Your leasehold services

Leasehold ownership 

Leaseholders have a contractual arrangement with the council and so need to be aware of their responsibilities to us and also to their neighbours. This guide sets out clearly what those responsibilities are and where to get further help.

Leaseholders are: 

• tenants who have bought their property under a statutory ‘Right to Buy’ scheme 
• those who have bought their property on the open market so that the original lease is assigned to them

Your lease agreement

A leaseholder property is a flat or maisonette which is part of a larger building divided into individual units. Other flats in the building may be leasehold or rented by council tenants. There will be some common elements such as the roof and there may be communal areas such as entrance halls and landings or walkways.

The agreement provides information about:

• your property
• the plan which identifies the areas and any buildings included in your lease
• our responsibilities for maintaining your property, the building and grounds
• your responsibilities as a leaseholder
• how and when to pay your service charges 
• payment of ground rent 
• building insurance provisions 
• general conditions affecting the usage of the property and the building
• the conditions on which we may terminate the lease

Rights and responsibilities

Our responsibilities are to:

• repair and maintain the exterior structure, communal areas and services of the property, including drains, external pipes, and roofs.
• keep the building insured against fire, lightning, explosion, and other such risks 
• provide an annual service charge invoice at the end of each financial year, for the actual costs of the services to your block or estate over the previous year
• consult with leaseholders before undertaking any major works to the building.

We have the right:

• of entry to repair or maintain communal facilities and to fix structural defects having given reasonable notice. 
• to rebuild, restrict or develop any part of the block or estate and neighbouring land.

In an emergency, no formal notice needs to be given.

Your responsibilities are to:

• pay the ground rent, service charge, building insurance and major works costs as demanded
• obtain written permission from us before making any alterations to your property or additions to the structure, including drains, external pipes, and windows
• advise us of any transfer of the lease or mortgage assignment
• not transfer 'part only' of the property 
• keep the property in good repair
• comply with the terms and regulations contained in your lease
• not do any illegal act or thing which may be or become a nuisance or annoyance or cause damage to residents or any part of the building. 

You have the right

• to a summary of costs on service charges and the costs incurred to your block or estate 
• to be consulted about major works affecting your property.

Where to find your lease

Your lease is usually held by your mortgage lender for the duration of your mortgage. 

You can get a copy of the lease from your mortgage lender, the Land Registry, or from us by emailing hsg-servicecharges@croydon.gov.uk. A fee will be charged. 

For further advice on leasehold ownership you can view Leasehold property on the Gov.uk website.

For free independent legal advice on the terms of your lease you can use the Leasehold Advisory Service.