Buying and owning your flat

If you have bought the leasehold interest in a flat either through your Right To Buy or on the open market, it simply means you have bought the lease, and you have the right to live in your home for a long period of time, usually up to 125 years.  As a leaseholder you are responsible for certain repairs and maintenance, usually to the interior of your home.

Ashfield District Council, as the freeholder, owns the building that you live in and is responsible for looking after the structure and communal areas of the block.  Ashfield Homes carries out such repairs and maintenance on behalf of the Council. 

If you spot a repair or maintenance problem that is the Council’s responsibility, please report a repair to Ashfield Homes Repairs Call Handling Centre.

Leaseholders have a responsibility to pay a Service Charge for your share of the costs of maintaining the block and providing services such as heating and lighting of shared areas, door entry systems and buildings insurance.  Full details of the services your building receives are detailed in your Service Charge breakdown, which we will send to you by September of each year.

You may also have to pay your share of the costs of any major works to the block of flats.

As with any house purchase, you also need to consider both immediate costs such as legal fees, stamp duty and a survey, as well as ongoing expenses like the mortgage, Service Charge, utility bills, and repairs to your home.

Services for leaseholders

Services for leaseholders are delivered not only by Ashfield Homes, but by other organisations too, such as Ashfield District Council.  It has often been difficult for leaseholders to obtain all the information they may need from one source.

Our Leaseholder Handbook is a direct response to our customers needs.  The Handbook is packed with information about all of the services that may affect you.

The Leaseholders Service Standard tells you all about how we will deliver services to you.

Gas Safety

Your gas appliances – get them checked, keep them safe!

For important information from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), please read their information leaflets.

In partnership with Tomlinsons, our specialist Gas Servicing partner, Ashfield Homes are pleased to offer leaseholders preferential rates for gas appliance servicing and associated property health and safety checks.  For further details please contact your Repairs Call Handling Centre on

Tel - 0800 457 4999 or 01623 457999.

Leaseholder Survey

Ashfield Homes carries out an annual Leasholders Survey of all leaseholders of Ashfield District Council.  Your feedback is very important to us, and all responses are used to help us further improve the services we provide to you.

Where can I find out more?

Free advice on all aspects of the leasehold system may be obtained from:

LEASE (The Leasehold Advisory Service)

31 Worship Street

London

EC2A 2DX

Tel: 0845 345 1993 or 020 7374 5380

Fax: 020 7374 5373

Email: info@lease-advice.org

Website: www.lease-advice.org

LEASE are an independent agency funded by government grant.

Communities and Local Government

Free literature

PO Box NO.236

Wetherby

LS23 7NB

Tel: 0870 1226 236

Fax: 0870 1207 405

Email: contactus@communities.gsi.gov.uk

Website: www.communities.gov.uk

Links to:

Leaseholder Handbook

Leaseholder Service Standard

HSE Gas Safety Leaflet (http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/gasindex.htm)

Communities and Local Government information booklet: Residential Long Leaseholders – A Guide to your Rights and Responsibilities (http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/housing/booklet)

 leaseholders handbook

leaseholders service standard

Leaseholder Magazine

 Leaseholder magazine 2012 - Issue 1