Deciding on a home

There are different ways to own a property.

Leasehold and freehold properties 

If you’re buying a home, you can choose between:

If you buy a freehold property, you own the house and the land it’s built on. There are no leases and you do not have to pay ground rent or any maintenance fees. You’re responsible for maintaining your property and land, so you’ll need to budget for these costs.

Read more about leasehold and freehold properties on the MoneyHelper website.

Energy Performance Certificate

If you’re thinking of buying a property, the seller must have a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). This tells you the energy efficiency rating of a property.