Freeholder

A freeholder is the owner of a freehold estate in real property, i.e., land and any buildings on it, held in ownership for an indefinite duration and with broad rights of possession and disposal. The term is primarily used in common law jurisdictions.

In many systems, property can be held as freehold or leasehold. A freeholder owns the land outright, while a leaseholder has the right to use the property for a specified term under a lease, often with the freeholder retaining ownership of the land or building.

In the United Kingdom, freehold denotes ownership of land and buildings for an indefinite period. Freeholders are responsible for maintenance, taxes, and compliance with covenants; they may sell, lease, or mortgage the property, and can grant long leases to others (leasehold). Leaseholders may have rights to enfranchise to acquire the freehold or to extend leases.

In the United States, the term freehold is used in some contexts to describe ownership of real property in fee simple — essentially unlimited duration and broad rights — though the more common term is fee simple. Freeholders may hold property subject to mortgages, liens, easements, zoning, and other regulations, and they may transfer, encumber, or bequeath the property.