What you need to know

ONLY sign up or pa ya deposit when you understand the full terms and conditions —have the lease checked by a third party. The Lease hold Knowledge Partner ship —

leaseholdknowledge.com — can provide advice.

DON’T feel forced into using the solicitor recommended by the housebuilder.

IT MAY be cheaper to deal directly with the land owner, but can be risky, as they sometimes seek to retain ‘permission clauses’, allo wing them to charge a fee for changes made to your house even though they no longer own the land.

MAKE a challenge about the cost of y our freehold via the First-Tier T ribunal service. Visit gov.uk/courts-tribunals/ first- tier- tribunal- propertychamber or call 0161 237 9491 for more information.