Council leaseholders
When you buy a flat or maisonette from the council it is sold to you with a long lease and you become a leaseholder.
The lease is a legal contract between you and the Council, giving you ownership of the property for a fixed period of time. In this and all legal documents you will be referred to as the tenant. GOV.UK offer a comprehensive guide for leaseholders.
View the council leaseholder policy and major works repayments guides
Your rights and responsibilities
Your lease will set out your rights and responsibilities as a leaseholder.
Leases may vary in certain details but the following are standard:
Your rights
You have the right to:
- be fully consulted about building work, long-term agreements, major works and charges or anything that may affect your property (Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002)
- claim a service charge loan (conditions apply) during the first 10 years of becoming a leaseholder after completing your Right to Buy purchase
- seek advice, dispute an issue or challenge service charges at the First Tier Tribunal (Property-Chamber).
Your responsibilities
As a leaseholder it is your responsibility to:
- pay service charges and ground rent on time
- keep the internal parts of your property in a good condition
- seek our permission before carrying out any structural alterations or improvements to your property
- seek our permission before sub-letting the property
- not cause nuisance or annoy your neighbours or other people living close by
- give the Council and its operatives access to your property for us to carry out necessary work (for example, if we need to carry out work in a loft)
- not breach the buildings insurance policy.
You can find more information for leaseholders on GOV.UK or the First Tier Tribunal (Property-Chamber).
Leasehold services
This team provides help and advice to leaseholders across the borough via:
You can contact us in the following ways:
- email - we will respond within 10 working days.
- telephone: 020 8583 3787 - Monday to Friday 9am-5pm.