999-year lease


A 999-year lease, under historic common law, is an essentially permanent lease of property. The lease locations are mainly in Britain, its former colonies, and the Commonwealth.
A former colony, the Republic of Mauritius UKPC 43 ) established legal precedent on 30 July 2008 in respect of a 'permanent lease' on St. Brandon.

Examples of land subject to a 999-year lease agreement

Leased itemTypePlaceYear termLease byLeased toNotes
Shannonville, OntarioTownHastings County, Ontario1818–2817Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte First NationTurton Penn, later the municipality of Tyendinaga, OntarioThe townsite and an additional 200 acres were leased from the Mohawks for 3 tonnes of flour a year, which was paid annually into the late 20th century
The Crystal PalacePrivate seatsLondon, England1851–2850Joseph PaxtonSeat holders/ownersCost of building venue financed by the sale of seats for £100
Queen's ParkParklandToronto, Ontario, Canada1859–2858University of TorontoProvince of Canada Park is now home to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. Originally leased to City of Toronto, the Government of Ontario now owns the land where the Legislature resides.
Point Pleasant ParkParkHalifax, Nova Scotia, Canada1866–2865British CrownCity of Halifax, Nova ScotiaPark was owned by British government as it was military site in 1860s and transferred to Government of Canada.
Royal Albert HallPrivate boxesLondon, England1871–2870The Corporation of the Hall of Arts and SciencesSeat holders/ownersFinanced by selling seats and boxes
Ontario and Quebec RailwayRailwayEastern Ontario and Quebec, Canada1884–2883Canadian Pacific RailwayOwners of the OQRNow owned by St. Lawrence and Hudson Railway, a subsidiary of the CPR
Mullaperiyar DamDam and waterCardamom Hills, Kerala, India1886–2885Maharaja of Travancore, Visakham Thirunal
From 1949 State of Travancore-Cochin
From 1956 Government of Kerala		British Secretary of State for Periyar River Irrigation
From 1947 Madras State
From 1969 Government of Tamil Nadu		The lease was made after 24 years of negotiation.
WACA GroundStadiumPerth, Western Australia1889–2888Government of Western AustraliaWestern Australian Cricket AssociationLand reclaimed from the Swan River
Commonwealth Institute building sitePropertyLondon, England1951–2950Holland EstateCommonwealth Institute
Pusey HouseBuildingOxford, England1981–2980Oxford UniversityExcludes the chapel
Inverhuron Provincial ParkParkInverhuron, Ontario1973–2972Ontario HydroMinistry of Natural Resources Lease now controlled by Bruce Power
Hampshire CCCLandHampshire, England1996–2995Queen's College, OxfordHampshire County Cricket ClubFormer farmland
Millennium DomeBuilding and surrounding landLondon, England2001–3000UK GovernmentQuintain and Australian retail developer Lend Lease
Stanley Park StadiumAssociation football stadiumLiverpool, England2006–3005Liverpool City CouncilLiverpool Football ClubProposed replacement for Anfield, home to Liverpool F.C.
St. BrandonIslandsSt. Brandon, Mauritius2008–3007Government of MauritiusRaphaël Fishing CompanyThirteen Islands on St. Brandon, Mauritius being l'île du Sud, Petit Fou, l'Avocaire, l'île aux Fous, l'île du Gouvernement, Petit Mapou, Grand Mapou, La Baleine, l'île aux Cocos, Raphaël, Verronge, l'île aux Bois and Baleines Rocks.