Leaseholders Handbook. A guide for the Owners of Leasehold Flats and Maisonettes

(1)

Leaseholders Handbook

(2)

Introduction

If you live in an ex-council flat or maisonette then you are a leaseholder of Sheffield City Council. As a leaseholder you effectively become a shareholder in the block you live in. You have bought the right to live in your property for a fixed number of years - initially, up to 125. The lease is a binding contract, enforceable in law that contains both your rights as leaseholder and the council’s rights as freeholder.

The Leasehold Management Team looks after all Leasehold properties sold through the Right to Buy scheme for Sheffield City Council. This Handbook aims to give you as much information as possible about being a leaseholder of Sheffield City Council. Whether you are a first time buyer who has bought your home through the Right to Buy or you have purchased your property on the open market we hope that you find this booklet a useful guide.

We have tried to cover as many topics as possible in this handbook but we do understand that our leaseholders live in a variety of different properties across the city and have different concerns.

For this reason this handbook will give you general guidance on how to deal with those concerns and if it does not give a full explanation it will explain who you need to contact to resolve your problem.

If the booklet does not cover your particular situation then we would advise you to call the Leasehold Management Team in the first instance who will be best placed to deal with your enquiry.

The contact details for the team are:-Telephone: 0114 273 4468

Email: Leaseholdteam@sheffield.gov.uk

Post: Sheffield City Council

Leasehold Management Team PO Box 1918

Sheffield, S1 2XX Website pages:

www.sheffield.gov.uk/in-your-area/housing-services/leaseholders

It is important to remember this booklet should be used as a reference guide only and should not be relied upon to resolve disputes in respect of your lease. In these matters you should contact the Leasehold Team or get independent legal advice.

When you purchase a flat or maisonette you are buying the right to occupy part of a larger building. This type of ownership is called ‘leasehold’. Council flats and maisonettes are usually sold on a 125 year lease. The lease is a contract between you and the Council.

The Council continues to own the block, including the exterior structure of your flat or maisonette, and so remains responsible for the maintenance and improvements of the structure of the block and all its shared parts.

The Council is also responsible for providing services such as cleaning and lighting to the block - although the exact services provided can vary slightly from block to block.

Gas Servicing

If you have a gas appliance then we strongly recommend that you get it tested every year. If your appliance is faulty then the implications of not getting it fixed can be extremely serious for you and your neighbours.

Water leaks

Something as simple as a leaking tap can cause major problems in blocks of properties especially when people are away from their home for long periods. Make sure that all your taps are fully turned off and if you find a leak inside your property please arrange for a qualified plumber to fix it as soon as possible. It is also important that you provide us with a current telephone number in case we need to reach you in urgent situations such as these.

Security

To minimise the risk of unwanted intruders be careful who you give the keys of your property/communal door entry fob to. If there are communal doors to your block make sure you do not leave them open.

Fire Safety

To obtain a copy of Sheffield City Council’s ‘Fire safety in your property’ leaflet, please contact Housing Services using the various methods listed at the back of this booklet.

Rights and Responsibilities

(4)

Exact details of your obligations and the Councils’ obligations are stated in your Lease. Here is a brief

outline:-Your Obligations and the Council Obligations

The Council has the right to:

• Run and maintain electricity cables, water or gas pipes from any part of the estate or block through your property

• Enter and remain in your home for any reasonable period to carry out any works to the common parts or structure. It should give you reasonable notice but can enter immediately in an emergency.

• Extend or carry out alterations/ improvements to the block.

It is important that you keep a copy of your lease for your records.

If you have lost your copy and you need another then please call the Leasehold Management Team and for a small fee a duplicate can be provided.

How do I report a Repair?

• By telephone to the Service Centre on 0114 273 5555 between 8.00am and 5.30pm.

• At an Area office or First Point using their free phone service.

• For emergencies outside the normal opening hours (8am-6pm Monday to Friday), at weekends or Bank Holidays please call our Repairs Service Centre on 0114 273 5555.

Sheffield City Council as Landlord is

responsible for certain repairs and you will be responsible for others. The table below shows who is responsible for which type of repairs. To summarise, the Council is responsible for maintenance of the structure and the communal areas of the block and you are responsible for maintaining the inside of your property.

Repairs

Description Your Responsibility Council’s Responsibility

Keep your home in good repair and condition. P Keeping the structure of the building in good repair and

condition  P

Have gas and electrical appliances regularly serviced and

tested. P

Not sub-let, without giving prior notice in writing to the

Council. P

Not make any alterations/improvements to your property without prior written permission from the Councils Leasehold Team.



P Not cause annoyance or inconvenience to your neighbours. P Not keep pets (without prior permission from SCC). P

Consulting you before doing major works to the building. P Arranging property insurance for the block. P Pay a proportion of the Council’s costs of managing

the block (see the ‘Service Charges’ section for more information).



P Pay your share of the block insurance. P Pay a proportion of the Council’s costs of carrying out

major repairs and improvements to your block (see the ‘Major Works’ section for more information).



P Pay the ground rent. P Use your home only as a single private property for

residential use (unless you get permission from the Council)

 P Not carry on any trade or business from your flat or

maisonette without prior consent from the Council. P Not bring bottled petroleum, gas or any other potentially

explosive material into your property or anywhere in the building.

 P Repay any discount which is repayable if you sell the

property. P

Type of Repair Council You

Repair to burst / leaking pipe from mains to stop tap in your property P

Repairs to leaks within your property P Repairs to water pipes beyond stop tap in your property P Clear blockages and repairs to gutters and / or fall pipes P

Replace / Repair bath, basin taps or toilet P Communal flooring and staircases P

Flooring within the property  P Floor joists (as detailed within the lease) P Ceiling joists (as detailed within the lease) P

Roof structure and covering P

Loft space P

External windows of the property (frames and sashes only) P

Internal door of property P

The property entrance doors (except glass) P

Communal windows / doors P

Electricity within the flat P

Communal rewiring and repairs P Communal heating systems (including some of the equipment and parts in the property P

Individual heating systems in property P Forecourts, play areas, hedges, boundaries, gates, etc P

Communal Plastering and decorating P

Balconies P

You will have to contribute your share of the costs of any repairs done to the communal areas of your block. For more information, please see the section on “Service Charges”.

(5)

You may decide you want to make some improvements or alterations to your home. For most alterations you need permission, in writing from us before you begin work. The table below shows when permission is required. Please apply in writing to:

Sheffield City Council Leasehold Team

PO Box 1918, Sheffield S1 2XX

or email to: leaseholdteam@sheffield.gov.uk

Please give the full address of the property, your contact details including a daytime phone number, the full details of the work you are planning to do and any contractors you are planning to use. In some cases we may want to see drawings or plans. You may also need consent from Building Standards and Planning. Please contact us so we can advise you exactly what information you need to provide.

Applying for Permission for Improvements /

Alterations

In addition to the normal day-to-day services

and repairs to your block (as described above under ‘Service Charges’), it may also be necessary from time-to-time for the Council to undertake larger repairs, maintenance or improvement work to your block. These types of repairs and improvements are called ‘major works’. Examples of major works include window

replacement, installation of door-entry systems, re-roofing, large scale painting programmes, re-pointing brickwork, improving safety etc. Such works are only carried out when necessary and under legislation we must consult properly with you before any such work starts. See the flow chart below for more

information:-Major Works

Description of Improvement/alterations Permission required Comments

Yes No Replacing window frames P

Replacing glass in windows

P

No, if a like for like replacement that already meets current standards / if in keeping with the block

Alterations to the structure or layout of the flat   P Removing walls or chimney breasts  P Alterations to form new or existing doorways

and frames (but excludes fittings and door furniture) both internal and external

  P Creating new doorways   P Addition or changes to the heating system   P Addition or changes to the electrical system   P Addition or changes to existing pipe work   P

Installing a new kitchen P No, if there are no alterations to existing pipe work and circuitry

Installing a new bathroom P No, if there are no alterations to existing pipe work and circuitry

Decoration to the outside of your home  P Aerials, satellite antenna receivers and CCTV P  Building Extensions  P Replacement of front door  P Loft conversions 

P

N/A - Loft space is the property of Sheffield City Council and must not be used.

Internal decoration P Hardwood and laminate floor coverings  P Metal Grilles / Gates on doors/windows  P Garden Sheds and outdoor storage  P Patio doors & French windows  P Access ramps  P

Formal Consultation

Major Works - Approved Contractor - works less than £250

Improvement / Maintenance & Repair

works identified as being required

A Sheffield City Council pre approved/appointed contractor is requested to complete the agreed works

Financial apportionment per Leaseholder is LESS THAN £250 per property

Initial customer information letter sent advising of works and

estimated costs

Works carried out by contractor

Final costs received by Leasehold team

and validated

Final invoice raised and sent to leaseholder

for payment

Leaseholder pays invoice as raised or raises dispute

regarding: cost of works / standard of works

Dispute resolved and invoice payment due

in full / payment arrangement agreed

(6)

Notice of Intention - Section 20

Major Works - Approved Contractor - works over £250

Improvement / Maintenance & Repair

A Sheffield City Council pre approved/appointed contractor is requested to complete the agreed works

Financial apportionment per Leaseholder is LESS THAN £250 per property Customer NOTICE OF INTENTION (S20) consultation letter sent

advising of works and estimated costs

Leaseholders have a period of 30 days in which to raise any ‘Observations’

in relation to the works / costs

Leaseholders receive a response to ‘observations’

within 21 days of their letter being received

Works start on site NOT LESS THAN 55 days

from date of Notice of Intention letter (S20)

Works completed and final costs received by

Leasehold team for validation

Final cost invoice raised and sent to leaseholder

for payment

Leaseholder pays invoice as raised or raises dispute

regarding: cost of works / standard of works

Dispute resolved and invoice payment due in

full / payment arrangement agreed

Dispute not resolved an application is made to

Leasehold Valuation Tribunal for independant

decision

Major Works - No approved contractor and a Formal Tender is required.

Improvement / Maintenance & repair

Specialist contractor required for programme

of works

Sheffield City Council (Housing) advertise for

contractor to submit Tender for contract

Notice of Intention is sent to all affected leaseholders advising that

a Tender advert has been published

Notice of Intention period of 30 days to allow formal

‘Observations’ from leaseholders

Observations are a summarised response at the next stage - Notice of Proposal (unless a specific

response is required)

Submitted tenders are evaluated and contractor appointed on best value /

quality

Notice of Proposal sent to all affected leaseholders

advising of contractor / full works / programme

value / estimated costs

Notice of Proposal period of 30 days to allow formal

‘observations’ from leaseholders Notice of Proposal period of 21 days to allow observation responses Notice of Intention (S20) issued to leaseholders prior to start of programme of works

See flow chart of Notice of Intention

- Section 20 (on previous page)

(7)

Service charges cover your share of the costs of services and day-to-day maintenance and repair work provided to your block. These vary depending on where you live, but typically may include cleaning, lighting of communal areas and day-to-day repairs.

We bill our leaseholders in February/March each year for their service charges for the previous ‘service charge year’, which runs from 1st October to 30th September. When you receive the invoice there will be information included with it explaining the different ways you can pay it.

If you do not pay your bill or you do not keep to your payment agreement then we will take action to recover the debt. This may include referring your debt to an external debt collection agency, approaching your mortgage lender or suing you through the courts. Ultimately we have the right to forfeiture of your property if you fail to pay your debt(s), which would result in you losing your home.

Disputing your Invoice

If you wish to dispute any of the charges on your invoice, please write to / email us at the following address, stating clearly which part of the charges you disagree with and why:

Sheffield City Council,

Leasehold Management Team, PO Box 1918,

Sheffield, S1 2XX

leaseholdteam@sheffield.gov.uk

If you are unable to put your dispute in writing we can take the details over the telephone. You still need to pay the part(s) of the charges you do not disagree with in the usual way. When we receive your dispute we will acknowledge it within 5 working days, and then resolve the problem within 21 days. We will write to you with a full

response as soon as we have completed our investigations.

The Government expects all Councils to ensure that their services to leaseholders are self-financing. They state that this should be done by charging appropriate Administration and Management fees to cover all costs incurred in providing the services. The Administration Fee is an additional amount added to your service charge invoice. It covers the administration of producing and collecting service charges. The Management Fee includes the

administrative costs of managing your building and the costs of employing staff to provide leasehold-related services.

Service Charges (including Admin and

Management Fees)

Under the terms of your lease you are

required to have your part of the building insured by the Council’s insurers. The insurance covers storm, flood, lightning, earthquake and malicious damage. It also covers certain fixtures and fittings within the dwelling.

If you need to make a claim against the buildings insurance policy then please contact the insurers directly. You will need your policy number which can be found on your summary of cover, which is sent out annually. Alternatively you can telephone

Leasehold Management Team on 273 4468 who can provide the policy number.

We also strongly recommend that you take out a contents insurance policy to cover the belongings in your property. These are not covered in your buildings insurance policy. Ground Rent

Your Ground Rent will normally be £10 per year and is set out in your lease. This is a rental paid to the council. The full amount is due on 1 April each year, and is billed on a separate invoice.

Insurance

Whilst we will make every effort to resolve any disputes to the satisfaction of everyone concerned we understand that sometimes this is not possible. In this situation then either you or the Council can refer the case to a neutral third party for a decision. Leasehold Valuation Tribunal:

As a leaseholder, you can appeal to the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal if you disagree with changes to your lease, including:

• service charges

• extending a lease

• buying the freehold

• insuring the building

The tribunal is independent and can decide if a charge is too high or unreasonable, or if changes to the lease are fair.

LEASE - The Leasehold Advisory Service LEASE is a government funded advisory service that can provide general guidance about being a residential leaseholder. They can also act as a mediation service between Landlord and Leaseholder to try and resolve any disputes before the need for any legal action.

More information about LEASE and their services can be found at www.lease-advice. org

(8)

At any Post Office

please make cheques payable to “Post Office Ltd”

Take your payment - cash, cheque or debit card - to any Post Office. The Post Office will not charge you for this transaction.

By Pay Point

Please take your payment - cash, cheque or debit card and your invoice to any outlet displaying the PP sign.

By telephone using your debit or credit card Sheffield City Council accepts all major debit and credit cards except American Express, Diners Club, JCB and Solo.

Payment may be made by telephoning (0114) 273 5249 (24 hours per day - please note this is an automated payment line and you will need the 14 digit number, starting with 8 that appears at the bottom of your invoice.

Over the Internet

Sheffield City Council accepts all major debit and credit cards except American Express, Diners Club, JCB and Solo. Visit Sheffield City Council’s website: www.sheffield,gov.uk and go to the ‘do it online’ option and follow the instructions. You will need the number at the bottom of your invoice excluding the number 8 shown at the beginning in the ‘Customer reference number’ field.

Standing Order

This allows you to pay in 12 monthly instalments if the bill is less that £5,000 or 24 months is the bill is over £5,000, interest-free. Should you wish to pay by this method, please contact the Leasehold Management Team for a Standing Order form. Complete the form and return it to your bank as soon as possible.

By BACS (Bank Transfer)

Please use the following Bank details:- Co-operative Bank Plc, 84/86 West Street, Sheffield, S1 3SX. Sort Code: 08 90 75 Account Number: 61190289

Please quote the number featured at the bottom of your invoice excluding the number 8 shown at the beginning. Please also send your remittance advice to: Sheffield City Council, Resources, PO Box 1283, Sheffield S1 1UJ

How to Pay

Leaseholders can spread the cost of their major works bills over a 12 month period if the bill is less than £5,000 or 24 months if the bill is over £5,000 interest free. You will automatically be sent a standing order mandate with your bill to make the necessary payment arrangements with your bank.

Leaseholders also have the option of spreading the costs of major works bills over a longer period by obtaining a loan. There is a range of loan options available to leaseholders, although all of these options are subject to interest. Under current legislation, some leaseholders may be entitled to a “Mandatory Loan” from the Council. There are certain criteria specified in the legislation which need to be met for these loans to be applicable. You will be told when you receive your invoice if the right to a Mandatory Loan applies to you.

For those leaseholders who do not qualify, another option may be to approach their mortgage lender for further lending. This would allow the cost to be spread over the period of the mortgage - subject, of course, to interest. Leaseholders may also be able to obtain a personal loan from a High Street lender - again this would be subject to interest, but would allow repayment over a longer period.

If you are on a low income, disabled or of pensionable age you may be entitled to benefits or help with your payments. Please contact the Advice Line Sheffield on 0114 205 5055 who can give you impartial advice about what benefits you may be entitled to, and how to claim. Alternatively you can call Sheffield Credit Union, 16 Commercial Street, Sheffield, S1 2AT on 0114 276 0787.

Finally, for any leaseholder who cannot obtain assistance from any of the sources listed above, the Council may be able to offer a discretionary loan.

The most common type of discretionary loan is a monthly repayment loan, which allows the amount owed to be repaid over a fixed length of time in regular monthly instalments. The Council can - in cases of extreme

hardship - take a charge against the

property and offer a loan where no payment is required until the property is sold on or transferred.

As with the other loans mentioned, the Council’s discretionary loans are all subject to interest. If you need any further

information about the different ways of paying a major works bill, please contact the Revenues team on 0114 273 5590.

We would always advise leaseholders to obtain their own independent financial advice before deciding which repayment method is most suitable for them.

It is very important that you make arrangements to pay your major works bills promptly as this is one of the main conditions of your lease. If you have difficulties in paying you should contact the Revenues team on 273 5590 to discuss your situation. The sooner you contact us the quicker we can help you.

If you do not pay your bill or you do not keep to your payment agreement then we will take action to recover the debt. This may include referring your debt to an external debt collection agency, approaching your mortgage lender or suing you through the courts.

Your home is at risk if you do not keep up with your payments or the terms of your lease.

(9)

You may decide that you want to rent your property out - this is called subletting. You are permitted to do this but there some things you should think about first.

You will need to let us know that you are subletting and provide us with an address where we can contact you if you are not living at the property.

If you have a mortgage you will need to let your lender know that you are subletting. If you have contents insurance you will need to contact them to let them know that you are no longer living in the property and that tenants are living there instead.

You need to be very careful about who you let your property to. The conditions of your lease still apply to you even if you are not living in your property. A tenancy agreement between you and any sublet tenant should be drawn up, taking into account the terms within your lease that should also apply to your tenant. Therefore you must make your tenant(s) aware of the requirements in your lease to keep the property in good condition, to not keep pets, to not run a business from

the property without prior permission and to not cause annoyance or nuisance to neighbours. If your tenant does not abide by these conditions you will be breaking your lease agreement and action will be taken against you.

When you rent out your home you are legally classed as a landlord. You therefore have a legal duty to have any gas equipment / appliances in your property serviced at least once a year by an officially accredited gas engineer. You, and not your tenant(s), are still

responsible for paying all service charges, ground rent, district heating (if applicable) and any major works invoices for your property.

If you do decide to rent out your home you must give the Leasehold Team the name of your tenant and their contact details, in case of emergencies or problems caused by faults in the flat.

Subletting (Renting Out) Your Home

There may come a point in time when you decide to move and sell your home. When you put your property up for sale you will be selling your lease which will give someone else the right to live in the property for the remaining years left of the lease.

Usually you will employ a solicitor to deal with the sale of your lease and it is important that they contact the Leasehold Management Team to inform the Council that a transfer is taking place. They will need confirmation of

any outstanding money owed to the Council, which must be paid in full when the property is sold.

We will also need confirmation when the transfer has taken place so that we can update our records with the new owner’s information. This is very important and is a legal requirement for your lease.

Selling Your Property

Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) The legislation governing Home Information Packs (HIPS) has now been abolished. An Energy Performance Certificate is required for properties when constructed, sold or let. The Energy Performance Certificate provides details on the energy performance of the property and what you can do to improve it. An EPC gives a property an energy

efficiency rating from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient) and it is valid for 10 years. Costs can range from around £60 to £120. They can vary widely within the same area, so shop around. If you go directly to an EPC provider rather than getting it through an estate agent, the cost of EPCs is generally cheaper.

To find the best deal, get a quote from your estate agent, search for firms online and visit the energy performance certificate register online to find accredited energy assessors in your area to get quotes. You can also check whether an individual assessor is accredited on the site.

Repaying discount and the right of first refusal

If you bought your flat / maisonette through the Right To Buy scheme and you decide to sell within the first five years of buying it you

may have to repay some or all of the discount that you originally received. The council also has the “right of first refusal” which means that you have to offer the property back to the Council to see if they want to buy it back first before you sell it. This only applies within the first 10 years after the property is sold through Right To Buy. For more information about how much you might have to repay or about first refusal please call the Home Ownership Team on 0114 273 5595.

Remortgaging your home

You may also want to remortgage your property or take out a further mortgage. If you are still in the discount repayment period your lender will have to apply to the Council for a Notice of Postponement or a Notice of Consent. There is a fee for the Council to provide these documents.

Please remember that if you fall behind on your mortgage repayments you risk losing your home. If you get into difficulty with your payments contact your lender as soon as possible for advice and assistance.

If at least two-thirds of the properties in your block are leaseholders then you can jointly apply to purchase the freehold of the block. This is called “enfranchisement”. Enfranchisement can be complicated and

very time-consuming with lots to consider before taking this option. If you would like more information about enfranchisement please call the Leasehold Management Team.

Enfranchisement – Buying the Freehold of

Your Block

(10)

Depending on where you live, you may receive a block cleaning service. The frequency of this service is dependent on where you live. Please contact the Estate Management Team at your local area office for the full specification and frequency should you require this.

In addition, Sheffield City Council staff will remove any fly-tips and graffiti in communal areas from all estates.

Throughout the year we will also maintain estate grassed areas, any hedges around blocks and shrub beds, dependant on the season. Contact the Estate Management Team at your local area office for more information.

Block and Estate Cleaning

We believe you should be able to enjoy peace and quiet in your own home, feel safe and secure and not have to suffer the anti-social activities of others.

Anti-social behaviour causes real misery for people who simply want to get on with their lives. It can range from serious acts of violence and harassment, to more ‘everyday’ incidents like noise nuisance.

You can report anti-social behaviour in person at your local area housing office or at any First Point. You can also make a complaint in writing or by telephone or you can fill our an on-line form on our website

www.sheffield.gov.uk You can also download / print off a copy of the Council’s Anti-social Behaviour Customer Charter.

Useful Contacts:

• 101 - you can use this number to report anti-social behaviour at any time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

• 203 7411 - Environmental & Regulatory Services, offer a range of services from pest control to noise nuisance and animal wardens

• 220 2020 - South Yorkshire Police - use this number to contact the Police for any reason other than an emergency

Dealing with Anti-Social Behaviour

If you wish to make a complaint, Praise or Suggestion you can do by any of the following methods:

• Call at any of our Area offices or First Points • Call us on any of our numbers

• Email councilhousing@sheffield.gov.uk

• Fill in a Complaints, Praise and

Suggestions leaflet, available at all Area offices and first points or download the form on the internet.

Customer Feedback

As a Leaseholder of Sheffield City Council we value your comments and suggestions about how we run the service and how we can improve it. There are many ways that you can get involved with the service and these are outlined below. To find out more please give us a call.

Leasehold Forum

The leasehold Forum is made up of leaseholders from across the city that represents their particular area. The forum meets every 6 months to discuss current issues from their area.

It is also an opportunity for the Leasehold Management Team to consult you on any changes to the leasehold services. If you would like to know who your forum member is, or if you would like to get involved, please contact the Leasehold Management Team. The Forum is a very useful way of addressing leaseholder issues affecting leaseholders across the City and to discuss service improvements and new initiatives. We are continually looking for new forum members from all parts of the city to help us to develop the service we provide.

By becoming a rep you would be helping to make sure that the views of you and the other leaseholders in your area are heard. It wouldn’t take up a lot of your time - we currently hold 2 Leasehold Forums a year to which you would be invited, and you would be the first point of contact for leaseholders in your area who have an issue they want to be raised at the Forum.

We are always looking for new members. Please contact 273 4468 for more information on how you could make a difference.

Newsletter

To keep you up-to-date with current issues affecting Leaseholders in Sheffield the Leasehold Management Team send out a Newsletter every 6 months. Copies can also be viewed or downloaded from our website pages.

Surveys

We understand that not everyone has the time to go to meetings but we still welcome your comments. So that we can find out about your issues and concerns we send out a questionnaire to a large sample of leaseholders every year.

We have recently started using a telephone survey which hopefully will capture more issues, concerns or suggestions.

Tenants and Residents Associations (TARAs)

Leaseholders are also able to join the local TARA if you would like a wider involvement on matters affecting the estate where they live.

If you would like to know more about this please contact the Community Engagement Team on 0114 273 5566 or email

Getinvolved@sheffieldhomes.org.uk

Leaseholder Involvement

(11)

Demised Premises: “What is yours” - the internal shell of the flat or maisonette which you have bought.

EPC: Energy Performance Certificate Forfeiture: Ending of the lease and

repossession by the landlord because one or more of (conditions the lease) have not been met by the leaseholder.

Freehold: Absolute ownership of the property and the land it is on.

Ground Rent: A small annual fee paid by the leaseholder to the freeholder as a condition of the lease, as a recognition of the contract between them.

Landlord: The person, company or entity owning the freehold of a block and who grants the lease to the leaseholder. Lease: A contractual, legally-binding document which describes the ownership of a property and sets out the rights and obligations of the landlord and the leaseholder.

Leasehold: A form of tenure which gives the owner possession of the property for a substantial period of time, as defined in the lease.

Leaseholder or Lessee: The owner of the lease.

Lessor: The Council.

Right to Buy: A scheme giving eligible council tenants the right to buy their property from the Council at a discounted price.

Sub-letting: Where the leaseholder grants a tenancy for the property to someone else. Tenants and Residents Association (TARA): A recognised community group made up of local people acting in a voluntary capacity to promote and defend the interests of tenants and residents in their area.

Glossary of Terms

Sheffield City Council General Enquiries Website: https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/ Tel: 0114 273 4567

All information about services provided by Sheffield City Council can be found by using the above details. You can also find and download relevant information leaflets on specific topics that you may need.

Sheffield North Area Call Centre (Council Housing Services)

Website: www.sheffieldhomes.org.uk Email: councilhousing@sheffield.gov.uk Tel: 0114 293 0000

Sheffield South Area Call Centre (Council Housing Services)

Website: www.sheffieldhomes.org.uk Email: councilhousing@sheffield.gov.uk Tel: 0114 205 3333

Leasehold Management Team Tel: 0114 273 6964 / 0114 273 4468 Email: leaseholdteam@sheffield.gov.uk

Right to Buy Team Tel: 0114 273 5595

Email: RightToBuy@sheffield.gov.uk

District Heating Team Tel: 0114 273 5590

Email: RDH@sheffield.gov.uk

Revenues (Payments Line) Tel: 0114 273 5590

Email: NBH.BSU@sheffield.gov.uk

Leasehold Valuation Tribunal

1st Floor, 5 New York Street, Manchester, M1 4JB

Tel: 0845 100 2614

Leasehold Advisory Service Tel: 020 7383 9800

Website: www.lease-advice.org

Buildings Insurance (Acumus)

Tel: 0845 218 7871 quoting policy ref: 5389325

Service Centre Repairs Line Tel: 0114 273 5555

Emergency out of hours repairs Tel: 0114 273 5555

Gas leaks (National Grid) Tel: 0800 111999

Lift breakdowns Tel: 0114 273 7693

Sheffield Credit Union

16 Commercial Street, Sheffield, S1 2AT Tel: 0114 2760787

(12)

(13)

This document can be supplied in alternative formats,

please contact 0114 273 4468

Sheffield City Council Leasehold Management Team

www.sheffield.gov.uk

This document is printed on paper from a sustainable source

Leaseholders Handbook. A guide for the Owners of Leasehold Flats and Maisonettes