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Section 11 - Glossary of terms used

Listed below are some words and phrases we use in this handbook, together with brief explanations.

  • Glossary

    Arrears - Any leaseholder debts, including service charges and ground rents, which remain unpaid after the due date.  

    Assignee - The person buying the lease ie the purchaser.

    Assignment - The term used when you sell your lease.

    Assignor - The person selling a lease ie the leaseholder.

    Block - The building described in your lease in which your property is situated.

    Common parts / Communal - The parts of the building or complex which you share with other residents, for example, entrance hall and staircases, lifts, paths, communal gardens and drying areas.

    Consultation - The process of informing you about major works, their cost and long-term agreements.

    Covenants - Legally binding obligations and responsibilities contained within your lease.

    Demised premises - The parts of the building that have been sold to you.

    Enfranchisement - The process where leaseholders may be able to buy the freehold of their block.

    Exceptions and reservations - Rights we keep as landlord over your home.

    First Tier Tribunal - The body which make decisions about service charge disputes between landlords and leaseholders. It is made up of a panel of people with experience of property disputes such as solicitors and surveyors.

    Fixtures and fittings - The fittings in your flat that you are responsible for maintaining and replacing, for example kitchen units, bathroom suite, central heating system but not including any communal boiler.

    Forfeiture - The process whereby we can lawfully terminate your lease and repossess your property, usually for non payment of service charges and ground rent or for breaches of covenant.

    Freehold - Outright ownership of the property and the land upon which it stands.

    Ground rent - An annual payment to the landlord, usually £10 per annum.

    Landlord or Lessor - The person who owns the freehold of the property and who grants a lease to a leaseholder.

    Lease - A legal agreement which sets out the rights and responsibilities of both the leaseholder (you and your landlord (Trent & Dove Housing)

    Leaseholder or Lessee - Someone with the right to possession of a flat or maisonette, for a fixed period of time, usually 125 years.

    Leasehold - Ownership of a property in a building subject to the payment of service charges and ground rent for a fixed period of time, usually 125 years.

    Management and admin fee - The fee charged by the landlord to cover the cost of managing your lease and managing the provision of services.

    Major works - Works to the building or internal/communal areas resulting in a cost to individual leaseholders of more than £250.

    Mortgage - A loan secured on your property, usually from a bank or building society to buy or improve your home. Your home may be at risk if you do not keep up repayments on it.

    Mortgagee - A bank or building society that lends money to enable a purchaser to buy a property.

    Quiet enjoyment - The right to live in your home without interference from the landlord. This has nothing to do with noise.

    Service charges - Payments that you have to make to your landlord to cover the cost of maintaining, repairing and possibly improving the common areas and exterior of the structure.

    Sinking fund - Advance payments collected through service charges to fund items of major expenditure, for example roof repairs.

    Tender - The process of advertising and selecting contractors to undertake work and services.

    Term - The length of the lease, usually 125 years.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

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