As a leaseholder, you are responsible for the internal parts of your home and individual services to it. You're also required to keep the property in a generally good decorative repair internally.
However, when these repairs relate to the parts of the structure (for example window frames load bearing walls, floor joists, fire compartmentalisation etc.), that responsibility transfers from lessee to landlord.
The lists below gives you an indication of how these responsibilities are split, although this is not exhaustive and you should always refer to the terms of your lease or seek advice from us at service.charges@lbhf.gov.uk
You have a duty to report damage or faults you find in the building to your landlord.
Leaseholder's responsibilities include:
- window glass
- partition walls (not load bearing) and ceiling plaster
- floor boards and concrete floor coverings
- internal doors
- plumbing and electrics servicing your flat only
- water tanks serving your flat only
- individual heating systems
- all fixtures and fittings
- timber fences in your garden - not party fence walls.
If you are a leaseholder, the council is only responsible for the common and structural parts of your building.
The council's responsibilities include:
- the roof
- external walls
- internal supporting walls
- joists, beams and lintels
- external doors and frames
- window frames and sills
- guttering, down pipes and soil stacks
- drains (serving the whole building)
- lifts
- booster and pit pumps
- communal alarms
- TV aerials
- communal heating systems
- external lighting
- entrance lobbies and stairways (communal)
- roads and paths
- gardens (communal)
- party walls, party structures and party fence
walls.
As a leaseholder you will have to pay your share of the costs of these works as indicated in your lease.