Buy Out Freehold (Leasehold to Freehold)

Buying out the freehold in Ireland lets qualifying long leaseholders acquire the freehold and ground rent interest in their property. We give you a written roadmap and cost view for the buy-out. Many long leaseholders in Ireland are entitled to buy out the freehold, but most do not know how.

You can upload your folio, deeds, contract, photos or other documents through our secure link; a solicitor would then typically review everything before preparing advice. There is no hourly billing: the price is fixed for the service described. Property and land issues are usually easier and cheaper to resolve early, before a sale, mortgage or family transfer is held up. The advice is based on Irish law and practice and on the documents you provide, so the more complete your documents, the more precise the advice can be. If the advice shows that further work is needed, such as correspondence, a Land Registry application or a planning or court process, a solicitor would explain the options and any further cost before anything else is done.

What’s included

• Lease review
• Folio review
• Buy-out route advice
• Cost and timeline
• Written summary
• Work of this kind is carried out by a solicitor regulated by the Law Society of Ireland. We are not a solicitor’s practice and do not provide it — to instruct a solicitor, use the Law Society of Ireland’s Find a Solicitor directory.

Who this is for

• Owners of houses held on long leases
• Sellers whose buyer wants the freehold acquired
• Owners paying, or no longer paying, ground rent
• Owners of older urban property

How it works

1. Find a solicitor through the Law Society of Ireland’s Find a Solicitor directory and send them the basic details and any existing documents or correspondence.
2. Complete a short questionnaire about your circumstances.
3. A solicitor would then typically review the documents and prepare written advice.
4. You receive your written advice by email and, where included, a follow-up call to ask questions.

Frequently asked questions

How much does freehold buy-out advice cost in Ireland?

This page is a free guide — nothing on it is for sale. Solicitors set their own fees for this work and must give you a written costs estimate (a section 150 letter) before starting. Get quotes through the Law Society of Ireland’s Find a Solicitor directory.

Can I buy out the freehold of my house?

Many long leaseholders of houses have a statutory right to buy out the freehold, subject to conditions. The advice checks whether you qualify.

How is the freehold bought out?

Either by agreement with the ground landlord or through a statutory application process. The roadmap sets out the route and costs.

For more on property, land and conveyancing, see our Property & Conveyancing in Ireland guide.

If you would like to be told when solicitor services are available again on this site, you can join our no-fee waiting list. To instruct a solicitor now, use the Law Society of Ireland’s Find a Solicitor directory.