Your lease

Your responsibilities:

• Paying rent, service charges and, in some cases, ground rent
• Maintaining and repairing all internal parts of your home
• Maintaining and repairing all external parts if you live in a house
• Allowing our contractors access to carry out necessary repairs
• Getting our written permission before making any structural changes
• Not keeping a dog or a cat, if your lease prohibits it
• Storing rubbish in the appropriate bin or refuse store
• Keep to your own designated parking space if you have one
• Not leaving abandoned or untaxed vehicles in your own or communal spaces

Our responsibilities (This differs, so check your lease):

• Cleaning communal areas, gardening and clearing litter on a regular basis
• Buildings Insurance
• Repairing and redecorating communal areas
• Respecting your right to quiet enjoyment of your home
• Responding to sales enquiries by your solicitor
• Providing information for general lease enquiries

You may qualify for the right to extend the lease by an additional 90 years if:

• You own 100% of your lease
• You’ve owned it for 2 years or more

There are a number of processes you must undertake to extend the lease, including:

• Identifying the ‘Competent Landlord’
• Selecting and instructing professional advisors
• Assessing how much it will cost
• Establishing you can afford it

Please contact Thames Valley Housing on 0300 456 2929 for more information.

The Leasehold Advisory Service can also provide more information.