Homeowners with Sefton Council leases could get opportunity to buy freehold on properties

Sefton homeowners who have a leasehold agreement with the Council could have the opportunity to purchase the freehold interest in their property.

Opportunity to own land
Most residents who own a home in Sefton and have a 999-year lease with Sefton Council, will be given the opportunity to own the land upon which their homes are built.
 
Eligible households will be contacted directly over the next 12 months to allow for them to register their interest in the proposals.

Countless advantages
Cllr Paulette Lappin, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Regulation, Compliance and Corporate Resources, said: “There are countless advantages to owning the freehold to the land upon which your home or residential property is built.
 
“Sefton Council have for a number of years been championing leasehold reform across the UK and we have publicly spoken out against the sharp rise in the number of new homes being sold as leasehold properties.
 
“It’s only right therefore that we, as a landowner, lead by example and take a look at our own portfolio to see how we can best help existing homeowners.
 
“In the majority of cases we expect the cost to purchase a property’s freehold to be in the region of £500, which will include covering required legal costs incurred by the Council as the landowner.
 
“At this stage we are keen to gauge interest in such a scheme and are proactively writing to those homeowners who may be eligible to see if they would be interested in taking up this offer.”

Free legal advice
The Leasehold Advisory Service (LEASE) gives free legal advice to leaseholders on the law affecting residential leasehold in England and Wales and more information can be found via https://www.lease-advice.org/