Most leasehold flats listed for sale in England in 2025 failed to find a buyer within six months, according to new data from property website Zoopla. The average across England was 80.5% of leasehold flats remaining unsold after half a year.
London experienced the highest rate of unsold leasehold flats, with approximately 87% not selling within six months. The South-East followed at 85%, and the East of England at 84%.
Richard Donnell, Zoopla's executive director, stated that uncertainty surrounding leasehold ownership is impacting flat pricing compared to houses, causing flats to take longer to sell. He also noted a disconnect between first-time buyers, who are the natural purchasers of flats, and investors, who are often the sellers and may not have urgency to move.
For example, in London, investor-owned flats are frequently priced above the typical first-time buyer budget. Additionally, mortgage brokers report that increasingly restrictive lending rules and surveyors down valuing flats are creating further barriers for aspiring homeowners.