Leaseholder Information
What is Leasehold?
Leasehold ownership is basically a long
tenancy, that is, the right to occupy your flat or maisonette
for a set period of time (known as the 'term' of the lease).
This period is usually for 125 years and the flat can be bought and
sold during the term of the lease. Bassetlaw District Council
remains the landlord of the flat/maisonette.
Ownership usually consists of everything
within the property including the floorboards, plastering to the
walls and ceilings and all items that serve the property
alone. Your landlord has responsibility for the maintenance
and repair of the building and owns the structure and communal
areas including the land it stands on.
A1 Housing Bassetlaw Limited manage the leasehold flats
on behalf of the Council.
What is a Lease?
A Lease is the legally binding document that
sets out the responsibilities of both the landlord and
the leaseholder. This may include certain conditions on the
use and occupation of the property.
When a lease is sold, the seller assigns all
the rights and responsibilities of the lease to the purchaser
together with any future service charges that have not been
identified and may also include charges due that have not yet been
paid.
Service Charges
Leaseholders of flats and maisonettes receive service charge
bills from the Council. These charges cover the leaseholders' share
of the costs incurred by A1 Housing in managing, maintaining,
repairing and improving the structure and communal parts of the
block in which the flat is situated.
Service charges include, for example, the cleaning, lighting and
day-to-day repairs of communal areas. In addition,
leaseholders will also be charged their contribution towards more
substantial work such as painting, major roof repairs, full window
replacement scheme, etc. Such work is planned in advance (rather
than responsive) and we will advise you before any such work is
started, and ask you for your views.
Other charges required to be paid by leaseholders are ground
rent (currently £10 per annum) and building insurance.
Service Charges
Policy.
Leaseholders’ Rights and Responsibilities
Leaseholders have certain rights and
responsibilities. For example, you have the right for the service
charges to be reasonable and the right to be consulted on major
repairs to the building. You also have a responsibility to pay
those service charges in full and on time and a responsibility to
keep the internal parts of the flat in good repair. Rights and
Responsibilities.
You can also get some additional
general information on the rights and responsibilities of
leaseholders from the Leasehold Advisory
Services.
For more information on long leases please
contact A1 Housing
Last Updated - 08/05/2009