ABSTRACT
In England and Wales where a purchaser buys a flat they invariably acquire a long leasehold estate rather than a freehold estate. Main provisions apply to all residential tenants except that they will only apply to local authority tenant who have a long lease and does not apply to local authority tenants. The chapter considers some of the special issues which arise with regard to long leases at a low rent. Tenants of dwellings held on long leases may under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993, have a management audit carried out. Whether specific items of expenditure can be charged as service charge will depend upon the terms of the lease. Long leases of flats will usually include provisions requiring the landlord to maintain and repair the building and the common parts and to provide insurance and other services.
