You have a full repairing lease. This means that it is your responsibility to maintain your home and keep it in good condition.
If you live in a house, you are responsible for all repairs, both internally and externally. Home will insure the structure of the house, which you will pay for through the service charge.
If you live in a flat, you are responsible for all repairs and redecoration internally. Home keeps the building in good structural repair, and insures the structure and all communal areas.
If a claim needs to be made through the buildings insurance policy, you should contact a member of Home’s staff to obtain a claim form. Each claim currently attracts an excess payment. (At the beginning of 2007 this figure stands at £250.)
All shared owners are responsible for their own plumbing and heating systems, which should be serviced every year, and kept in good order.
You will need to take out your own contents insurance policy to cover your own belongings.
Defects
New properties have what is known as a “defects” period, usually for the first 6-12 months, during which the builder is responsible for rectifying defective works. This period starts from when the property was built and not from when you moved in.
All new properties will usually come with a guarantee from the National House Builders Council (NHBC). If you are the first person to buy your home, your Solicitor should give the guarantee when the sale goes through. Please keep this safe as it is a valuable document.
This guarantee covers faulty material and workmanship related to the structural elements of the building, and usually lasts for 10 years.
Upon completion, you will be advised on how to report a defect, and Home will act as the go-between with the managing agent or developer until the defect is rectified.
We will assist you in ensuring that defects are completed either during or at the end of the defects period. At the end of the defects period, we will contact you to agree a date for a property inspection, at which a final list of defects will be discussed and agreed with you. However, if the builder does not accept the defect, you will become responsible for this, or will need to claim through the NHBC.
Improvements/Alterations
Subject to local planning rules and the terms of your lease, approval can be given for you to undertake improvements to your home. You will need to provide full details of the work and carry this out to a professional standard. A copy of our improvements policy is available upon request. If you need to borrow additional money for the work, further approval will be required.