Your responsibilities as a leaseholder
The responsibilities of ownership
As a leaseholder, you effectively become a ‘shareholder’ in the block you live in. This means you have a responsibility to pay your share of the costs of managing and maintaining your block. Your landlord (the Council) has a legal duty to charge you your share of the costs, and you have a legal duty to pay them.
Living with your neighbours
Living in a flat can be difficult. You may have people above or below you, and you may have to share landings and other areas. You have a right to the ‘quiet enjoyment’ of your flat, and your neighbours have the same right. We will try to deal with people who cause a nuisance to you, but equally you must not cause a nuisance to them. Tenants (and leaseholders) who cause serious harassment to their neighbours can lose their home.
Service charges
You must pay your share of the costs of managing and maintaining your block. This is a legal duty set out in your lease. If you do not pay your share, you are breaking your lease agreement and we could apply to the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal to argue that the service charges are fair. If the tribunal agrees then we have the right to ask the courts to have your lease ‘forfeited’. In these circumstances, you could lose your home.
We will always be fair about service charges. We will explain how they are calculated, and you can challenge any charges you do not agree with. If you have financial problems, we may be able to give you a loan or make other arrangements to help you pay your service charges.
As a homeowner, you are also responsible for the cost of running your own home, i.e. gas, electricity, water rates, council tax etc.
Major alterations
You must get the Council's written permission before carrying out any alterations to the building. Generally, the Council will not give permission for any external or internal alterations to the structure, walls, timbers, elevations (faces and sides of the building) or the removal of any main walls, timbers, floors or ceilings.
You may also need planning permission and or building regulations approval. If you damage the structure of the building, the Council has the right to make it good and charge you for doing so.