Kolaboro / Glossary / Freehold and leasehold in off-plan property
Freehold and leasehold in off-plan property
Freehold is full ownership of a property or land without a time limit. Leasehold is the right to use it for a set number of years under a lease, after which it returns to the owner unless extended. Some countries also use trusts or rights of use for foreign buyers; read what the title deed will say, not only the brochure.
| Market | Ownership stated | Freehold | Leasehold | Other form | Lease terms published (years) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 999-999 |
| Manchester | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 250-999 |
| Zanzibar | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 99-99 |
| Bali | 75 | 3 | 71 | 1 | 15-99 |
| Koh Samui | 11 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 30-30 |
| Lombok | 19 | 1 | 15 | 3 | 20-90 |
| Phuket | 17 | 6 | 11 | 0 | 30-30 |
| Sri Lanka | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 99-99 |
| Vietnam | 9 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 50-50 |
| Malaysia | 19 | 12 | 4 | 3 | - |
| Sharjah | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | - |
| Cyprus | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | - |
| Philippines | 12 | 0 | 1 | 11 | - |
| Dubai | 71 | 71 | 0 | 0 | - |
| Costa del Sol | 19 | 19 | 0 | 0 | - |
| Abu Dhabi | 19 | 18 | 0 | 1 | - |
| Ras Al Khaimah | 17 | 17 | 0 | 0 | - |
| Pattaya | 16 | 16 | 0 | 0 | - |
| Istanbul | 16 | 8 | 0 | 8 | - |
| Oman | 14 | 14 | 0 | 0 | - |
| Miami | 13 | 13 | 0 | 0 | - |
| Greece | 11 | 11 | 0 | 0 | - |
| Mauritius | 11 | 9 | 0 | 2 | - |
| Georgia | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | - |
| Cambodia | 9 | 1 | 0 | 8 | - |
| Algarve | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | - |
| Los Cabos | 8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | - |
| Puerto Vallarta | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 | - |
| Bangkok | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | - |
| Spain | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | - |
| Northern Cyprus | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | - |
| Montenegro | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | - |
| Portugal | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | - |
| Antalya | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | - |
| Bahrain | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | - |
| Saudi Arabia | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | - |
| Costa Rica | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | - |
| Croatia | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | - |
| Egypt | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | - |
| Qatar | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | - |
| Marrakech | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | - |
| Ajman | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | - |
| Costa Blanca | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | - |
| Malta | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | - |
| Canary Islands | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | - |
| Riviera Maya | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | - |
| Mérida | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | - |
| Panama City | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | - |
| Punta Cana | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | - |
| Bulgaria | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | - |
| Cape Town | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | - |
| Gold Coast | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | - |
| Balearics | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | - |
Markets with at least 5 projects in the count. Counted from what the developer or the sources we read publish, not a judgement of quality; each project page lists its sources.
The rules where we have read them
- Buying off-plan in Bali: the land and what you will own
- Buying off-plan in Phuket: the land and what you will own
- Buying off-plan on the Costa del Sol: the land and what you will own
- Buying off-plan in Lisbon: the land and what you will own
- Buying off-plan in Cyprus: the land and what you will own
- Buying off-plan in Tulum: the land and what you will own
- Buying off-plan in France: the land and what you will own
- Buying off-plan in Turkey: the land and what you will own
- Buying off-plan in Australia: the land and what you will own
- Buying off-plan in Japan: the land and what you will own
- Buying off-plan in the United Kingdom: the land and what you will own
- Buying off-plan in Poland: the land and what you will own
- Buying off-plan in Canada: the land and what you will own
Questions and answers
What is leasehold?
Freehold is full ownership of a property or land without a time limit. Leasehold is the right to use it for a set number of years under a lease, after which it returns to the owner unless extended. Some countries also use trusts or rights of use for foreign buyers; read what the title deed will say, not only the brochure.
Where are off-plan projects most often sold as leasehold?
In our data: London 7/7; Manchester 7/7; Zanzibar 6/6.