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Learn more about Leasehold Agreement

In India, leasehold properties are common. It’s critical to understand the difference between leasing and leasehold, especially if you want to buy property in the future. Isn’t it the same thing? The term of the lease is one of the most significant variations between a leasehold property and a typical lease as we know it in India. The principle is the same, but leasehold titles are far longer lasting, anywhere from 30 to 90 years, whereas leases are for 6 months, a year, month-to-month, and so on. Get this sample now. In India, a leasehold agreement protects both the landlord and the tenant during the course of a long-term lease. You can determine the length of the tenancy knowing that the agreement establishes stronger obligations and responsibilities for both parties in the long run.

Table of contents


What is Leasehold Property?

Purchasing real estate has evolved into one of the top financial investment options available today. As India’s real estate trends continue to increase, there is an inflow of first-time purchasers who may be perplexed by several facets of real estate. One of them is the distinction between freehold and leasehold property, as well as the primary aspects to consider when acquiring a home. Understanding the basic elements concerning leasehold property is essential if you plan on purchasing property.

When a buyer purchases a home on lease, the property remains with the buyer for a longer length of time, often 30 to 90 years. The authority remains with the owner of the land in leased property, who rents it to builders to create the projects. Anyone who buys a residential apartment will only own it for the term of the lease. Lease Agreements are typically executed with government entities.

What difference between leasehold and freehold?

When you possess the freehold of a property, you own both the building and the ground on which it stands. You are listed as the freeholder on the land registration, and you own the ‘title absolute.’ Houses, rather than flats, are traditionally subject to freehold ownership. Some of the advantages of owning a freehold include:

➤ You are not required to pay ground rent, which might be expensive.
➤ You may not have to pay service charges or maintenance costs, but make sure you check to see if you are.
➤ You are not relying on a freeholder to keep the building in good condition.
➤ You have control over how the building's exterior is maintained.
➤ You do not need to be concerned about lease periods.

When you own a freehold, you are responsible for the costs of maintaining the entire building, which may be expensive, so plan accordingly.

In contrast to a freehold, a leasehold means that you rent your property from a freeholder, sometimes known as a landlord. You don’t own the land outright.
You and the freeholder have a contract that outlines both parties’ legal rights and duties.

Leases are typically 90 – 120 years in length, but can be as short as 30 years or as long as 999 years, but this is unusual. Unless you extend the lease, the property reverts to the freeholder after the lease expires.

What are the advantages of leasehold?

The major advantage of owning a house in a leasehold project is that it will be substantially less expensive than purchasing one on freehold land or plot.

Rather than paying a significant fee and acquiring the property from the original owner, developers in metro areas generally pay a considerably lower price to lease a piece in a favorable position in the city. This financial gain is passed on to house buyers as well.

Leasehold residential property parcels are typically part of a bigger development. This implies that the surrounding are typically well-connected and well-maintained.

What are the disadvantages of leasehold?

➤ Individuals are required to pay ground rent to the freeholder.
➤ This rent may rise over time, raising the leaseholder's costs.
➤ The leaseholder's freedoms are limited. As a result, any repairs or alterations to the property may require the freeholder's authorization.
➤ Pets are not permitted in the majority of leasehold properties.
➤ Subletting a leasehold property is not permitted.

Is there any risks for a leasehold property?

It is critical to understand who owns an apartment complex on leased property. For a home buyer, the main risk is the uncertainty that arises when the land lease expires and the tenancy contract is renewed. This scenario is common when the land lease is for a shorter period of time, such as 30 years. Buyers will have to pay additional fees such as property tax in addition to the contract renewal.

Another issue that projects constructed on plots with shorter lease periods face is a lack of construction funds. As a result, major delays or project failure are conceivable. Furthermore, because all parties involved must agree on any repair or construction, redevelopment of such projects becomes difficult.

When applying for a house Loan Agreement for a residence built on leasehold land, the loan duration cannot exceed the balance period of the lease. When the lease tenure for the land is short or approaching its conclusion, lenders may be afraid to take the risk of the lease not being extended and, as a result, may refuse to give a house loan.

What is included in the Leasehold Agreement?

1. Lease tenure

It is vital to remember that the buyer is not the owner of the property. In most circumstances, leasehold property in India has a distinct meaning; if the land is owned by the government, the lease will last 99 years. In other circumstances, however, the leaseholder or owner decides to prolong the lease term to 999 years. If a buyer is given the option to extend the term of a leased property from 99 to 999 years, he or she should take advantage of it right away since it raises the property value in the long run and helps the buyer to secure financing from big banks.

2. Legalities and consent of the lease

Due to state and federal land restrictions, acquiring property is a complicated procedure that involves approvals, sanctions, and cooperation from many authorities. The fundamental difference between freehold and leasehold property is that the buyer of a leasehold property must get state authorization from the land records office before the parties may proceed with developing lease conditions and legal contracts.

3. Rent

If you have read and understood what a leasehold property is, you may have determined that the buyer is not the “owner,” and hence must pay a fixed amount as ground rent to the actual owner or leaseholder. This rent can be mutually agreed upon, but the buyer should be informed that the leaseholder plans to increase the fee in the future.

4. Maintenance

Many big leasehold properties can be used for both business and residential purposes. One of the most significant aspects of leasehold land definition is who is accountable for the property’s upkeep. Most of the time, the cost of upkeep that needs a substantial alteration to the property is carried by the leaseholder or owner, however the cost of small improvements to the property can be borne by the current buyer with the approval of the landowner.

5. Property restrictions

Because the leaseholder retains ownership of the land, any buyer of a leasehold property should be aware of any limitations that the owner desires to put on anybody who occupies the land. The property owner may impose regulations such as no dogs, no parties, or big gatherings on the property after curfew. These limits may look minor at first glance, but it is always preferable to be aware of them before acquiring property than to have discussions about them later.

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