RTM from around £2,000 in legal fees. Freehold purchase from around £10,000 plus the price of the freehold itself. Answer four questions and we will point you at the right route.
Hafer Road (16 flats, Battersea) enfranchised from Wandsworth Council for £38,000. £25,000 of that was hope value for roof-space development rights. This page is what we wish we’d had going in.
This page describes the position in England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland have different systems. Information only, not legal advice. Building Trust is a technology company, not a law firm. Always take professional advice on your specific situation.
“We've had enough of the freeholder. Now what?”
Right to Manage is the cheapest, fastest, lowest-friction route to take over the management of your building, without buying the freehold. Around £2,000 in legal fees, no premium to the freeholder, 6-9 months end-to-end. Eligibility test, qualifying-tenant rules, and the standard freeholder objections to expect.
“We want to buy the freehold.”
Collective enfranchisement: rights, costs, qualification, and what to expect on premium.
Read the guide →“Is commonhold the answer?”
The leasehold alternative. Where it stands now, and the LFRA 2024 changes.
Read the guide →Your building is not their building. Their lease terms, their freeholder, their coalition and their ground-rent clause are all different from yours. These four questions tell you which route fits yours, not theirs.
Answer four questions. We will recommend the best route and show you the full guide for that path.
What is a long lease? A lease originally granted for more than 21 years. Most flats sold on the open market have long leases (typically 99 or 125 years when first granted).
How to check: Look at your lease document. The term is stated on the first page (e.g. "for a term of 125 years from 1 January 1990"). If you do not have your lease, you can download the title register from HM Land Registry for £3.
What counts as 50%? If there are 10 flats on long leases, you need at least 5 leaseholders willing to join. You do not need them all to be enthusiastic. The 50% threshold is set by statute for both routes: CLRA 2002 s.79 for RTM and LRHUDA 1993 s.13 for collective enfranchisement.
"Maybe" is fine. Select "Maybe" if you have not asked yet but think some neighbours are unhappy with management or costs. You do not need confirmed support at this stage.
Where to look: Your lease states the original term and start date. For example, "125 years from 1 January 1990" means the lease expires in 2115, so roughly 89 years remaining in 2026.
Why 80 years matters: Below 80 years, an extra cost called "marriage value" kicks in under current law. This makes lease extensions and enfranchisement significantly more expensive. The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 will abolish marriage value when its provisions commence; as of April 2026 they have not.
Extend my lease: Add years to your lease and reduce ground rent to zero. You can do this individually. Important if your lease is below 80 years.
Take control of management: Replace your managing agent as the decision-maker on maintenance and service charges. The freeholder still owns the building. This is called Right to Manage (RTM).
Buy the freehold: The leaseholders collectively purchase ownership of the building. Full control and no more ground rent. This is called collective enfranchisement. It costs more but gives you everything.
More than one? If you want to extend your lease AND take control of management, buying the freehold achieves both. You can extend leases cheaply once you own the freehold, and you control management by default. If you just want better management but have a long lease, RTM is simpler and cheaper.
Already sitting on the freehold company board? RTM and enfranchisement aren’t your next step. Your job is keeping the building compliant and running well. Start with your statutory obligations.
Both give you more control. But they solve different problems and cost very different amounts.
Cost: Legal fees only. Typically £2,000-£5,000 totalGuideline range under the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002. Can be higher if the freeholder contests the claim notice or raises qualifying questions. CLRA 2002.. Can be higher if the freeholder contests.
What you get: Control of management. Freeholder keeps ownership.
Ground rent: Still payable to the freeholder.
Best when: The main issue is poor management, high service charges, or an unresponsive managing agent.
Cost: Purchase price + legal + valuation. £10,000-£100,000+ depending on buildingPrice set by the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 valuation rules. In a 10-flat building this often works out at £1,000-£10,000 per flat, frequently less than a single year's service-charge increase. LRHUDA 1993.. In a 10-flat building, that is often £1,000-£10,000 per flat.
What you get: Full ownership of the freehold. Complete control.
Ground rent: No ongoing ground rent once the purchase completes.
Best when: Ground rent is escalating, there are development opportunities, or you want full long-term control.
If the tool’s verdict doesn’t quite fit your situation, say so. Adam reads every email.