What is a leasehold management pack?

Starting with the basics, a leasehold property is a property that you own the right to live in for a set period. When preparing a leasehold management pack for selling your property, you'll need to understand the fundamental nature of leasehold ownership.

You do not own the property or the land it sits on outright, you just occupy it. Think of it as a long-term rental agreement, except instead of renting, you have a lease from a freeholder.

If you're a leaseholder selling your property, you're passing on your rights under your lease to a new buyer. Lease lengths can vary but are typically quite long. When first granted, they are often 99, 125, or even 999 years. As the lease gets shorter, the property becomes less valuable - a crucial consideration when compiling your leasehold information pack.

The freeholder, while owning the building and land, has little control over the property day-to-day. They'll likely charge annual ground rent and service charges that cover maintenance of the building and any communal areas - details that will be essential in your leasehold management pack.

The pack is your property’s story in documents. It discloses who’s who – your landlord/freeholder and management company – and includes key information on them. It will also include an LPE1 form, a standardised document that tells buyers everything they need to know about your leasehold.

The pack should contain:

1. Ground rent statement

This information proves you’re up to date with payments and helps calculate any amounts owed or due to you when the sale completes. It’s a key part of the financial picture, ensuring a smooth handover between you and the buyer.

2. Service charge statement

This shows your payments and any amount due. It’s used to calculate what’s owed or due to you at completion. It also includes info on any reserves for future maintenance. It will give buyers a clear picture of ongoing costs and financial planning.

3. Major works plans

Details on planned works, also known as major works. Buyers need to be aware of this as future work could impact their living situation in the property, or they may even be responsible for certain payments.

4. Last 3 years of annual accounts for the management company

This shows the management company’s financial health and how well they’re managing the property. It reassures buyers that the freehold is stable, with enough reserves for unexpected repairs.

5. EWS1 External fire wall review

For leasehold flats over 18 meters, a report needs to be provided on the building’s exterior materials. This crucial safety check confirms whether any materials are combustible, giving the buyer peace of mind about the property’s fire safety status.

6. Asbestos survey

This report identifies if asbestos is present in communal areas and assesses any potential risks to residents. It’s a key safety document for older properties, giving you clarity on this important health and safety issue.

7. Building insurance

The freeholder arranges this essential cover, but costs are shared among leaseholders. The policy information needs to be provided, showing the buyer that they will be protected.

8. Notice fees, deed of covenant fees, and other freeholder fees

This includes the costs the buyer will have to pay the freeholder after completion. For example, the freeholder needs to be told who the new leaseholder is and the freeholder may charge an administration fee for this.  

9. Disputes and enfranchisement

This part will outline any ongoing disputes or actions, including freehold purchase attempts, lease extensions, or rights to manage claims. This transparency helps the buyer understand the property’s current legal situation.

A leasehold management pack is a comprehensive collection of documents, with the LPE1 form (Leasehold Property Enquiry form) being a key component of this pack. Think of the LPE1 as a crucial chapter in the full story, while the management pack contains the entire book of your property’s leasehold history.

The LPE1 is a standardised form providing key leasehold information, focusing on basic lease details, current financial obligations, and fundamental property management information. It's a brief overview of the property's core characteristics.

In contrast, the full management pack goes much deeper. Beyond the LPE1, it includes detailed safety documentation, full insurance policies, extensive financial records, maintenance histories, planned works, legal documents, dispute histories, and comprehensive communal area information.

Most leasehold management packs are considered current for approximately 3-6 months from the date of issue. This means if you're in the midst of a property sale, you'll want to ensure your pack is up-to-date. Buyers' solicitors will typically want recent documentation that reflects the most current financial and administrative status of the property.

Typically, obtaining a leasehold management pack takes between one and six weeks. However, this isn't a one-size-fits-all timeline. The process can be influenced by several factors:

• The responsiveness of your freeholder or managing agent
• The complexity of your property's leasehold arrangements
• The current workload of the management company

Delays are frustratingly common in the world of leasehold property. If you're experiencing a leasehold management pack delay, here are some practical tips:

• Request the pack as early as possible in your selling process
• Follow up regularly with the freeholder or managing agent
• Keep detailed records of all communications
• Consider having your solicitor or conveyancer apply gentle pressure if the delay becomes extensive

The information and documents included in the leasehold management pack are typically obtained by the seller's conveyancer or solicitor from the freeholder (landlord), management company, or the managing agent. Sometimes it's a mix of all three.

Although the information is crucial for the sale, those providing the information or documents aren’t legally required to do so. This can be frustrating, but there’s not much you can do but keep pushing to get what you need.

What does this mean for a seller? Well, they might experience some delays in getting their pack together. Don’t worry though, this is pretty common and doesn’t reflect on the property.

It can typically take between one and six weeks to get the pack together, but this depends on the responsiveness of the freeholder or managing agent.

A leasehold management pack is an essential set of information and documents when you’re selling a leasehold property. It’s not just a nice-to-have, it’s a must-have for completing your sale.

As soon as you put your property on the market, it’s time to start thinking about this pack. Why? Because potential buyers and their conveyancers or solicitors will need this information to move forward with the purchase.

Remember, every leasehold is unique, but the need for this pack is universal. Whether you’re selling a flat in a high-rise or a 3-bed house, you’ll need to provide this information.

The cost of a leasehold management pack can vary, but here is what you can expect. Typically, you’re looking at a range of £200 to £500. This can vary based on a few factors, including:

1. Your property’s location
2. The managing agent or freeholder
3. The complexity of your lease

Some managing agents or freeholders have set fees, while others charge based on the information they need to provide.

If the ground rent and service charges are collected by different parties, then you may need to obtain the management pack from multiple sources. Keep this in mind as it could impact cost.