Advice for leaseholders

If you are a leaseholder and have bought a council home either through the Right to Buy scheme or on the open market, you must pay us a monthly service charge. This charge pays for things like repairs, lighting and cleaning in communal areas, concierge and door-entry systems, grounds maintenance and buildings insurance. Please help us keep communal areas clean and well maintained; if you see something broken or needing attention in your block please report a repair online.

You will receive an estimate of your annual charges in March and the service charge year runs from 1 April to 31 March each year. The following September, we will write to you again and let you know the actual costs spent. If charges were over or underestimated, your account will be credited or debited accordingly. Get in touch to find out the different methods you can pay your service charge.

We know the coronavirus and the lockdown has affected lots of people financially, but it is still essential that you continue to pay your service charge. If you are struggling financially contact our Welfare Rights and Money Advice team for confidential advice and support on dealing with debt and maximising your income.

Although your service charge covers the communal and external areas, you are responsible for the repair and upkeep of the fixtures and fittings inside your home. You will need to get in touch with us to ask permission before you make improvements or alterations to your home such as installing a new heating system, knocking down internal walls or erecting a porch. Check out our permission guide with a list of common alteration requests.

Despite the pandemic, our staff are still busy delivering services to all leaseholders and tenants, including cleaning and making repairs to communal areas and dealing with any leaseholder queries. If you have an issue or a question, please get in touch by email or call 023 8083 2337 (phonelines are open Tuesday and Thursday mornings between 9am and 12pm).