united-kingdom european-union real-estate
Does the UK have HOAs? (homeowner associations / Stratas /Syndic)
<p>I'm looking to move to the UK in 6 months and purchase a flat, but I'm wondering if the UK has also HOAs like the USA?</p>

<p>In the USA they are pure hell and want to know if I'll have to deal with them there. </p>

<p>if YES, I would like to know the correct name for them, I plan to make some research and read some of the laws before I make a wrong purchase. </p>

<p>The overwhelming majority flats in England are <a href="https://www.newstatesman.com/business/2013/08/you-do-know-when-you-buy-london-flat-youre-not-really-becoming-owner" rel="nofollow noreferrer">leasehold</a>, not freehold; older buildings typically have 80 or 100-year leases, newer buildings usually have 999-year leases. Therefore you are dealing with the freeholder as a landlord for the matters that a HOA would deal with in the US. Depending on your landlord you may want to reconsider your statement that HOAs &quot;are pure hell&quot;.</p>
<p>It is possible for the leaseholders to collectively buy the freehold although it is time-consuming and expensive and happens very rarely. If they do they set up a body similar to a HOA.</p>
