A leaseholder who lets out a home may deal with two different relationships: the lease governing their interest in the property and the tenancy granted to the occupier. Understanding one does not remove the need to check the other. Start with the actual documents and the building’s arrangements.
Read the lease
GOV.UK explains that a leasehold interest lasts for the period set out in a legal agreement. Obtain the current lease and any relevant variations rather than relying on an agent’s brief description. Ask a solicitor or qualified leasehold adviser to explain unclear terms before making a commitment to a prospective tenant.
Check the proposed use
Establish whether the proposed letting requires consent or is affected by a restriction. A previous occupier’s arrangement does not prove that a different use is permitted. Keep any required approval in writing and confirm its conditions. Do not assume that ordinary residential letting and short stays are treated identically.
Map building responsibilities
Identify who handles communal areas, building systems and relevant repairs. Keep the managing agent’s contact route available, but remain clear about the landlord’s own responsibilities to the tenant. A report should not disappear between the individual landlord and the building manager because each assumes the other is dealing with it.
Explain practical arrangements
Provide accurate information about shared access, refuse facilities, parking and any relevant building rules. Check that instructions supplied to the tenant are current and appropriate. Arrange keys or devices securely and identify who can resolve a fault in a communal entrance.
Keep costs and records separate
Maintain the leasehold account and tenancy records in a way that makes each charge and responsibility understandable. Ask for advice about an unclear service charge or proposed major work rather than describing every building cost as something the occupier automatically owes. Keep correspondence and decisions together.
This editorial guide is about preparing to manage a leasehold letting. It does not interpret an individual lease, determine the validity of a charge or describe every leasehold reform. Check current law, the property’s jurisdiction and professional advice for the particular transaction. Reviewed 30 October 2026.
Source and further reading: https://www.gov.uk/leasehold-property