Property companies including Barratt and Redrow are locking homeowners into restrictive contracts when they purchase the freehold on their properties . Leaseholders are increasingly willing to purchase the freehold of their properties to free themselves from the obligation to pay annual ground rent and make the properties more saleable . However , several property companies are offering to sell the freehold only on condition that the terms of restrictive covenants in their leases remain in force , which , among other things force homeowners to seek consent to make alterations and to pay maintenance charges . Meanwhile, the land, known as the freehold, is typically owned by the building firm and often sold on to an investment firm once the buyer moves in. Critics have warned the contracts could be enforced indefinitely .
Property companies including Barratt and Redrow are locking homeowners into restrictive contracts when they purchase the freehold on their properties . Leaseholders are increasingly willing to purchase the freehold of their properties to free themselves from the obligation to pay annual ground rent and make the properties more saleable . However , several property companies are offering to sell the freehold only on condition that the terms of restrictive covenants in their leases remain in force , which , among other things force homeowners to seek consent to make alterations and to pay maintenance charges . Critics have warned the contracts could be enforced indefinitely .