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Solicitors Questions
Here are some questions that solicitors may ask if you are interested in buying the leasehold of your flat or maisonette from Basildon Council
Landlord details
The landlord is Basildon District Council  and the housing stock is managed by St Georges Community Housing Limited
Leases
There are a number of different types of leases in existence within the Basildon District.
A Basildon Council lease runs for 125 years from the date of the initial purchase of the property from the Council.
Service charges
In relation to service charges the financial year runs from 1st April to the 31st March.
Payments due prior to the transfer of lease
Please note that we require payments of all charges due up until the end of the quarter in which you move, before we will consent to the lease being transferred
Insurance
Basildon Council employs an 'all block' insurance policy for its blocks of flats, this means there is no sum insured per property.
This is an annual variable charge which is included within the Leaseholder Service Charge.
Service Charge Account
St Georges Community Housing Ltd send an annual Service Charge Statement to all leaseholders in June of each year.
This statement includes the actual service charges for the prevous year and an estimate of service charges for the current year.
Any debit or credit will be adjusted to the leaseholders account.
Ground Rent is included within the Service Charge Statement.
Repairs
Leaseholders will receive monthly statements detailing repairs which have been carried out to their block of flats, or maisonettes.
External Painting
External painting is carried out under the terms of the lease, this means within a reasonable period or a minimum of every 5 years.
Major works (Common hold & Leasehold Reform Act 2002)
If any major works are planned and the projected cost of the work exceeds £250.00 per property, then a full consultation of all leaseholders in the block will take place.
IMPORTANT - A full consultation may not take place if emergency works have to be carried out.
Renting the property out
Should a leaseholder wish to rent out their property they must first be granted permission to do so by St Georges Community Housing Ltd.
There is currently no fee for this.
To be granted permission leaseholders should write to St Georges Head Office.
Written requests for permission must include the correspondence address and contact telephone number of the leaseholder while they are not living at the property.
Reserve Accounts
Some leases require a Reserve Account to be set up as a provision for major works and/or external redecoration.
In such cases an annual charge is made upon the leaseholder and the amount charged is placed in the reserve account, until needed for major works and/or external redecoration. (see also the above, Major works).
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