I disagree. The crucial difference is that you don't get your money back with a UK leasehold. It's basically renting with extra steps. A freeholder is basicall

I disagree. The crucial difference is that you don't get your money back with a UK leasehold. It's basically renting with extra steps. A freeholder is basically renting out a house for 99 years and the leaseholder has to pay all the rent upfront (+ renewal). On the upside, if the freeholder wants to sell the house he's required to offer it to the leaseholder first.