1. What is a Lease?
When you buy a flat or maisonette, you don't buy the flat itself, you just buy a "lease" from the council for a period not exceeding 125 years, which gives you the right to live in the property for an agreed period of time. At the end of the lease period the flat will revert back to the council unless the lease is renewed or extended.
The lease is a legal contract between you ‘the leaseholder’ and the council ‘the landlord’. It contains details of the property, including a map showing your home, the block it is in, the estate where the block is located (if relevant), and any garden, shed or garage included in the sale. The lease will also explain your rights and obligations, as well as those of the council.
2. Are there different types of leases?
Yes, there are a number leases depending on whether you live in a maisonette, cottage flat or multi-storey block.
3. How do I know what kind of lease I have?
Please e-mail Aire Valley Homes Leeds at: avhleeds.leaseholders@avhleeds.org.uk including your full name, address and the postcode and we will reply, advising you of the type of lease you have.
4. What are my responsibilities as a leaseholder?
Your responsibilities are set out in your lease. For example, you will be responsible for your own internal, non-structural, repairs and redecoration. You will also be responsible for all repairs and servicing to gas appliances in your home. It is important that you arrange for your appliances to be serviced at least once a year. You will have basic responsibilities to other tenants and leaseholders in the same block of flats. For example this will include keeping hallways and communal areas, including gardens, free from obstructions.
You will be responsible for maintaining and repairing the following items within your flat:
- Internal doors
- Sanitary fittings
- Plumbing and pipe work
- Fixtures and fittings
- Electrical equipment
- Wiring
- Individual heating systems
You will also be responsible for paying towards major works, paying your service charge bill, maintaining allocated garden, giving written notice when you are going to sub-let your property - and checking your mortgage agreement for any conditions that may apply.
5. What work is Leeds City Council responsible for?
Leeds City Council owns the structure of the flats and is therefore responsible for the upkeep of the following:
- External walls
- External fittings and fixtures
- Window frames
- Drying areas
- Foundations
- Drains
- Communal grounds
- Roofs and gutters
- Drain pipes
- Barge boards and fascias
The Council will also be responsible for the maintenance of communal areas which may include the following:
- Communal doors
- External entrance doors
- Communal staircases
- Communal passages
- Communal lighting
- Internal structural walls
6. How can I report a repair that is the responsibility of the Council?
There are a number of ways:
- By telephoning 0800 915 6660
- By visiting one of our offices
- By writing to Aire Valley Homes Leeds
- By ordering your repair at the repairs and home improvement page
7. Will I be notified about major repairs in advance of them being carried out and how will I pay for them?
We will send you notification in advance of major repairs (known as a Section 20 notice). This will give details of estimates for the work and give you an opportunity to comment on them. If repairs are urgent we may have to do the work without delay.
Recent changes to legislation, the Commonhold & Leasehold Reform Act 2002, introduced more stringent requirements for Landlords with their Leaseholders. These provisions came into effect on the 31st October 2003. They address the individual charges to the leaseholder and seek to ensure that Leaseholders should have a proper opportunity to consider and comment upon proposals which will affect them before decisions are made.
8. What services should you expect from the Council and Aire Valley Homes Leeds?
Together we will:
- Issue details of your estimated service charge and ground rent costs by 1 April each year and issue details of actual service charge and ground rent costs by 1 October each year;
- Consult you before carrying out major work on your block of flats in line with the Common hold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002;
- Do repairs to the same timescale as if you were a council tenant (please note that we will carry out repairs that we consider to be structural or which affect the outside of the property - you are responsible for things such as decorating or dripping taps);
- Work with Leeds City Council or any other relevant organisation to make the area around your home a better place to live;
- Invite you to a Leaseholders’ Forum to discuss issues of particular interest to leaseholders; and
- Keep updated a specific page on our website giving answers to frequently asked questions.
You can help us by:
- Paying your service charge on time (if you disagree with any part of the service charge, you should continue to pay the amount due until we sort out the matter);
- Not making any structural alterations without approval; and
- Telling us if you want to transfer the lease to another person.
9. I have just moved into the area, do you have a residents association?
There are tenants and residents associations in many of the Aire Valley Homes Leeds areas. For more information please contact the Customer Involvement Team on 0113 2141936 / 0113 214 1994 or email avhleeds.cit@avhleeds.org.uk
10. Can I sub-let my property?
Yes, but you must register the subletting with the council. You will also need the permission of your mortgage lender.