When you purchase a flat you are buying the right to occupy part of a larger building. This type of ownership is called leasehold.
Council flats are usually sold on a 125 year lease. The lease is the legally binding document that sets out the responsibilities of both the Council and the Leaseholder.
Ownership consists of everything within the property including the floorboards, plastering to the walls and ceilings and all items that serve the property alone. The Council continues to own the block, including the exterior structure of the flat.
Thinking of buying or selling a leasehold flat?
If you are considering buying your Council-owned flat, please ensure that your solicitor explains the details of the lease clearly. Although we will be pleased to answer any queries, we would always advise you to ensure that you seek professional, independent advice before you go ahead with the purchase, either on the open market or through the 'Right to Buy'.
What are service charges?
Service charges are the costs incurred for the day-to-day repair, maintenance and management of the building of which the leasehold property forms part. The Council is entitled to a contribution from the owners of flats towards the costs of managing and maintaining the block the service charges are variable dependant on the types of service received at each block of flats.
Please click here to view Service Charges Explained document.
What is ground rent?
You must pay ground rent to the Council as it owns the land the building stands on. The amount of ground rent payable is £10 annually.
Do I need insurance?
The responsibility for insuring the structure of the building remains with Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council (RMBC), and a charge can be made for this. RMBC does not insure the inside walls and fixtures and fittings in your flat or the contents of your flat, such as your furniture and personal belongings.
Mortgage Arrears?
You should tell your mortgage lender and get advice about alternative ways of reducing your mortgage payments. If you have a mortgage protection policy, ask the provider for help in making a claim against the policy.
Contact your local Jobcentreplus to see if you qualify for any benefits. You may be able to get help with the interest payments on your mortgage. If you have been unsuccessful in the past, please be aware that there have been some recent changes in the benefits allowances and you may now qualify.
Service Charge and Ground Rent arrears?
If you are in receipt of benefits, the Benefits Agency may be able to provide you with some assistance in paying your service charges and ground rent. Visit
www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk for further information.
Repairs and Maintenance
You can report a repair to the communal areas of your flats to Rotherham Connect on 01709 336009. They will report the works and arrange to have any faults remedied. You must remember that you are liable to pay your share of any repairs carried out on your block.
What is the Council’s Responsibility?
• All communal areas, shared doors and shared lighting.
• Staircases to flats and lifts.
• Shared gardens, garden paths, drying areas and shared rubbish areas.
• Structural walls and foundations.
• Chimneys, roofs and guttering.
• Window frames and external doors and frames.
• Door entry systems (where fitted).
• Service pipes and drains within the boundary of the property.
• Fire alarms and firefighting equipment.
• Shared TV aerial.
What is the Leaseholder’s Responsibility?
• Floorboards.
• Internal decoration including carpets and paintwork.
• Any water tanks serving the property alone.
• Sanitary fixtures and fittings.
• Internal plaster to walls and ceilings.
• Glass to windows.
• Plumbing and wiring inside the home.
Please note this list does not cover everything. Please refer to your lease or contact 2010 Rotherham’s Leasehold Team on 01709 334339 if you require further information and advice.
Major Works
Occasionally, more substantial work will need to be done on your block, such as painting, major roof repairs, a full window replacement scheme, etc. This kind of work is planned in advance. We will advise you before any such work is started, and ask you for your views.
Please click here to view information regarding Section 20 Notices.
How can I find out more?
To help support our leaseholders, we have provided an overview of the rights and responsibilities of being a leaseholder within our handbook, Leaseholders’ Guide
(click here to view). The handbook contains full details about the services we provide.
You can also contact the Leasehold Advisory Service for free advice on 0207 374 5380, or visit their website at
www.lease-advice.org
Contact Details
Leasehold Team
Eastwood Headquarters
Chesterton Road
Rotherham
S65 1SZ
Tel: 01709 334339
Other related information
You can become involved in the way you shape your services by joining our Leasehold Forum. We consult the forum on the services we provide, and take suggestions on the way we can improve things. We meet every two months.
If you cannot attend the meetings, but you would still like to be involved, contact the Leasehold Team who will be happy to discuss the options available to you.
You can also download copies of previous Leaseholder Forum minutes as listed below: