Leaseholder’s rights and responsibilities

Your lease sets out your rights and responsibilities as a council home leaseholder.  

See GOV.UK’s advice on leasehold properties 

 

Your lease agreement     

A lease is a legal agreement between you and the property owner. It gives your rights and responsibilities and procedures for selling, altering or subletting your home.  

Your lease is a type of tenancy that allows you to live in your home for a set period of time. This is usually 99 or 125 years from when the first property in the building was sold. This is known as the lease term.   

If you bought your home on the open market, the remaining term of the lease will transfer to you.   

Get a copy of your lease   

We can provide you with a copy of your lease. You’ll need to pay £23.35.   

You'll need your property details.   

Apply for a copy of your lease  

If you need a copy of the lease with the title register, contact the Land Registry. They can provide this for a fee.  

 

What we’re responsible for 

We’re responsible for maintaining the outside of the block, the structure and the communal areas.  

This includes: 

  • window frames
  • lifts
  • door entry systems
  • grounds maintenance
  • estate lighting
  • block lighting
  • decorations in shared spaces 
  • guttering and roof 
  • communal stake and pipes
  • communal heating  

We’ll also: 

  • arrange insurance for the block depending on your lease
  • consult with leaseholders before carrying out works costing more than £250 to any one leaseholder 

 

Your responsibilities 

 As a leaseholder it’s your responsibility to:  

  • pay service charges and ground rent on time
  • get a gas safety check every year
  • get an electricity check (EICR certificate) every five years
  • keep the internal parts of your property in a good condition
  • get permission before carrying out any structural alterations or improvements to your property
  • do repairs you’re responsible for, including replacing fixtures and fittings
  • fix any water leaks and cover repair costs for damages caused
  • seek our permission before sub-letting the property
  • not cause nuisance or annoy your neighbours or other people living close by
  • give access to your property for us to carry out necessary work
  • not breach the buildings insurance policy (PDF 12.3MB)
  • use the property for residential purposes only
  • tell us if you're selling or remortgaging 

 

Repairs and maintenance  

You’re responsible for maintaining the inside of your home.   

This includes: 

  • window glazing 
  • ceilings 
  • plaster and surfaces on all floors, walls, and ceilings
  • entrance door and frame and other external doors and frames
  • water tank for your property 
  • heating systems, plumbing and electrics for your property
  • kitchen units, toilets, sinks, baths and other fixtures
  • all internal decoration  

See guidance if you’re worried about damp or mould 

Report an emergency repair

 

Call 0800 393 994 or 0208 498 8000.

 

Report a non-emergency repair

 

You must report non-emergency repairs online.

Alterations and improvements

You must ask for written permission before making alterations and improvements to your home.

 

Service charge and ground rent

You must pay rent for the use of the ground your property is on. This is known as ground rent.

We send you an invoice for your ground rent every year in June.

Ground rent is separate from service charges.

You’ll need to pay towards services or works to the block or estate where your property is.

 

Selling

You can sell your flat whenever you wish. But if you bought it under the Right to Buy scheme and sell it within the discount repayment period, you must repay some or all the discount.

See sell your leasehold property

 

Insurance

You’re responsible for insuring the contents of your home.

You do not need to take out building insurance. This is covered by the council’s building insurance policy.

See the leasehold insurance policy (PDF 2.5MB)

If the internal structure of your property is damaged, you can make a claim against our building insurance policy. This could be for incidents such as fire, water leaks or building subsidence.  

Contact our insurer on: