usually 125 years if you bought it through the Right to Buy scheme. It also tells you what you and the landlord are each responsible for. 

Freeholder or landlord 

The Freeholder/Landlord looks after the building and shared areas, like hallways or gardens. They also have to provide some services to the building and the area around it. 

Mixed tenure living 

East Devon District Council looks after more than 150 homes that people own through leasehold. This number will go up when more flats are sold through the Right to Buy scheme. These homes are spread across the area, and often people who own their homes and people who rent from the council live in the same building. This is called ‘mixed tenure’ living.