1. What is a lease?
A lease is a legal agreement between you, as the leaseholder, and us, as the freeholder and your landlord. It is an important document because it sets out both your rights and responsibilities, and ours, in relation to your home and the building it is part of.
If you are a leaseholder, you own your property for a fixed period of time under the terms of the lease. Your lease will include a plan showing:
- the flat you own
- the building or block it is in
- any garden, shed or other areas included in the sale
In most cases, you are responsible for the inside of your flat, while we are responsible for the exterior of the building and the land it stands on, including communal areas.
Most council leases are granted for a term of 125 years from the date the first property in the block was sold.
Your lease explains:
- which parts of the building you are responsible for
- which parts we are responsible for
- any rights you have to use shared or communal areas
All leases are granted by us and are largely the same. While there may be small differences depending on when a lease was issued, the main responsibilities for repairs, maintenance and charges are consistent.
The lease also contains covenants, which are legally binding promises made by both you and us. These set out what each party must do, or must not do, under the terms of the lease.