Leaseholders' Handbook - Plymouth Community Homes

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Buying the freehold You are not able to purchase the freehold of your property on your own. However, subject to certain conditions, leaseholders of flats have the right to enfranchise their building as a group, if they and their building qualify. Enfranchisement is a group (or collective) right for leaseholders of flats to buy the freehold of the building they live in. They have this right even if the freeholder does not wish to sell. The right to enfranchise must be exercised by a ʻnominee purchaserʼ on behalf of the group, who will own the freehold after the purchase has been concluded. To qualify to take part in the enfranchisement you must be a long standing leaseholder of a flat. If you qualify you can only buy the freehold with a group of other qualifying tenants if your building satisfies the following criteria: • There must be 2 or more flats in the building. If there are only 2 flats in the block both leaseholders must participate in the exercise. • At least two-thirds of all flats in your building must be held on long standing leases. • Not more than 25% of the internal floor area (apart from common parts such as stairs) of the building is in non-residential use or intended for non-residential use – for example, as a shop or an office. • The number of leaseholders participating must also equal at least half the flats in the block. Therefore, in a block of 12 flats, at least 8 flats must be held on long standing leases, and at least 6 of these leaseholders would need to participate in the enfranchisement process. You do not qualify to participate if you own 2 or more qualifying leases of flats in the block. This is only a brief summary of the enfranchisement process. If this is something you want to consider we recommend that you seek independent professional advice and contact our Leasehold Team. ➪ Previous page | Contents page | Next page ➪ 32
Subletting your flat Leaseholders are allowed to sub-let their flat and no formal permission is required from Plymouth Community Homes. However, there are a few important points that need to be kept in mind: • You must advise Plymouth Community Homes of your up to date correspondence address and contact number. • If you use a managing agent, you must also advise his/her name, address and telephone number. • You are responsible, under the terms of the lease, for the behaviour of any tenant or visitor to the flat. • The leaseholder is personally responsible for paying ground rent and service charges. • Plymouth Community Homes insurance broker, Farr Insurance, advise that if the property is to be left empty for a period of 45 days or more that all mains services are turned off and the premises checked at least weekly. ➪ Previous page | Contents page | Next page ➪ 33
Page 1 and 2: Leaseholders’ Handbook
Page 3 and 4: Contents Electronic version: please
Page 5 and 6: Introduction from the Chief Executi
Page 7 and 8: Our offices Our Head Office is in t
Page 9 and 10: Not all leases are the same Not all
Page 11 and 12: Leaseholdersʼ Responsibilities (co
Page 13 and 14: Paying the annual service charge Al
Page 15 and 16: European Union (EU) Procurement Rul
Page 17 and 18: In certain circumstances, it may be
Page 19 and 20: Having problems with payments? Prob
Page 21 and 22: Supporting People Supporting People
Page 23 and 24: What if I am still not satisfied? I
Page 25 and 26: Buildings Insurance Plymouth Commun
Page 27 and 28: Repairs Plymouth Community Homes an
Page 29 and 30: Gas and Electrical Servicing You ha
Page 31: Resident Involvement Plymouth Commu
Page 35 and 36: Will Plymouth Community Homes buy b
Page 37 and 38: Frequently Asked Questions When the
Page 39 and 40: Consumer Advice Trading Standards P
Page 41 and 42: Lessor Another word for freeholder.
Page 43 and 44: Leaseholder Handbook Translation En

Leaseholders' Handbook - Plymouth Community Homes

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