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Repairs and maintenance for leasehold properties

Information about how to report repairs, what you can report, carrying out improvements and alterations, carrying out improvements to your block and do you have to maintain your gas appliances.  

What repairs can I report for a council leasehold property?

The terms of your lease determine exactly which repairs we are responsible for and which are your responsibility, however, in general, we are responsible for the repair and maintenance of the exterior and structure of the building, and any communal areas. These could include the roof, exterior walls, window frames (but not the glass), guttering, sewers and drains, external decoration, internal common areas, communal gardens, communal paths, communal parking areas. The extent of the communal areas that relate to your property will be shown on the plan that forms part of your lease.

As a leaseholder, you are responsible for the repair and maintenance of the interior of your property including the internal walls and ceiling.

The cost of any works carried out by us, in relation to your property, will be recharged in total or part to the leaseholder as part of the service charge.

We will not undertake works that are your responsibility, and you must not carry out works to our building or communal areas, or instruct your own contractor to do so. If you or someone you have employed are carrying out works inside your property, you must make sure that no damage is done to communal areas, services or the structure of the building.

This information only applies to council leasehold properties that were originally purchased under the right to buy scheme. 

I’m a council leaseholder, how do I report a repair to my building?

Repairs can be reported in a number of ways:

This information only applies to council leasehold properties that were originally purchased under the right to buy scheme. 

Can I carry out improvements or alterations to my council leasehold property?

If you wish to carry out any structural improvements or alterations to your property such as the replacement of windows or doors, you need to obtain the written permission of the housing services section first.  You may also need planning permission or building regulations approval. You may have to reinstate any works that you do not have permission for at your own cost and may have problems trying to sell your property if you do not have written consent. You are not permitted to carry out any works to communal areas.

Leaseholders are not able to obtain permission to carry out loft conversions, as the loft space above the property does not form part of the lease. Unauthorised loft conversions may have to be removed and the original property re-instated at your own cost.

You can apply for permission to carry out improvements or alterations to your leasehold property by printing and completing the form below and returning it to the address at the bottom of the form:

Council leaseholders request permission to carry out works form (pdf 95kb opens in new window)

This information only applies to council leasehold properties that were originally purchased under the right to buy scheme. 

I’m a council leaseholder and you want to carry out improvements to my block, do I have to have the work done?

We periodically survey our properties to establish what works are required, including repairs to guttering, cladding, roofs, windows and external painting. We will also carry out improvement programmes from time-to-time, such as window and external door replacements, and re-roofing.

We are required by law to consult leaseholders prior to carrying out such works if the cost of the work is likely to be in excess of £250.00. If we do not do this, the charge will be limited to £250.00. In the majority of leases, we are free to carry out improvements to our building as we feel is appropriate. You cannot refuse to have the works done, but you do have the right to propose an alternative contractor to do the work. Details of how to do this will be included with the consultation notice (section 20 notice). You should check the conditions of your own lease for your precise terms. If you believe that we are not carrying out works in accordance with your lease or disagree with the cost of the works please let us know. 

Email: leaseholdservices@eastriding.gov.uk

Tel: (01482) 393939

If you are not happy with our response you have the right to refer the matter to a First-tier Tribunal, and further information can be found on their website.

First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) (external website) 

If any individual improvement or planned maintenance job costs more than £1,000 the leasehold services team will provide you with information on a variety of ways to meet this cost when your service charge notification is issued.

We also try to give you advance notice of planned maintenance or improvements (where the cost is less than £250.00) whenever possible.

This information only applies to council leasehold properties that were originally purchased under the right to buy scheme.

I’m a council leaseholder, is it my responsibility to maintain the gas appliances in my home?

Poorly maintained or faulty gas appliances could put you at risk from gas leaks, fire, explosion and carbon monoxide poisoning. To protect yourself, and your neighbours, you should make sure that all your gas appliances are installed, regularly serviced and safety checked every year by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Further information is available on the Gas Safe website:

Gas Safe (external website) 

All gas appliances and central heating systems are your responsibility, however, we, as freeholder, are responsible for the flue. If your gas engineer identifies a problem with the flue whilst carrying out works to your appliances, it must be reported to the housing maintenance unit immediately as you do not have the right to work on the flue or to get anyone else to work on the flue without our permission.

If you are a leaseholder but you sub-let your property, you are legally responsible for making sure that any pipework, appliances (fires, boilers etc) or flues in the property are serviced annually by a Gas Safe registered engineer. You must give your tenant a copy of the safety certificate and show them how to turn off the mains gas. 

This information only applies to council leasehold properties that were originally purchased under the right to buy scheme.