Rights & Responsibilities

You have protected rights as a leaseholder under several laws and Acts of Parliament. A solicitor and/or Citizens Advice Bureau will be able to advise you on your rights.

Some of your rights as a leaseholder are detailed below:

• Consultation: you have a right to be consulted about the major repairs for which you have to pay a share.
• Service Charges: You have the right to information about service charges and the right to challenge how reasonable those charges are.
• Internal alterations: You have a right to make alterations to the inside of your flat, as long as you do not remove structural walls or cause damage to the outside or shared parts of the building.
• Quiet Enjoyment: You have the right to occupy the property and have the right to ‘Quiet Enjoyment’ of your home, this is subject to complying with the terms of the lease.

Your lease will set out conditions for you and anyone else who lives in your home. These conditions are there to ensure that the actions of residents do not cause a nuisance to others or cause damage to the building.

You own and are responsible for the maintenance and repair of everything inside your home or that which relates solely to it.

This includes:

• Internal walls, plasterwork, ceilings and floor surfaces
• Tanks, cisterns, drains, pipes, ducts, plumbing and wiring which serve your home only.
• Window glass
• External doors into your home.
• Internal doors and door frames.
• Gardens and steps if they are used only by you.
• Internal fixtures and fittings unless they belong to the Association (these will be listed in your lease).
• Internal decoration to your home.

As a leaseholder you must:

• Pay all service charges due under the terms of your lease for annual services, repairs, improvements, ground rent, and administration fees and insurance.
• Keep your home in good repair, including internal decorations.
• Keep your home in a clean and orderly condition; some leaseholders may also be responsible for helping to keep adjacent communal areas clean and tidy.
• Ensure that you have a valid and current gas safety certificate.
• Arrange for your own contents insurance.
• Allow the Association or its workforce access to your home if given reasonable notice or in an emergency.

As a leaseholder you must not:

• Make alterations to the building without the Associations prior consent.
• Use the building for business purposes. (this does not include working from home)
• Cause a nuisance or annoyance to neighbours or let other members of your household do so.
• Cause damage to the building or fix any sign or otherwise disfigure any of the communal buildings, fences or walls.