Quick answer: A leasehold property gives you the right to use the land for a fixed term, with ground rent and the lessor's permission needed to sell. Freehold is absolute ownership. To convert, you apply to the authority that allotted the property - the DDA for most Delhi flats, the L&DO for certain Delhi plots, or your state housing board - pay one-time conversion charges, and obtain a conveyance deed.
Own a DDA flat or a development-authority plot and find you cannot sell freely, cannot get a clean top-up loan, or cannot pass clear title to your children? The reason is almost always that the property is still leasehold. Converting it to freehold removes the lessor from the picture and makes you the absolute owner. This guide explains the difference, the general conversion process, the documents you will need, and how an RTI application can pull out exactly where your file is stuck.
Leasehold means you hold the property under a lease from a lessor, usually a government authority, for a long fixed term. You pay ground rent, and you normally need the lessor's written permission before you can sell, gift, or mortgage. Freehold means you own the land and building outright, with no lessor, no ground rent, and full freedom to transfer. Conversion is the legal switch from the first to the second.
The right authority depends on who originally allotted the property.
Exact lists vary by authority, but for the DDA the documents commonly include:
State boards usually ask for the allotment letter, possession proof, identity proof, and proof that dues are cleared.
There is no single national conversion rate. Charges are fixed by each authority for its own categories. For the DDA, “Conversion charges are fixed for every financial Year and it may vary,” and the online system calculates them from the type, locality and area of your property. Some authorities allow payment in instalments, sometimes with interest. Because rates change yearly and differ by category, do not rely on an old figure - check the current charge using the official DDA conversion page or your state authority's calculator before you apply.
If your conversion file has gone quiet, the Right to Information Act, 2005 is your fastest lever. The DDA and the L&DO are public authorities, so you can file an RTI to the Public Information Officer of the relevant authority and ask:
The PIO must reply within 30 days. If there is no reply, or the reply is evasive, you can escalate through a First Appeal.
Draft your application in minutes with the AI RTI Drafter, dictate it in your language using AwaazRTI voice, track the 30-day clock with the Timeline Tracker, and if the reply is weak, run it through the PIO Reply Checker. For the full strategy, read The RTI Playbook.
Real-life example: Ramesh, a retired teacher in Rohini, Delhi, held an MIG flat allotted by the DDA on leasehold since 2003. In March 2026 he wanted to sell, but the buyer's bank refused a loan on leasehold title. He applied for freehold conversion online through the DDA IDLI system; the portal auto-calculated his provisional charge from the flat type, locality and area, and Ramesh's charge came to around ₹62,000. His file then stalled for two months over a name mismatch between the allotment letter and his possession proof. He filed an RTI to the DDA PIO asking for the file status and any objection on record. The reply, received in 24 days, revealed the exact deficiency memo. He submitted the corrected document and received his conveyance deed soon after.
To, The Public Information Officer, [Delhi Development Authority / Land and Development Office / State Housing Board], [Office address] Subject: Information under the Right to Information Act, 2005 regarding leasehold-to-freehold conversion file no. ____________ Sir/Madam, Please provide the following information regarding my conversion application (file/application no. ____________, property: ____________): 1. The current status of my conversion file, step by step, with the date each stage was completed. 2. A list of any objection, deficiency or query raised on my file, with copies of the relevant notings. 3. The conversion charges assessed for my property and the basis of calculation. 4. The name and designation of the officer currently holding the file. 5. The expected time within which the conveyance deed will be issued. I enclose the application fee of ₹10. I belong to the BPL category: Yes/No (if Yes, fee is exempt and proof is enclosed). Name: Address: Date: Signature:
Leasehold gives you the right to use the property for a fixed lease term, with ground rent and the lessor's permission needed to transfer it. Freehold means you own the land and building absolutely, with no lessor and full freedom to sell, gift or mortgage.
You can, but the sale needs the lessor's permission and many buyers and banks prefer freehold title. Converting first usually makes resale and loan approval far smoother.
Yes. The DDA states the conversion process is now completely online, through its IDLI system, where you upload documents, the system auto-calculates provisional charges, and you pay by card, net banking, RTGS, NEFT or UPI.
Commonly the demand-cum-allotment letter, the possession letter, and proof of physical possession such as a House Tax receipt or identity document, all attested. If a lease deed is already registered, some of these are not required.
There is no single national rate. The DDA fixes charges for each financial year and they may vary; its online system calculates the amount from the property type, locality and area. Always check the current charge on the official portal before applying.
Yes, but you must first establish the chain of title through a registered will, a succession certificate, or a valid General Power of Attorney, so the authority knows in whose name freehold title should be granted.
Your state housing board or development authority runs its own scheme with its own application, charges and documents. Check that authority's official portal for the exact process.
File an RTI to the Public Information Officer of the DDA, L&DO or state authority asking for the file status, any objection raised, and the charges assessed. The PIO must reply within 30 days, and you can file a First Appeal if the reply is missing or evasive.