Ground Rent

Find the ground rent terms for a property.

Enter a postcode to order a copy of the lease and check its ground rent clauses.

Your lease explains whether ground rent is payable and how it can change. You can order a copy through PropertyChecker using the postcode and address, without knowing the title number.

What is ground rent?

Ground rent is a payment a leaseholder may have to make to the freeholder under the terms of the lease. It doesn't pay for maintenance or services, and it is separate from the service charge.

Some leases have no financial ground rent. Others contain a fixed amount or terms allowing it to increase. Check the individual lease rather than relying on a neighbouring property's charge.

How do I find out the ground rent on a property?

Start with the full lease and look for the rent clause or schedule. It may be headed “rent”, “yearly rent” or “ground rent”. Check:

• The starting amount and when it is payable.
• Whether it stays fixed or changes at review dates.
• How any increase is calculated.
• Any later deed of variation that changes these terms.

Compare the documents with the current demand or statement from the freeholder or managing agent. The original rent written in an older lease may no longer be the amount due today.

If you're buying the property, ask your conveyancer to confirm the current charge and future increases before you commit.

How can I get a copy of the lease?

Enter the postcode, select the address and choose the lease from the available documents. You'll see the price and service charge before paying. After payment, you can access the document on our website and we'll email you a copy.

You can also select available documents referred to in the register from the same ordering page. A later deed of variation may be important if the original ground rent terms have changed.

If you already own the property, check your purchase paperwork first. Your conveyancer or mortgage lender may hold a copy. Our copy lease page explains the ordering service, and the Land Registry documents guide compares it with ordering directly.

Will a copy of my lease tell me exactly what ground rent I owe?

Your lease explains the ground rent terms, but it may not show the exact amount you owe today. Rent reviews or later variations may have changed the original charge, and the lease won't show your payment history or any arrears. Compare it with current demands, review notices and a statement from the freeholder or managing agent.

For example, a lease starting at £100 a year with a doubling clause could require a different payment after its first review. Check the review dates and wording rather than using £100 as the current figure.

Can ground rent increase?

An increase must be supported by the lease or an agreement changing it. Review clauses can use fixed steps, doubling periods or an index such as RPI. The frequency and calculation matter as much as the starting amount.

Ask for a clear explanation if a new demand doesn't match the documents. If you're buying, have your conveyancer consider the future charges and any effect on mortgage options or resale.

Has ground rent been abolished or capped at £250?

Most qualifying new long residential leases in England and Wales are restricted to a peppercorn ground rent, effectively zero, under the 2022 rules. Buying an existing lease doesn't automatically remove its ground rent.

The government has announced a proposed £250 cap for existing leases, but it isn't currently in force. Don't assume an existing payment has fallen because of the announcement. LEASE explains the current position and proposed changes.

Is ground rent the same as a service charge?

No. Service charges contribute towards costs such as maintaining, managing or insuring the building. Paying ground rent doesn't mean those costs are included. Check both payments when comparing the ongoing cost of a leasehold property.

What if I can't find the lease or don't understand the terms?

Please contact us if the document you need isn't listed. We can check availability. For advice on what a clause means or a disputed demand, ask a conveyancer or the Leasehold Advisory Service.

What if my documents aren't available instantly?

In fewer than 1% of orders, manual requests are needed. We'll send these documents within 24 hours. If we can't supply them, we'll issue a full refund.