Frequently asked questions

We get asked lots of questions and we felt it might be useful to share the most common questions and questions with you:

How many years is the lease for?
A standard lease is 125 years from when you first purchase under the Right to Buy (RTB). When sold on the open market it will be the remaining number of years since the original purchase date (eg purchased under RTB in 2002, sold in 2013, years remaining = 114 years).

How many invoices can I expect yearly?
This depends on where your home is located, please read the local information below:

For Canterbury leaseholders:

  • £10 “ground rent” due in advance on the anniversary of the original Right to Buy purchase date
  • “Service charge” (to cover works/services as specified in the lease – variable cost) billed in arrears around September

For Dover leaseholders:

  • “Estimated service charge” (to cover works/services as specified in the lease – variable cost) billed in April to cover the financial year you are in
  • “Actual service charge” (to cover works/services as specified in the lease – variable cost) billed in arrears around September

For Shepway Leaseholders:

  • “Estimated service charge” (to cover works/services as specified in the lease – variable cost) billed in April to cover the financial year you are in
  • “Actual service charge” (to cover works/services as specified in the lease – variable cost) billed in arrears around September

For Thanet Leaseholders:

  • £10 “ground rent” due in advance on the anniversary of the original Right to Buy purchase date
  • Two “advance payments” (as per terms of the lease) due on 1st April and 1st October
  • “Service charge” (to cover works/services as specified in the lease – variable cost) billed in arrears around September

How much will I pay towards any work carried out to my block of flats?
Your proportion of the costs will be as specified in your lease. These are worked out by rateable value or as a percentage of the number of properties in the block eg:-

Rateable value:- if the work is valued at £6,000, the rateable value of the block is £552 and the unit rateable value is £138 this properties share would be £1,500. Calculated as £6,000 ÷ 552 x 138 = £1,500

Number of properties in block:- if the work is valued at £6,000 and the block has 10 flats, each flats share would be £600. Calculated as £6,000 ÷ 10 = £600

Will my service charges be the same each year?
No. Your bill can vary greatly depending on what works are carried out in the block. Listed below are examples of a small and a large major works charges:-

  • Replacement of soil stack – example cost to leaseholder = £3242
  • External Painting – example cost to leaseholder = £132

As a Leaseholder am I allowed to sub-let my property?
Yes. Please notify us of your tenants name, the date they moved in and where you are now living so that we can send any correspondence to the appropriate address.

Do I need my own insurance?
Yes. You will need to arrange contents insurance. The Council arranges Buildings Insurance and you pay your share through your service charges

We received the following question from a leaseholder:-

What items come under internal structural repairs?
Whilst there is no definitive answer, as a general rule whatever is inside your flat is your responsibility. What responsibilities lay with you and what lie with the Council is defined by your lease. Your lease may state, for example, that the ceiling is your responsibility but the floor is the Councils.

Got a question?
Email us at: [email protected]

IF IN DOUBT ALWAYS REFER TO YOUR LEASE

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