Repairs to Council Leaseholder Flats and Maisonettes
Leasehold ownership
Leasehold ownership is simply a long tenancy - the right to live in a flat for a period of time.
Leasehold ownership usually includes everything within the four walls of the flat, such as floorboards and plaster, but does not normally include external or structural walls. The building's structure and the land it stands on belongs to the landlord (the Council).
The lease itself is a private contract between the leaseholder and the landlord, which sets out what is expected of both parties.
Repairs and maintenance responsibilities
The Council is responsible for areas that people share such as staircases, corridors, lifts, gardens and pathways.
It is also responsible for structural and exterior repairs, for example to the foundations to the building, external walls, roofs, window frames, external doors and frames, service pipes and ducts.
The leaseholder will contribute a share of the costs involved in this type of work.
The leaseholder is responsible for:
- Floor surfaces including floorboards within the dwelling
- Wall plaster and plasterboards
- Ceiling plaster and plasterboards
- Glass to windows within the dwelling
- Internal non-structural walls
- Plumbing and wiring within the dwelling
Repairs - who is responsible?
This chart gives further examples of who is responsible for what repairs.
Key: C = Council L.H = Leaseholder
Type of Repair C L.H
Repairs to burst/leaking pipe from mains up to stopcock *
Repairs to water pipes beyond stopcock *
Clear blockages and repairs to gutters & fall pipes *
Replace/repair bath, basin, taps and W.C *
Communal flooring and staircases *
Flooring within the flat (except joists) *
Roof structure and covering *
External window frames to flats (except glazing) *
Internal doors to flats *
Front door to flat (except glazing) *
Communal windows and doors *
Electrics within the flat *
Communal electrics and repairs *
Communal heating systems *
Individual heating systems within the flat *
Forecourts, play areas, hedges, boundaries, gates etc *
Communal plastering and decorating *
How to order a repair.