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Among the properties we manage there are a number of buildings where all of the flats are sold on long leases. If your building is one of these you have the right, as a leaseholder, to buy the freehold of your building.
If you do buy the freehold, your property would no longer be managed by Lewisham Homes. We would stop being responsible for repairing and maintaining the building and you would not receive any further major works charges from us.
As a freeholder, you would decide, with other owners in the building, what works, if any, you want to carry out. You would be responsible for choosing a contractor and the timing of the works.
Before you can buy the freehold you need to meet certain conditions:
- Where there are only two flats in the building both leaseholders must agree to purchase the freehold.
- For buildings with more properties, at least 60% of the leaseholders need to jointly purchase the freehold. Buying the freehold this way is called ‘collective enfranchisement’.
You can find more information about buying the freehold from LEASE, an independent organisation.
You can also contact us homeownershipservices@lewishamhomes.org.uk
Extending your lease
If you want to extend your lease, a guide to the process can be found on The Leasehold Advisory Service website. However, we recommend that you get professional help from a solicitor and surveyor with experience in this area.
Lewisham Council does not negotiate lease extensions by private agreement and you will need to extend your lease using the statutory process. The freeholder is Lewisham Council and notice to extend your lease should be served on Head of Law, London Borough of Lewisham, Laurence House, Catford, London SE6 4RU.
Do you lease your flat to the Council?
Are you a freeholder of a property where you lease a flat to the Council? Perhaps you need to:
- send us a bill for service charges or major works,
- serve statutory notice on us in relation to the property
- tell us important information that may affect the property or our tenant
- need our help to contact our tenant
If you need to contact us in relation to any of the above matters or anything else in relation to a property leased back to the Council, please email us at hos@lewishamhomes.org.uk
Lease extensions – potential changes to legislation
When considering extending your lease you need to be aware of potential changes in legislation that is likely to be beneficial to leaseholders.
On 7 January 2021, the Housing Secretary announced the following proposals:
- The right for current leasehold homeowners to extend their existing lease by 990 years and reduce their ground rent to zero
- A proposed online calculator to provide a standardised valuation for a leaseholder to extend their lease
At first glance, this appears to be a positive move for leaseholders allowing them to extend a lease by up to 990 years and the introduction of a standardised valuation.
For now, these are only proposals. We recommend you seek legal advice if you are considering extending your lease in advance of any new legislation coming into force.