Information for leasehold and shared equity owners

What you need to know

Your responsibilities

As a leaseholder you have bought the right to live in your property for a fixed number of years. Your lease contains:

your rights and responsibilities as a leaseholder or shared owner and;
our rights and responsibilities as the freeholder

You are responsible for repairing and maintaining everything within your premises. Your lease sets out the area of your property.

We look after the structure of the building, exterior and any communal arears of the building. This includes communal walkways and grounds not demised in the lease.

You need to pay your share of the council's cost to maintain the block and for services stated in your lease.

Service charges and other expenses

Service Charges

A service charge is a contribution towards day-to-day services or works provided to the building and estate where you live. Your lease sets out the way the service charge is organised and what can be charged.

We will invoice you an annual estimated cost for your contribution towards service charges. This will be for each financial year, 1 April - 31 March.

By the end of September each year we will send you a Certificate of Expenditure. This will show the actual costs of services and works provided in the previous financial year.

Further information about the charges you may see on your service charge certificate (PDF) [168KB]

What if the cost is higher or lower than estimated invoice?

If the actual cost is higher than the estimated costs paid, you will be sent an invoice to cover the extra amount due. If the actual cost is lower than the estimated costs paid, then you will receive a credit to your service charge account.

Query or dispute your service charge

If you have a query or wish to dispute any of your service charges. You can email leaseholder.enquiries@guildford.gov.uk. We will investigate the issue and give you a response.

If you are not happy with that response you can raise a complaint.

Pay your service charge

It is important that you pay your service charge. They are as important as paying your mortgage. You are at risk of losing your home if you do not pay your service charge.

Payment options are set out on any invoice you receive. Although the charge is one annual estimated invoice, we'll set up a 12 month payment plan for you. You can clear the invoice in full at any time. All payments must clear by 31st March at the end of each financial year.

Pay your invoice online

Find out about other ways to pay an invoice (PDF) [89KB] .

What if you are struggling to pay your service charge

If you are struggling to pay your service charge and need some advice, you can contact the following organisations:

Money Advice Service - provides free, unbiased advice to help everyone make the most of their money. Tel: 0300 500 5000
Citizens Advice Bureau - provides free independent and confidential advice on legal, financial and other matters. Tel: 0844 499 1195

Ground rent

As a leaseholder you may have to pay ground rent. The amount is set out in your lease, but for most it is £10 per year. We'll send you an invoice for this amount in March each year.

If you are a shared owner, you may be required to pay rent on the proportion of the property that you do not own. This will be due monthly.

Find out about major works

From time to time, we must carry out necessary repairs and renewal works to our buildings. We may not be able to do them under the normal day to day repairs arrangements. This is usually referred to as Major Works or Planned Works.

Examples of major works include

roof replacement
window replacement
painting the outside or internal communal parts