Leasehold has been revealed as the UK’s most confusing property term, according to research by landlord insurance provider Alan Boswell.
The term generated more than 160,000 Google searches over the past year—equivalent to 17% of all residential transactions in 2024.
Leasehold refers to a type of homeownership where the buyer owns the property for a set period but not the land it stands on. Leaseholders often pay ground rent and service charges, with landlords responsible for maintaining communal areas.
Freehold ranked second on the list, with an average of 114,000 searches a year. Freeholders own both the property and the land, avoiding additional charges but taking full responsibility for repairs and maintenance.
In third place was mortgage in principle, also known as an agreement or decision in principle. The term generated 64,300 average yearly searches. It refers to a conditional statement from a lender confirming how much they may be willing to lend based on a buyer’s financial situation.
Across all 39 terms analysed in the study, there were around 735,000 Google searches in total.
The property terms confusing Brits the most, according to Google
“Many first-time buyers or renters often struggle to understand key property terms involved during the buying and letting process," explained Heath Alexander-Bew of Alan Boswell. "This is completely understandable, but it means that key clauses and terms of mortgage agreements may be ignored or misinterpreted, which can have significant financial implications or cause delays in the purchase or rental agreement.
Heath added, “Being well informed of property terms can ensure homeowners, buyers, or renters are better equipped to make informed and strategic decisions and avoid common pitfalls.”
