Leaseholders and the decent homes programme

The Decent Homes Investment Plan will involve both internal works to tenants homes as well as external works to buildings.

How do the works affect leaseholders?

As a leaseholder you will not be charged for any work carried out inside tenants’ properties but will need to contribute to works to 'common parts' as set out in your lease. (Not all the work carried out under our Decent Homes Investment Plan or our Planned Maintenance program will affect every leaseholder.)

Although we are only required to carry out work to our tenants' homes, we recognise that some leaseholders would like to take advantage of the modernisation program. We are working with our building contractors to ensure that, where appropriate, they are able to offer individual leaseholders the benefits of our buying in bulk. If a kitchen or bathroom replacement program affects your building we will let you know the details of how the contractor may be able to help you.

How do leaseholders get notified of the proposed works?

We consult all affected leaseholders before we carry out works where any leaseholder’s share of the cost is likely to be more than £250.

During this process you can make comments and nominate a contractor. Please refer to section 7b of the 'Homeowners Handbook' for more information on this process.

In many cases, during this process we hold consultation meetings with residents. This helps everyone understand the process, the work that we intend to carry out and helps us to understand residents’ needs. It also enables us to discuss with leaseholders potential costs and methods of payment.

When will the council send bills for the work?

The council will provide leaseholders with estimated invoices when the work reaches practical completion. This is when the contractors leave the site but still have to return to carry out any repairs to defects that might occur. This enables you to better challenge the quality and completeness of the work and allows us to get the contractor to return to put defaults right.

When we know the actual cost of the work, normally around 12 months after the work has been completed, we will send a further invoice or credit note to each affected leaseholder.

How can leaseholders pay such large bills?

We understand that large bills can cause concern. In order to help leaseholders, we have a variety of payment options which will be outlined with each invoice.

The work we carry out to buildings and estates will improve their condition and enhance the value of your home. As such, depending on your financial circumstances, most banks and building societies will grant an advance on a mortgage and help you to meet the cost of the works.

The method for apportioning those costs is set out in each lease between the council and the lessee. The council has a duty to collect all charges that it is legally entitled to.

For further enquires please contact Home Ownership Services on 020 7926 6700 or homeownership@lambeth.gov.uk.