What is Commonhold?

Commonhold is the future of property ownership - you own your flat forever as freehold, while a Commonhold Association manages shared areas democratically.

The Ultimate Property Ownership

Commonhold combines the best of both worlds: you own your flat as freehold forever(no expiring lease), while the Commonhold Association - owned entirely by flat owners - manages communal areas. No freeholder, no ground rent, no lease extensions needed, ever.

Be a Pioneer

The government is making commonhold the default tenure for all new properties. Converting now puts you ahead of the curve, but currently requires 100% agreement from all leaseholders in your building.

Benefits of Commonhold Ownership

The most advanced form of property ownership - designed for the future

Perpetual Ownership

Own your flat forever - no expiring leases, no diminishing property rights, complete security for generations

No Ground Rent Ever

Eliminate ground rent completely and permanently - no annual payments to a freeholder for no service

Standard Rules for Everyone

Replace complex individual leases with one fair Commonhold Community Statement that applies equally to all

True Democratic Control

Every owner has an equal say in the Commonhold Association - no landlord approval needed for anything

Complete Property Freedom

Sell, refurbish, or modify your home without needing permission from a freeholder or management company

Future-Proof Investment

Commonhold will be the default for all new builds - get ahead of the curve and increase your property value

The Commonhold Conversion Process

A step-by-step journey to the ultimate property ownership

1

Complete Collective Enfranchisement

First, all leaseholders must buy the freehold together (100% participation required for commonhold conversion)

2

Unanimous Agreement to Convert

Every single leaseholder must agree to replace their lease with commonhold ownership - no exceptions

3

Create Commonhold Community Statement

Draft the governing document that replaces all leases with fair, standardized rules for everyone

4

Form Commonhold Association

Establish the legal entity owned by all unit holders to manage common areas and building operations

5

Register with Land Registry

Officially convert to commonhold tenure and register each unit as freehold property at Land Registry

Important Considerations

What you need to know about commonhold conversion

100% Participation Required

Unlike freehold purchase (50%+) or RTM (simple majority), commonhold conversion requires unanimous agreement from all leaseholders

Limited Precedent in UK

Only around 20 properties in the UK currently use commonhold - you'd be pioneers, but with less established legal precedent

Government Reform Coming

New legislation will make commonhold the default for new builds and easier for existing buildings, but details still being finalized

Commonhold vs Other Options

Understanding how commonhold compares to your alternatives

Commonhold

  • Own your flat as freehold forever
  • Never pay ground rent
  • • Democratic control via Association
  • • Standard rules for everyone
  • • No freeholder exists
  • • Future-proof ownership model
  • • Requires 100% agreement

Share of Freehold

  • • Own building jointly via company
  • • Can eliminate ground rent
  • • 999-year lease extensions
  • • Still have individual leases
  • • Multiple different lease terms
  • • Non-participants still leaseholders
  • • Requires 50%+ agreement

Right to Manage

  • • Management control only
  • • Freeholder still owns building
  • • Still pay ground rent
  • • Leases still diminish over time
  • • Lower cost option
  • • Good stepping stone
  • • Simple majority needed

Our Commonhold Conversion Service

Expert guidance through uncharted territory

Inception Phase

Build consensus among all leaseholders and explain the benefits, costs, and process of commonhold conversion

Freehold Acquisition

Complete collective enfranchisement first - all leaseholders must own the freehold before commonhold conversion is possible

Commonhold Conversion

Create the Community Statement, form the Association, and register the new commonhold tenure with Land Registry

Why Choose Liberty Bell for Commonhold?

We're at the forefront of property ownership reform. While commonhold is still rare in the UK, we have the expertise to guide you through this pioneering process and position you for the future.

  • • Deep understanding of commonhold law and procedure
  • • Experience with complex freehold acquisitions
  • • Expertise in building leaseholder consensus
  • • Preparation for upcoming government reforms

Ready to Pioneer the Future?

Commonhold conversion is complex but delivers the ultimate property ownership. Let's explore if it's right for your building.

Important: Commonhold conversion requires 100% leaseholder agreement and completed freehold purchase.

We recommend starting with our eligibility check to understand all your options, including whether collective enfranchisement or RTM might be better first steps.