Leaseholders
If you have bought your council home from the council, the council usually retain ownership of the land. If your home is a flat, then the council will usually retain ownership of the communal areas of the building and the fabric of the building itself (roof etc). In either case, you will be charged a “Ground Rent”, and our Leasehold Unit will look after the services that are provided to you.
These services include:
- maintaining records about leaseholders
- arranging buildings insurance for leasehold properties
- identifying and bills the charges due under residential leases
- dealing with queries, such as how we work out service charges
- dealing with request for permission to carry out alterations
- managing the right to buy scheme.
The leasehold unit is not responsible for managing council housing or providing services to buildings and estates.
As a leasehold owner you:
- will get the actual service charges for the previous year by the end of September each year
- will have 6 months from the 1 October of each year to query any works detailed on the statement or request a more detailed breakdown of works carried out
- can have, if you want, details of repairs to your block and estate that were included in your actual service charges
- will meet with leasehold representatives regularly at leasehold meetings and focus groups
- will get advise about leasehold issues in each edition of the residents newsletter, Streets Ahead
- get updates to the leasehold handbook when necessary
- we assure you that our insurance gives you value for money and should you need to make a claim, that it is handled efficiently
- will formerly be consulted with, if when we need carry out repairs and improvements to your block or estate and your contribution to the cost will be more than £250, as set out in the Leasehold and Commonhold Reform Act.
Getting involved
The Housing Service believes in giving all tenants and leaseholders the opportunity to shape and influence our services to meet the needs and aspirations of our customers. We offer a wide range of different involvement options to make sure you can get involved in a way which suits you. We offer training and support to make sure your involvement delivers a real impact on the service you get. Find out more about tenant and leaseholder participation.
Results of STAR survey 2013
Between April and June 2013 a customer survey (called STAR) was undertaken by a company we commissioned called CR Market Research. All tenants and leaseholders were invited and encouraged to take part. It was part of the housing service’s continued commitment to providing you with the very best housing service and understanding what is important to you.