The Foundation has a number of shared owner leasehold properties.
The exact arrangements depend on the lease, but leaseholders are generally responsible for the repair and maintenance of everything inside their home, whilst BCHF is responsible for the structure, exterior and common parts (if any) of the building. We are also sometimes responsible for providing routine services such as cleaning and lighting of communal areas.
Leaseholders must pay their share of the costs of managing and maintaining the common parts of the building. If the property is in a block on an estate, the leaseholder is also required to contribute towards the management and maintenance of the communal estate areas through service charges.
Leaseholders must also pay their share of the cost of any major repairs to the building and/or the estate and towards all management costs.
For independent advice, you may contact the Leasehold Advisory Service website.
Service charges are levied on properties where tenants or leaseholders (including shared owners) have communal responsibility for the upkeep of an area e.g. hallways to blocks of flats or communal part of an estate or a communal service such as communal lighting, fire alarms, door entry systems, lifts etc. The actual services provided are specified in the lease or as changed by subsequent agreement.
The Foundation operates a system of variable service charges. Tenants or leaseholders are charged for the services they want provided on the basis of costs actually incurred. They are consulted annually about which services and the level of service they require. The service charge is based on the estimated cost of providing those services for the following year plus allowances form previous years.
If in previous years the actual cost was more than the amount collected in service charges, then the service charge in the following year will be increased to recover this deficit in the service charge account. Conversely if the amount collected was more than the actual cost, the money will be refunded to tenants by reducing the service charge in the following year.
The Foundation has also created sinking funds for the replacement of major items of equipment so that the cost will be spread over a number of years.
Our Contractors who carry out service charge work sign a board at each block of flats to show when the work was carried out. You are invited to help us monitor this work by letting us know if the work was not carried out within 14 days of the due date, or if you are dissatisfied with the standard of the work. If the work is not done then the service charge account will be credited.
For independent advice, you may contact the Leasehold Advisory Service website.
Bristol Community Housing Foundation Ltd
400 Filton Avenue, Horfield, Bristol, BS7 0LJ
Tel: 0117 947 0501
Fax: 0117 969 4111
