When council flats are bought under Right to buy, we keep the freehold and continue to be responsible for structural repairs and the upkeep of communal areas. In these cases, occupiers have leasehold ownership and are required to pay service charges to offset any costs we have to pay.
Information about leaseholders' rights and responsibilities
Further information is available from The Leasehold Advisory Service.
Find out more about extending your lease.
Service charges
If we carry out repairs to the main structure of the buildings in a management area, a proportion of the cost is charged to each leaseholder. This could include roofs, main walls and timbers, communal pipes, installations, internal passageways, communal lighting, footpaths and landings.
The service charge explained leaflet gives leaseholders a brief explanation of their service charge for 1 October 2021 to 30 September 2022.
Please select a tab in details of repairs 2021-2022 or the management area your property is in, to see the repairs charges. The management area number was in the letter we sent to each leaseholder.
To get a cost for each property the repairs cost is multiplied by the rateable value of flat and divided by the rateable value of management area. For example if the repairs cost £1,000, the rateable value of a flat is £180 and the rateable value of a management area is £750, the charge would be £1,000 x 180/750 = £240.
Leaseholders building insurance
We take out comprehensive building insurance for every leaseholder. It does not cover the contents of your home such as your furniture and other personal possessions. For these you need to take out your own home contents insurance policy.
Building insurance covers damage caused to the building by a range of events including:
- Fire
- Explosion
- Aircraft
- Subsidence
- Earthquake
- Malicious damage (not graffiti)
Details of your policy are noted in the summary of leaseholders insurance policy document.
Making a claim
If you need to make a claim call 01204 860427 or make a claim by e-mail.
You will need to quote your policy number which is: 2022CP000264
In the case of malicious or theft damage, you should report the matter to the police immediately and get a crime reference number.
If you make any improvements to your property (for example, double glazing, fitted kitchen, bathroom suite, and so on) you should let our insurance section know immediately so we can ensure the sum insured for your flat is correct.