Straight answers on lease length, service charges, mortgage tiers, and the property types that change what you can borrow.
Why 80 years is the critical threshold, and what your options are if a flat's lease is short.
Your credit history often decides which lending tier you're offered, not just whether you're approved.
The full checklist, and why the one people forget is the one that delays everything.
Share sale vs asset sale, limited title guarantee, and why the disclosure form comes back mostly "not known."
What to check before you commit, and the patterns that suggest costs are about to rise.
Standard through to high-net-worth tiers — what's actually available, and why most people never hear about it.
Why lenders are more cautious, and what to check before offering.
Why building height and construction era matter, and why five storeys is a common cut-off for ex-local-authority blocks.
The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act in plain English — what's changing, when, and what it means if you're buying now.
Short leases, ex-local-authority flats, non-standard construction, and flats above shops — why lenders are cautious, and why that often means genuine value.
The 25% government bonus, the £450,000 property cap, the withdrawal penalty that catches people out, and the replacement scheme coming in 2028.
The fastest-growing areas, and the handful of expensive boroughs that have actually gotten cheaper — using our full price dataset.
London is the only UK region where flats have fallen in value over 5 years. Everywhere else, they're up — by as much as 23%.
Quick reference for the terms used throughout these guides. View the full glossary page →