Leaseholder Services

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East Devon District Council currently manages 155 leasehold properties which are located throughout the district. This number will increase as and when the council sells a flat under the Right to Buy scheme. Almost all of our leasehold properties are in mixed tenure blocks, this means that both council tenants and private owners live together in the same building.

What is a leaseholder?

A leaseholder is someone who owns a lease. As a leaseholder you do not own the building, as it remains in the ownership of the freeholder. Your lease gives you the right to live in part of the building for a period of time. The initial term of a lease is normally 125 years.

What is a freeholder?

The freeholder owns the building which the leaseholder lives in and is responsible for maintaining the fabric of the building and providing leaseholders with services such as communal cleaning, lighting and grounds maintenance. However, as a leaseholder you are required to contribute towards these costs as part of an annual service charge.

What is a lease?

The lease is the contract between the leaseholder and the freeholder. It defines the building and gives details about the leaseholders flat. The lease also explains the rights and responsibilities of both the freeholder and the leaseholder.

Further Information and advice for leaseholders

We have recently updated our Leasehold Home Owners Handbook, which is a comprehensive guide to owning and living in an East Devon District Council leasehold property. We also hold an annual conference and have a Tenant and Leaseholder Customer Panel, which allows leaseholders to get involved in the decision making process on how we manage and maintain our properties. Our Tenant and Leasehold Participation team also produce quarterly newsletters called Partnership News and the Housing Standard. For further information you can:

Download the Leasehold Home Owners Handbook (126KB - 24 September 2009 - PDF Help).