Freehold or leasehold - just tell us!

[TheFoldOx]

I see so many adverts that say "please confirm with agents whether this property is freehold or leasehold". Which suggests that the agents, i.e. the people writing the property advertisement, know this information. In which case why don't they just include it?

I know this isn't the biggest problem in the world, but it just seem un-necessary. Is there a good reason why agents to this so often?

yanbu
when looking (years ago) we only were interested in freehold.
withholding information like that would not lead to me picking up the phone to inquire.

You aren't being unreasonable but it's a change to a system that's made that error come about; rather than the agent not checking anymore... I can't remember if it was a Rightmove change or a regulatory one, but it's a third-party thing.

@TakeYourFinalPosition

You aren't being unreasonable but it's a change to a system that's made that error come about; rather than the agent not checking anymore... I can't remember if it was a Rightmove change or a regulatory one, but it's a third-party thing.

Thanks, interesting that it's a problem someone's created but not managed to resolve. Though I do see a few adverts that clearly state the position, so some agents have found a way round it.

It’s just arse covering. Someone I knew was in a house for years, never paid a lease and found out their house was freehold but the garden lease. Someone else I know was paying ground rent and service charge for years on something that turned out to be share of freehold. It’s essentially that they can’t take their vendor absolutely at their word and the searches might throw something up

@Lastqueenofscotland

It’s just arse covering. Someone I knew was in a house for years, never paid a lease and found out their house was freehold but the garden lease. Someone else I know was paying ground rent and service charge for years on something that turned out to be share of freehold. It’s essentially that they can’t take their vendor absolutely at their word and the searches might throw something up

I can understand agents wishing to cover themselves, but in that case why do they advise you to contact them? They also put a caveat on room dimensions etc, so it's clear that the advertisement isn't to be taken as gospel.

It's what Rightmove put in automatically if the leasehold or freehold box is not ticked.
It's not necessarily a bad sign.

@axolotlfloof

It's what Rightmove put in automatically if the leasehold or freehold box is not ticked. It's not necessarily a bad sign.

How long have they been doing that on RM? I've only seen it come up recently (as in the last couple of months), and it seems to be added as standard on every single property, which made me think it was something that couldn't be changed.

Maybe 6 months - yes relatively new.
I would agree that if your house is freehold then it would be better to have it listed as such.

Slightly worrying if an estate agent can't or won't tick a box on a form.