Purchase Lease Options (PLO): Find out all about them

A Better Way to Sell Your Property
When the market isn’t moving — there is another way

Still on the market?
Stop bleeding money.
Start moving on.

Every month your property sits unsold costs you real money — mortgage, council tax, insurance, maintenance. There’s a proven alternative that stops the drain on day one. Your mortgage gets paid, every responsibility transfers, and your sale price is agreed in writing now. No more waiting. No more hoping.

✓ Mortgage paid from day one ✓ Council tax gone immediately ✓ Zero landlord duties ✓ Sale price locked in writing ✓ No maintenance costs ✓ Service charges covered ✓ No voids. No stress. No waiting.

No obligation · Fully confidential · Free to explore

The situation many sellers face

Is your property costing you more than it’s worth?

For many property owners right now, the traditional sale route simply isn’t working. Here are the challenges we hear most often.

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The market is stagnant and property is not selling

Buyer demand has softened, mortgage rates have squeezed affordability, and properties are sitting on portals for months — sometimes years — without a credible offer. Reducing your asking price repeatedly damages perceived value and still may not bring a buyer. The traditional route is not working for thousands of sellers right now.

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Every month that passes costs you money

Mortgage payments, council tax, insurance, maintenance — an empty or struggling property drains cash every single month while you wait for a conventional buyer to materialise. That’s money you’ll never recover.

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Managing it is exhausting and relentless

Whether it’s difficult tenants, rent arrears, constant repairs, or just the admin — some landlords and sellers reach a point where they simply want out, cleanly and completely, without the wait of a conventional sale.

The solution

A Lease Option Agreement

A legally binding arrangement where a qualified buyer takes over your property immediately — covering your mortgage, handling everything — while you hold an agreed sale price for the future.

“You hand over the keys. We cover your mortgage. We agree a sale price today. The property becomes our problem — not yours.”
How a Lease Option works in plain English
01

You agree a sale price today

A purchase price is fixed in a legal deed now — typically at or above current market value. You know exactly what you’ll receive when the sale completes, regardless of what the market does.

02

The buyer covers your mortgage from day one

A monthly payment equal to your mortgage (or an agreed amount) is paid from the moment the agreement is signed. No more shortfalls. No more out-of-pocket months.

03

You walk away from all management

Tenants, rent collection, repairs, council tax, insurance — all of it transfers to the buyer. You become completely hands-off for the entire period.

04

The sale completes within the agreed window

The buyer has a set period — typically 1 to 5 years — to formally complete the purchase at your agreed price. The timeline is agreed upfront and written into the contract.

See what this means in real numbers

Your personalised monthly picture

Enter your own figures. Results update instantly. All figures are illustrative — your actual arrangement is agreed and documented in writing.

Monthly cash position
under a Lease Option

Edit any field and the numbers update automatically. Your exact arrangement would be negotiated and confirmed in your legal agreement.

£ per month
£ per month
£ per month
years
Monthly mortgage covered £750

Mortgage met in full every month — no shortfalls, no missed payments.

Annual saving vs. empty property £11,820

Mortgage, council tax & insurance avoided compared to leaving it vacant.

Total over full option period £35,460

Cumulative costs covered across the full term, before sale proceeds are paid to you.

⚠ Illustrative only. Actual arrangements depend on individual circumstances and are agreed contractually. Always seek independent legal and financial advice.
What you gain as a seller

Complete relief. Every responsibility gone.

A Lease Option is built around what the seller needs most — certainty, immediate relief, and a clean, documented exit.

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Mortgage covered every single month

The full mortgage payment is met from month one. Never again face a shortfall, a missed payment, or damage to your credit rating from an unlet or empty property.

Financial relief
🗓️

Council tax — eliminated immediately

From the moment the agreement is signed, council tax liability moves to the buyer. If you’ve been paying council tax on an empty property, that stops the same day.

Immediate saving
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Completely and totally hands-off

No more calls about broken boilers. No chasing rent. No tradespeople to organise. Every aspect of managing the property transfers to the buyer — permanently.

Total peace of mind
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Sale price locked in writing today

Your purchase price is agreed in a legally binding deed. No renegotiation, no gazundering, no last-minute surprises. You know exactly what you’ll receive and when.

Price certainty
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No maintenance costs whatsoever

All day-to-day maintenance and repair responsibility transfers to the buyer. Boiler breakdowns, structural issues, wear and tear — none of it is your problem during the lease period.

Cost protection
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Service charges covered in full

If your property is a leasehold flat with service charges and ground rent, these obligations transfer to the buyer — removing another layer of recurring cost and admin entirely.

Leasehold relief
The process

Six steps to a stress-free exit

From first conversation to full handover — straightforward, professionally managed, and designed to move quickly.

↗ Hover each step for more detail
1

Initial Conversation

Share your situation. A proposal is tailored to your mortgage, price, and timeline.

No commitment hereSimply a conversation to understand your circumstances and confirm whether a Lease Option is the right fit for you.
2

Heads of Terms

Monthly payment, agreed purchase price, and option period confirmed in writing.

What you’ll seeA clear written summary: monthly fee, fixed sale price, term length, and maintenance responsibilities.
3

Solicitors Instructed

Both parties appoint solicitors. Management Agreement and Option Deed are drafted.

Your protectionYou have your own independent solicitor throughout. The Option Deed is legally binding — you are not obliged to sell below the agreed price.
4

Signed & Registered

Agreements signed. A restriction registered at Land Registry protects your title.

Title protectionThe Land Registry restriction ensures no transaction can happen on your property without full legal process.
5

Keys Handed Over

Management transfers. Monthly payments begin. Hands-off from this point forward.

From this dayCouncil tax, tenants, maintenance, insurance — all transfer immediately. Monthly payment begins the same day.
6

Sale Completes

Buyer completes at your agreed price. You receive full proceeds — finally done.

Clean completionStandard conveyancing at your pre-agreed price. Funds received exactly as with any property sale.
For estate agents & property professionals

A new instruction type that pays your fees at signing.

Lease Option deals are a genuinely useful tool for agents working with motivated or stuck sellers — and crucially, your commission is secured at the point the option agreement is signed, not at the end of a lengthy conveyancing process months later.

Faster fee realisation, happier clients, and a solution you can offer where a standard sale simply isn’t working.

Agent fee structure

Your fee is paid by the buyer at agreement — not at completion.

The buyer covers the agent’s fee as part of the option process. For the seller this is cost-neutral. For you, it’s a fee secured months or years earlier than a conventional completion would deliver it.

Faster fee realisation

Commission paid at signing — not at exchange or completion. Your income doesn’t wait 6–12 months.

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Unlock stuck instructions

Properties that have been on the market too long become viable again. You have a solution where previously there was none.

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Deepen client relationships

Offering an alternative where others re-list at a lower price positions you as a genuine problem-solver.

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Zero risk to seller — or to you

The seller remains the legal owner throughout. Fully documented, Land Registry registered, legally compliant.

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Recurring pipeline

Lease Option investors are repeat acquirers. Build a relationship and generate a steady flow of new instructions.

Common questions answered

We understand the concerns.

The questions sellers and agents ask most often — with honest, straightforward answers.

Q

“What if the buyer doesn’t complete the purchase at the end of the term?”

A

The buyer has paid an option fee and covered all your costs throughout — there’s a strong financial incentive to complete. If they don’t, you retain every payment received and keep the property with full title. You are no worse off than if it had sat empty.

Q

“Will my mortgage lender allow this?”

A

This varies by lender and mortgage product — your solicitor will advise on your specific terms. Many standard mortgages permit letting with consent to let. The exact position must be confirmed before signing. This is a standard part of the legal process.

Q

“Do I still own the property during the option period?”

A

Yes — absolutely. Legal title stays in your name throughout. The buyer holds a registered option to purchase, not ownership. You remain the legal owner on the Land Registry until the moment the sale formally completes.

Q

“What if I change my mind and want a conventional sale?”

A

The option agreement is legally binding — that is precisely what gives you certainty and protection. If both parties agree to vary or end the arrangement early, this can be done by mutual consent. This is why independent legal advice before signing is essential.

Q

“As an agent, how do I introduce this concept to a seller?”

A

Lead with outcomes: “Your mortgage gets paid every month, you stop having to manage the property, and you have an agreed sale price locked in — often within weeks.” Sellers respond to relief far more strongly than to legal mechanics.

Before you proceed

What every good Lease Option includes

Any properly structured Lease Option must include these protections. If any are absent, ask your solicitor before signing.

Legal protections for the seller

  • A separate Option to Purchase Deed — not a clause in a tenancy agreement
  • A Unilateral Notice or Restriction registered at HM Land Registry
  • A fixed, written purchase price confirmed before signing
  • Clauses covering buyer insolvency and what happens if they cannot complete
  • Independent legal advice from a solicitor of your own choosing
  • A Management Agreement specifying maintenance and cost thresholds
  • Clear termination provisions if the buyer defaults on monthly payments

Confirm these before signing

  • Your mortgage lender’s position on sub-letting confirmed in writing
  • The monthly payment meets your full mortgage obligation
  • Council tax liability transfers explicitly from the date of handover
  • Buildings insurance arrangements are clearly documented for the term
  • The option period length suits your personal financial situation
  • You have received independent legal advice — not just buyer assurances
  • Every term, payment, and responsibility is in writing before keys transfer
The next step

Ready to explore whether a Lease Option
is right for your property?

A no-obligation conversation takes 20 minutes. Bring your mortgage figure, your ideal sale price, and your questions — we’ll handle the rest.

Speak to HAS Property Solutions → This document is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial or mortgage advice. All scenario figures are illustrative only. Always seek independent legal advice from a qualified solicitor and independent financial advice before entering into any Lease Option arrangement. Always verify your mortgage lender’s position before proceeding.

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