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Services for Leaseholders
What is a leaseholder?
When you purchase a flat you are buying the right to occupy part of a larger building. This type of ownership is called leasehold.
Council flats are usually sold on a 125 year lease. The lease is the legally binding document that sets out the responsibilities of both the Council and the Leaseholder.
Ownership consists of everything within the property including the floorboards, plastering to the walls and ceilings and all items that serve the property alone. The Council continues to own the block, including the exterior structure of the flat.
Thinking of buying or selling a leasehold flat?
If you are considering buying your Council-owned flat, please ensure that your solicitor explains the details of the lease clearly. Although we will be pleased to answer any queries we would always advise you to ensure that you seek professional, independent advice before you go ahead with the purchase either on the open market or through the 'Right to Buy'. Please note there are certain qualifying criteria for the Right to Buy scheme.
What are service charges?
Service charges are the costs incurred for the day-to-day repair, maintenance and management of the building of which the leasehold property forms part. The Council is entitled to a contribution from the owners of flats towards the costs of managing and maintaining the block the service charges are variable dependant on the types of service received at each block of flats.
What is ground rent?
You must pay ground rent to the Council as it owns the land the building stands on. The amount of ground rent payable is £10 annually.
Do I need insurance?
The responsibility for insuring the structure of the building remains with BMBC, a charge can be made for this. BMBC does not insure the inside walls and fixtures and fittings in your flat or the contents of your flat, such as your furniture and personal belongings. To cover these you need to arrange your own insurance, or we can arrange it for you with our insurers.
Visit the Home Contents Insurance section.
Methods of payment available
Payment can be made at any Barnsley Connects office, by Direct Debit, telephone, internet or using a swipe card that can be used at any Post Office. These cards can be ordered through your local Barnsley Connects office or by contact Leasehold Team.
Visit the web payment section.
Repairs and Maintenance
You can report a repair to the communal areas of your flats to the repairs hotline. They will report the works and arrange to have any faults remedied. You must remember you are liable to pay your share of any repairs carried out on your block.
Council Responsibility
- All communal areas, shared doors and shared lighting.
- Staircases to flats and lifts.
- Shared gardens, garden paths, drying areas and shared rubbish areas.
- Structural walls and foundations.
- Chimneys, roofs and guttering.
- Window frames and external doors and frames.
- Door entry systems (where fitted).
- Service pipes and drains within the boundary of the property.
- Fire alarms and firefighting equipment.
- Shared TV aerial.
Leaseholder Responsibility
- Floorboards, Internal plaster to walls and ceilings.
- Internal decoration including carpets and paintwork.
- Any water tanks serving the property alone.
- Sanitary fixtures and fittings.
- Internal plaster to walls and ceilings.
- Glass to windows.
- Plumbing and wiring inside the home.
Please note this list does not cover everything please refer to your lease or contact our Leasehold Team if you require further information and advice
For futher information visit the Repairs section.
Major Works
Occasionally more substantial work will need to be done on your block, such as painting, major roof repairs, a full window replacement scheme, etc. This kind of work is planned in advance. We will advise you before any such work is started, and ask you for your views.
How can I find out more?
Information can be obtained from your local Barnsley Connects Office or by contacting the Leasehold Team. We have a booklet we can send you called A Guide for Leaseholders.
Contact Details
Leasehold Team
Springfield House
Springfield Street
Barnsley
S70 6HH
Tel: 01226 772706
Fax:01226 775439
leaseholdteam@berneslaihomes.co.uk
Other related information
For futher details and dates download the Leaseholder Forum document.
You can also download copies of previous Leaseholder Forum minutes as listed below:
- Leaseholder Forum 5 September 2008
- Leaseholder Forum 11 June 2008
- Leaseholder Forum 16 April 2008
- Leaseholder Forum 7 February 2008
- Leaseholder Forum 5 December 2007
- Leaseholder Forum 19 September 2007